Automation blog
Lights out? Still unlikely with Industry 4.0
21 April, 2022 For many manufacturers, the prospect of a fully automated, human-free factory feels light years away. When, they ask, is the 4th Industrial revolution coming to us and what can we expect? In this blog, we look at the realities of (fully-/semi-)automated manufacturing, what robots can and can’t do, and why the human touch is still (mostly) irreplaceable.
Vadain automates the inspection of curtain fabrics with machine vision
08 April, 2022 Vadain, the market leader in custom curtains in the Netherlands, needed a solution to detect errors as early as possible in kilometers of curtain fabrics. Together with software developers from Sycade, OMRON machine vision technology, and machine builder Eisenkolb, they developed an automated solution to detect and analyze errors in curtain fabrics, making the time-consuming manual inspection process a thing of the past.
Traditional factories have data needs too
18 March, 2022 The right tools and tech can enable advanced predictive maintenance, bottleneck prevention and optimization. Find out how digitalization is bridging the gap between legacy systems and Industry 4.0.
Fuel for the future: What to look out for in fuel cell production
10 March, 2022 When people talk about sustainable mobility, the first thing that comes to mind is battery-powered e-cars. Fuel cells or direct hydrogen burners are complementary technologies that often fade into the background, yet have a lot to offer when it comes to CO₂ reduction and market options.
Mastering packaging and intralogistics challenges in eCommerce
24 February, 2022 Robot-assisted packaging enables fast and cost-efficient scalability upward and downward to handle swings in demands from the supply chain.
Green packaging industry: How to achieve sustainable manufacturing
09 February, 2022 Sustainability in the packaging industry is one of the key aspects in fighting the plastic waste issue and ultimately climate change. The challenges that this presents, require flexible and powerful automation technology.
Hanover Displays automates PCBA testing with cobots
31 January, 2022 UK-based Hanover Displays Limited needed a new system for testing printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) and selected OMRON TM cobots for the job, supplied and installed by Absolute Robotics, part of the Absolute Automation Group.
Five challenges in High-Mix, Low-Volume (HMLV) packaging and palletizing processes
21 December, 2021 The new product has just left the factory, in a shelf-ready package in the specified mixed ratio to meet customer needs. The packaging has actually been handled by another company: a co-packer. Co-packing can be found in all Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) markets, but especially in the higher-priced product segments such as personal care or confectionery, to name a few examples. It is a fast-growing activity to satisfy the consumer demand for more variety.
Productivity Peaks: Moving Maintenance From Preventive to Predictive
17 December, 2021 Maintenance is a vital key to a thriving business, especially in manufacturing where 24/7 plant equipment uptime is often expected as standard. As any established enterprise knows, keeping production lines and systems running optimally requires more than a skilled maintenance team. It also involves careful planning, tight scheduling, constant vigilance, a willingness to change out unworn parts, and a readiness to respond to unplanned events. At least, it used to.
Finished seals in less than 10 seconds: Robotics Integrated Controller ensures harmonious control
24 November, 2021 Trelleborg Livorno has updated a robotic cell for the finishing of polyurethane gaskets for the sustainable wind energy market. The cornerstone of the solution is OMRON's Robotics Integrated Controller that ensures integration and synchronization of all automation components, including robots, logic, motion, safety and user interface.
FasThink optimizes Garnet's intralogistics with mobile robots
02 November, 2021 Garnet relies on FasThink to innovate its logistics and production processes.
Intelligent System Solutions with Autonomous Mobile Robot: AM-Flow and OMRON
27 October, 2021 Industry 4.0 brings the promise of streamlined processes, big data insights and production lines running 24/7 with zero downtime. Unlike historical ‘industrial revolutions,’ this one offers the luxury of time and choice for manufacturers. That’s because the benefits of automation can be embraced incrementally or fully, whether it’s a new state-of-the-art facility or something retrofit-installed into a more traditional production setup. Making it easier to make the move is AM-Flow, an entrepreneurial start-up currently making waves in providing its solutions to the new tide of producers coming ashore in the world of additive manufacturing.
Powering the European automotive industry
29 January, 2021 The European automotive industry is facing strong competition from Asia, as well as the economic challenges of the pandemic. It needs to develop innovative, future-proof strategies and technologies that will boost both efficiency and sustainability. Tony Seba from Stanford University believes that by 2025, no more new vehicles with (pure) combustion engines will be sold and there will be a move towards battery or hydrogen-powered fuel cells. Meanwhile, the industry faces falling sales, increasingly strict emissions regulations, new technologies, digitisation and changing consumer needs. Companies must respond by converting their production lines; becoming more agile; and introducing innovations that provide a competitive edge.
ControlTec helps Polish hospital tackle the pandemic with a UVC mobile robot
26 January, 2021 Using an OMRON LD mobile robot, ControlTec was one of the first companies in the world to develop a sterilisation robot equipped with a UVC irradiator.
Fast and safe transport on the factory floor
18 January, 2021 Improved efficiency and seamless material supply: in Austria, Philips is automating material transport by using AMRs from OMRON.
Improved flexibility, agility and traceability with mobile robots for Normagrup
06 January, 2021 Normagrup, which specialises in technologically advanced lighting, needed to automate the transport of materials between three production areas, the assembly area and an automated warehouse. This involved moving through narrow spaces shared with factory personnel.
Mobile robot streamlines food deliveries
30 November, 2020 A whistling autonomous mobile robot has been seen recently moving around the corridors of shopping centre in Helsinki, Finland. Operated by OMRON’s solution partner Dimalog, the robot was taking part in a month-long ‘Home On-Demand’ automated courier service trial.
3 Ways COVID-19 is Impacting Logistics Operations in the UK (and what to do about it)
04 November, 2020 By Stuart Coulton, Regional Manager, OMRON UK North
What to consider when selecting a mobile robot for heavy loads
11 September, 2020 Five questions to ask when selecting autonomous material transport technology for industrial applications.
Factory automation: four tips for the future of food & beverage manufacturing
16 July, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has posed major challenges to organisations of all types and sizes. In the food and commodity industry, companies have faced significantly reduced consumption and disrupted supply chains, while at-home consumption increased, and out-of-home consumption came near to a standstill. But how can manufacturers adapt their business strategies and production processes both now and in the longer term? The pandemic may provide an opportunity for rethinking outdated processes and procedures and enhancing them with concepts such as innovative robotics, sensor technology and holistic automation strategies.
Cobots give gear manufacturer a competitive production edge
14 May, 2020 Danish gear manufacturer, Fischer Gears, has boosted the competitiveness of its production process - especially on larger series – by installing two OMRON TM robots. The collaborative robots (cobots) free experienced employees to focus on more value-adding tasks.
Made-to-order production with an advanced fleet of mobile robots
11 May, 2020 VOLA, a Danish manufacturer of luxury sanitary and kitchen fittings, has opened a new factory that incorporates a fleet of nine mobile robots from Omron.
Mobile robots smarten up Toyota’s new parts centre
28 April, 2020 Intelligent robots and sophisticated design are helping Toyota to achieve a higher level of efficiency at its new warehouse in Sydney, Australia.