First Friday Editors’ Briefing July 7th, 15 Editors gather to hear from industry experts
15 Editors gather to hear from industry experts
July 7th 2023 – Our July First Friday Editors’ Briefing at Home Grown Private Members Club in Mayfair, London showcased six speakers from the manufacturing industry who discussed upcoming technology, changes that can be made to decarbonise and increase efficiency as well as explaining newly released technical guidance and encouraging companies to increase their use of robots.
To begin with Bradley McEwen from Beckhoff Automation presented a new system called the MX-System which can replace cabinets with a much smaller baseplate which allows components to simply be connected using modules which can be easily replaced. This system could change how the management of systems is carried out, with reduced parts, size, and setup time. Bradley explained that using the MX-system would make it much easier to design and setup an automation system due to its simple design integration EtherCAT devices allowing for better system diagnostics. Bradley’s presentation was a fascinating look at how the design of systems could be changing to become simpler, smaller and easier to work with.
Steve Schiller and Jim Cooper from Apem Components presented the IDEC Safety Commander which allowed commercially available tablets to connect to machinery whilst still allowing complete control of the system using physical buttons, emergency stop and joysticks. This helps deliver the various systems the tablet is able to perform with its touchscreen interface whilst keeping the important physical buttons which allows the user to always have control of the machinery. Steve and Jim showed two versions of the IDEC Safety commander, the HT3P and the newer version names the HT4P which included multiple changes to enable more features and usability. Prototypes of each were passed around so we could all have a closer look at them and have a feel for how they would work in a factory setting. Apem Component’s presentation was an interesting look at how we can mix modern technology with trusted older systems to create devices which give us the benefits from both.
Nina Gryf from MakeUK then presented statistics on businesses upgrading their digital technologies to decarbonise and become more efficient. Some notable statistics were that almost half of manufacturers have a plan to invest in digital technologies that will decarbonise their business, investing in digital technologies brings cost savings in terms of reduced energy use and therefore bills, 62% of manufacturers made energy cost savings and over a quarter of firms saw improvements in energy efficiency and 18% witnessed reduced carbon emissions. These three statistics give great insight into how industry is changing to become more efficient using new technologies. Nina’s presentation brought light to the changes that many businesses are considering as well as what can be done to help businesses to fund these changes and embrace digitalisation.
Gambica’s Andy Evans then presented the new technical guidance that Gambica has published. The GAMBICA Guide to Overvoltage Categories and Measurement Categories serves as a valuable resource for professionals seeking to understand and implement effective overvoltage protection strategies, ensuring the safety and longevity of electronic systems across diverse settings.
Overvoltage events can damage sensitive electronic equipment and can lead to injury. The document explains the various categories, ranging from CAT I to CAT IV, which represent different environments where equipment is used. It outlines the potential sources of overvoltage and the corresponding protection measures required. The measurement categories are also discussed, indicating the level of protection needed for different measurement tools based on their application.
Mike Wilson from MTC was our final speaker who discussed the idea of introducing more robotics into manufacturing. He explained that the UK is significantly behind other countries when using robots and that by using robots many of the issues we are facing can be reduced. For example, the labour shortage has made a large impact on many businesses across the UK, but by using robots to fill roles within the supply chain businesses can find opportunities to greatly improve their systems. Mike explained the processes that MTC use to determine how a business can integrate robots into manufacturing to give the best results.
Once the presentations were all complete, we had the opportunity to discuss with the speakers more whilst enjoying a fantastic lunch. It was a great opportunity for networking and speaking about the topics that had been presented throughout the day so that we could get more opinions and a better idea of what everyone thought about the products and ideas that were shown.
The event was a great success, with 15 editors in attendance. There were plenty of great ideas presented, and the discussions were lively and engaging. The six presenters discussed a wide range of topics regarding manufacturing and automation, giving an idea of what the future of industry looks like.
The First Friday Club Editors’ Briefings provide industrial journalists with a direct line to experts on the most pressing issues facing the industry. This event demonstrated the importance of speaking directly to the media to create a dialogue about the issues that matter.
