Automation and robotics are coming to a workspace near you. Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, robotics, and many other aspects of Industry 4.0, are gradually making inroads into our working lives. At least, that’s what leading commentators and researchers would have us believe. Are they right? And more importantly, should we be excited or concerned? (Here’s […]
You may have wondered what are the technologies driving Industry 4.0? We explain them here, and how manufacturers can get started. Industry 4.0 is catapulting the manufacturing industry into a new realm. Also known as the “fourth industrial revolution”, Industry 4.0 refers to a world in which machines interact and respond intelligently to their surrounding […]
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the latest industry buzzword. But peel away the hype and what’s the real impact of IoT on Australian food & beverage manufacturers? The Internet of Things (IoT) is about smart connectivity and data. It refers to the ability of physical devices to connect with the internet so that […]
Is information-driven manufacturing (iDM) the stepping-stone to Industry 4.0? Collecting, visualising and analysing machine, process and sensor data promises to open a whole new world of opportunities for manufacturers. Here, we look at exactly what iDM is and how it could help manufacturers realise the potential of Industry 4.0. (Here’s some good background information on […]
The challenge when you automate barcoding processes is often not in knowing whether or not you need to automate, but in choosing which technology solutions will bring the best results. Australian manufacturers’ appetite for automation is growing. You only need to look at the key trends to come out of AUSPACK 2017 to see that. […]
If your New Year’s resolution was to create a more efficient, lean organisation, then it could be time to automate. Automation is no longer the sole realm of larger companies. With technology more affordable than ever, an increasing number of small and medium enterprises are tapping into the advantages of automating manufacturing processes — and there […]
The news that Foxconn, the world’s biggest contract electronics maker, is developing industrial robots to target 30% automation in its Chinese factories by 2020, has shaken the manufacturing industry. As machines and robotics become more sophisticated and specialised than ever, we can’t help but ask: will manufacturing soon be taken over entirely by robots? But […]
If your business can’t afford foreign contaminants in your products, then the chances are high that you need an X-ray product inspection machine. Predominantly, the food processing, pharmaceutical and packaging industries rely on these high-tech, yet surprisingly affordable, machines to detect potentially harmful foreign contaminants along the production lines. But they are also essential equipment […]
Ready to integrate your packaging line to improve efficiency, output and uptime? Get started with these top 5 tips. It’s no secret that integrating your packaging line delivers tangible advantages — a more streamlined operation, real-time reporting and visibility, added security, and eliminating coding and labelling errors, to name but a few. So once you’ve […]
As the Japanese master of lean manufacturing, Dr Shigeo Shingo, once said: “Humans are animals that make mistakes.” (Learn more about lean here. You can also find out how SMEs can benefit from lean manufacturing.) In today’s manufacturing industry, quality and compliance is everything. However, it’s no longer enough to rely on human inspection. More […]