Automation blog

Securing a battery-powered future through automated recycling

17. joulukuuta 2024 Batteries have a crucial role to play in facilitating the scaling up of renewables in the power mix and the electrification of transport, as we transition away from fossil fuel dependence and towards cleaner energy technologies to meet the targets agreed at COP 28.This has sent the battery market on an upwards trajectory, with two sectors - power and transport - driving demand. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the energy sector accounts for over 90% of overall battery demand. It reported that in 2023 alone, battery deployment in this sector increased by more than 130% year-on-year, adding a total of 42 gigawatts (GW) to electricity systems around the world. Energy storage is emerging as a major application for batteries as a means of capturing renewable energy and is only going to become more important in the future. In the transport sector, meanwhile, batteries have facilitated the rise of electric cars, bikes, trucks, buses and other battery-powered vehicles. 

Beyond tech for tech’s sake: What happens when industrial automation meets operational excellence

30. marraskuuta 2024 The past few years have seen rapid technological advancements, with the rise of AI standing out as a key trend. In a survey of manufacturers across the UK, US, and Canada, 70% said they had implemented some form of AI into their operations. This willingness to embrace new technologies is impressive, especially since manufacturing industries have so much to gain from automation.

Taking the first steps to successful digitalisation

12. marraskuuta 2024 Building a digital factory isn’t an end or a reason in itself. A digital factory is a tool that gives manufacturing businesses the flexibility to respond to changes in the market - whether that is innovation trends or cost increases, and whether they are operating in the food & beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical or automotive sector.

PPWR: why cross-chain collaboration, traceability and smart packaging are key

24. syyskuuta 2024 According to Eurostat figures, in 2021, each person living in the EU generated 188.7 kg packaging - almost 32 kg more than in 2011. Over this period, the amount of plastic packaging waste increased by 27%. Whilst recycling rates have also increased, a large volume of plastic packaging is still not being recycled  - the latest statistics suggest that only a handful of countries in Europe are achieving a 50% recycling rate for plastics. Recognising that the existing legal framework was failing to drive improvement in packaging waste reduction, in 2022 the Commission proposed a revision to the 2018 directive for Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).The revised PPWR is expected to enter into force by end of this year, and will fundamentally change the way packaging is designed, consumed and disposed of. The updated regulation is broad in its scope, but the underlying aims are to reduce the amount of packaging waste generated and increase packaging recyclability.

Avoiding efficiency blockage: Why companies should not postpone their robotics plans?

24. syyskuuta 2024 Delaying investments in innovative technologies is associated with numerous risks. Companies that are still hesitant should ask themselves three questions.The European economy faces a range of challenges that impact its growth, stability, and competitiveness. Europe, for example, has one of the oldest populations in the world. An aging workforce increases the burden on social security systems and reduces the labor supply, potentially slowing economic growth. Furthermore, the EU's commitment to the Green Deal and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 requires substantial investments and structural changes in various sectors. Added to this is a lack of willingness to invest due to financial worries. A recent study by the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) found that large European firms with more than $1 billion in revenue have fallen behind their US counterparts. They collectively invest $400 billion a year less and grow one-third more slowly.This investment fatigue can lead to several problems that have both short- and long-term effects, including disadvantages in terms of competitiveness, sustainability, and reputation, lower productivity, and less success in attracting new skilled workers. Innovative robotics can counteract such developments but also requires well-thought-out financing. Therefore, companies that are currently limiting their investments should urgently ask themselves whether this will not have more negative consequences for them in the long term than short-term savings. The following three questions should be the focus of such considerations:

Digitising with open standards: the recipe for a good night’s sleep

02. syyskuuta 2024 Can we commit to the predictions I have made? Will we be able to deliver to the deadline? Do I have enough insight to know for sure? How is the factory doing in terms of QCDE (quality, cost, delivery time and environmental impact) against our targets and compared to the competition? These are some of the concerns that keep factory managers awake at night; concerns that can be addressed through digitisation. In a digitised production environment, factory managers don’t have to worry about the unknowns, the risks and the might-happens. Digitisation eliminates uncertainty and enables performance-driven optimisation. It provides insights that can help factory managers improve quality, reduce cost, shorten lead times and reduce environmental impact. The manager of a digitised factory shouldn’t wake up worrying in the middle of the night, but if they do, a brief glance at their mobile phone should reassure them that everything is running as it should be. However, moving from a state of anxiety-induced insomnia to one of blissful somnolence is not easy. Put bluntly, digitisation can be quite tedious. Project leaders rarely have the luxury of working with a blank canvas; most of the time they are working with a patchwork quilt of old technologies sewn together; they are trying to digitise production lines incorporating machines that have never logged data and were built before data communication protocols even existed. This all adds up to a sizeable OT and IT integration challenge.  

