Such an intelligent factory masters complex sequences perfectly, is resistant against downtimes and can always react flexibly to changes in the production process. Thanks to autonomous control of production, failure and downtimes are eliminated, the machines are always used optimally and energy consumption is reduced. Because less waste is produced, the cost of materials also decreases. “At drinktec, solutions for further digitalization of production are therefore sure to be a central topic, precisely because optimized production processes and maximum efficiency in energy and raw materials are a focus of Industry 4.0,” Richard Clemens stated, Managing Director of the VDMA professional association Food Processing and Packaging Machinery.
A few ideas are already a reality
Some ideas of Industry 4.0 are already a reality: For example, the Augsburg robot manufacturer Kuka builds the body of the Jeep Wrangler for Chrysler in America: in its own factory, with its own robots and its own employees. The automobile manufacturer Chrysler only provides data. Consequently, virtual and real worlds merge through the use of information technology and create a whole new production and business concept.
In the beverage and liquid food industry, components of Industry 4.0 have also long since been employed. Holger Schmidt, Global Industry Manager of Food & Beverage at Endress +HauserMesstechnikGmbH+Co. KG, stated about this: “Many devices support this using features such as heartbeat technology, in that they check their functions themselves and actively point out upcoming needs for intervention.
The availability of so many signals also allows better linking of batch and process data.” Teleservice is also on the agenda here. The adaptation of a palletizing robot to new packaging is carried out in this case by external computer simulation, for example. The final program is then installed over the weekend via the Internet and only minor tweaks are necessary—if at all—at the start of production on Monday morning.
OPINIÓN