INDUSTRY NEWS
Key technology statistics for 2023
In its new White Paper , “ 37 Technology Stats You Need to Know for 2023 ”, global technology intelligence firm ABI Research has identified and highlighted a selection of impactful forecasts that illuminate the direction in which digital transformation is truly heading .
“ We have focused on the most enlightening stats that will shape the year ahead . The rapid rise of robot installs is just one of the many changes on the horizon indicative of a more connected , technology-driven world ,” Stuart Carlaw , Chief Research Officer , ABI Research , explained . “ Nobody has a crystal ball , but we can say with relative certainty that the challenging climate will persist well into 2023 .”
“ Global robot installations grew tremendously throughout 2021 and have continued to do so in 2022 , reaching record levels for industrial and collaborative robots . However , this boom after a crisis cycle is expected to fade out in 2023 somewhat and the war in Ukraine , along with inflationary pressure , is expected to accelerate this process ,” added ABI research director , Lian Jye Su . Forecasts in the report also include :
1 . Global machine-tool market revenue : The machine-tool market will reach US $ 222.9 billion in 2030 in Manufacturing Value Added ( MVA ). This is primarily driven by new product design ( facilitating the need for new machine tools ); old equipment reaching the end of its lifecycle and requiring replacement and new machine-tool solutions provided as well as upgrade incentives . The German machine-tool market is forecast to see the highest CAGR ( 7.1 %) due to the rapid changes in the industries it serves , such as automotive ( currently undergoing an Electric Vehicle and autonomous platform shift ) and the presence of large , innovative machine builders . China , while remaining the largest market in total size , is expected to see the lowest forecast growth , with a CAGR of 4.3 % due to pending and continued macroeconomic headwinds as the country struggles to cope with a COVID-19 resurgence .
2 . Green urban infrastructure : Global public and private investment levels in green urban infrastructure are expected to increase from US $ 606 billion in 2022 to US $ 978 billion in 2030 across a wide range of green assets ( including
Image : Shutterstock . com . city parks ; urban forests ; blue spaces ( such as ponds and lakes ); rooftop gardens ; green walls and buildings ; and pedestrianised green streets ( as part of new urban concepts ).
3 . Renewable energy investments : Despite war and a re-focus on securing reliable sources and partners for traditional energy ( such as gas ), renewable energy will continue to grow as a share of total energy production . Driven by top producers of hydroelectric , nuclear , solar and wind technologies , renewables will grow from 39 % to 46 % of world energy production in 2027 .
Just as important is the investment and development in technologies that can accelerate renewable energy adoption . Key technology drivers are AI ( artificial intelligence ) and digital twins , two software technologies that can optimise the operation of an increasingly distributed energy system . Energy storage and battery / solar recycling systems are needed to collect intermittent generation of both solar and wind energy , but also to allow sustainable circularity and reuse of these technologies . IoT enables the sensor and data collection for optimising , monitoring and controlling complex energy production processes . Blockchain will find a role in new business models for energy marketplace power exchange and transactions . n
. abiresearch . com
Degree apprenticeship as tool process engineer
The University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre in the UK has , it told ISMR , become “ the first provider of its kind ” to deliver a degree apprenticeship for the level-six tool process design engineer standard . This has been developed to meet the direct needs of the members of the Confederation of British Metalforming ( CBM ).
The new apprenticeship , with a Bachelor of Engineering ( BEng ) in Manufacturing Technology delivered as part of the offer , has been created through a collaboration between the AMRC Training Centre and the Confederation of British Metalforming ( CBM ). It marks the AMRC Training Centre as “ the first provider of its type to have a validated degree as part of the standard .” It also addresses the skills requirements for toolmakers , which are in extremely short supply .
Alongside its members , CBM had identified a need within the metalforming sector to provide such an apprenticeship and approached the training centre for support .
Louise Cowling , head of degree apprenticeships at the AMRC Training Centre , described the new apprenticeship offer as an ‘ exciting move forward ’, adding : “ We already provide apprenticeships to several CBM members in South Yorkshire and are delighted to be developing our partnership with CBM further . We are looking forward to getting this new apprenticeship offer off the ground in September .”
Geraldine Bolton , chief executive of the Confederation of British Metalforming , described this development as “ a very important step forward in addressing the skills gap in the metalforming industry .”
She continued : “ As an added bonus , employers can use funds from their Apprenticeship Levy fund to pay for employees to undertake this degree .”
The apprenticeship offer has been approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education ( IfATE ) in the UK . The AMRC Training Centre is part of a Top 100 Russell Group university and the AMRC , a leading research and innovation organisation . It works with more than 460 employers that include Boeing ; McLaren Formula 1 ; Siemens ; Rolls Royce and Airbus , alongside smaller companies .
The AMRC Training Centre is also involved in the trailblazer group , which is looking at refining the new Level 3 toolmaker standard after receiving positive feedback from several employers expressing an interest . For further information , see
http :// bit . ly / 42l2f5B n