Robotic Trends 2024: Simple and flexible application essential to reach full potential

15. heinäkuuta 2024 From load carrier to colleague to team player: the role of robots has changed dramatically over the past seven decades. AI is creating more possibilities, but humans remain the determining factor.  Robots or humans – who will determine production in the future? Since George Devol's 1954 patent for a programmable manipulator, this question has sparked debate. Devol's Unimate robot revolutionized industry by safely performing dangerous tasks, highlighting that the focus isn't robots vs. humans but rather "robot + human = efficiency." Over 70 years, industry demands have evolved to prioritize flexibility, scalability, adaptability, and sustainability. Robots handle tasks that free humans to focus on value-added activities.

Dynamic lineside replenishment: a strategic response to today’s manufacturing challenges

15. heinäkuuta 2024 It’s time for a rethink on lineside replenishment systems and practices, if manufacturers are to remain efficient and competitive whilst meeting the challenges posed by customisation and labour shortages. Could AMRs and cobots be the answer? The customisation trend has created numerous operational challenges for manufacturers; the need to accommodate a wider array of components and materials introduces variability that traditional systems struggle to manage efficiently. This can lead to increased inventory costs, longer lead times and production delays. Empirical data underscores the impact of customisation on manufacturing operations; manufacturers reported to have faced extended lead times, higher production costs, and the need to manage multiple inventories. These figures illustrate the tangible challenges that customisation poses, necessitating innovative approaches to manage this complexity efficiently. 

Joining the dots: Automating feeding activities for a competitive advantage

18. kesäkuuta 2024 Developments in robotics are facilitating the conception of flexible line-side feeding and handling systems that can enhance safety, productivity and quality whilst addressing labour shortages. Factory automation usually starts with the dots. By this we mean the big ticket plant that performs complex and visibly value-adding tasks - whether that is flow wrapping, injection moulding, blister packing, bottling, palletising or other core manufacturing processes. The lines that join those dots together - handling, loading and feeding systems - tend to be more of an afterthought, to the point where these activities are often carried out manually.  It might seem easier and cheaper to have an operator loading raw materials onto the production line, or feeding components into machines, rather than spending on automation. But this is a shortsighted view that misses the many business benefits that automated line-side feeding and handling can deliver in terms of efficiency, product quality, scalability and health & safety. It is also a view that is increasingly outdated given the pressure that the current labour crisis is exerting on the manufacturing sector.  

Top 4 challenges EV manufacturers face in their journey to achieving a sustainable future

17. kesäkuuta 2024 Electric vehicles (EVs) have transitioned from a niche market to a major industry force in recent years. As of 2023, electric cars account for nearly one in five vehicles sold, with sales increasing by 3.5 million units—a 35% jump from the previous year, according to the IEA's Global EV Outlook 2024. This surge is expected to continue, with projections indicating that sales in emerging markets will exceed 1 million units in 2024, marking a 40% increase from 2023. Governments worldwide are pushing to reduce CO2 emissions, which is speeding up this shift to electric vehicles.  So, what does this mean for automotive manufacturers? First, it means they need to pivot to designing and producing predominantly electric fleets, a move many have already started. Second, it means building new production lines and mastering new manufacturing processes, which can be quite a challenge. This is where a trusted automation partner comes in. Partnering with an expert in automation can help manage the complexities of this industry-wide transition. With a broad technology portfolio, global support, and deep automotive expertise, OMRON is ready to guide manufacturers on their electrified journey. This blog post will explore the top challenges in the EV manufacturing sector and how partnering with OMRON can provide effective solutions:

Intelligent automation as an agent of change

31. toukokuuta 2024 The manufacturing industry is responsible for around a quarter of global GHG emissions¹, which puts it on a par with transport as the second biggest contributor to carbon emissions. This means that reducing the manufacturing sector’s carbon footprint will play a vital role in mitigating our impact on climate change.It’s time for the manufacturing industry to stop being a source of problems and start living up to its potential by being one of the sources of solutions, addressing climate change and utilising automation as the agent of change in the process.This reflects our founder’s belief that, as a business, we have a responsibility to give back to the society in which we operate. Over 90 years ago, OMRON was born out of the vision of its founder, Kazuma Tateishi, of using technology to create a better world.Tateishi’s ethos of “improving lives and contributing to a better society” has never been more relevant than in the present day, given the climate challenges we face as a society. But how can manufacturing make a positive difference?

Even if it ain’t broke, you still oughta fix it

04. huhtikuuta 2024 Making FMCG manufacturing more sustainable through intelligent energy management