FACE TO FACE
Sustainability in focus
Based on the concept of being a “ place for co-creating the future of metalworking ”, the AGIC was established to solve numerous issues faced by AMADA ’ s customers around the world including their demands for “ support for new materials and processing technologies ”, “ improvement of automation and productivity ” and production innovation , AMADA told ISMR . The existing “ Solution Centre ” was fully transformed to create a facility with a total floor space of approximately 30,000m ² and the latest functionality .
AGIC was also designed as an environmentally friendly building . Through collaboration with major general contractors and various manufacturers in Japan , the latest air conditioning equipment and lighting was installed , energy consumption has been reduced and renewable energy is utilised . This includes the large-scale installation of solar power generation ; on the roof of the AGIC buildings are solar panels which can generate 241MW of power every year .
As a result , CO₂ emissions have been halved compared to that generated by the previous Solution Centre . Idling functions on chillers and compressors in the facility also help to decrease CO₂ emissions . In total , CO₂ emissions at the AGIC are expected to be reduced by 700 tons per year .
“ As a machine manufacturer , AMADA is promoting environmental considerations in its own manufacturing . The AGIC was designed to replicate a customer ’ s prototype and manufacturing site , and the facility was also equipped with panels that display everything from lighting to solar and overall power usage . This was designed with the environment in mind , not only for machine operation but also across the building ’ s operational functions . We believe that providing highly efficient systems is a solution to environmental issues and global labour shortages . This also [ strikes a chord with our customers ],” Mr Yamamoto , Senior Executive Officer , AMADA , told ISMR .
In Site 01 at AGIC are Eco-Board screens that depict the current status of the AGIC facility from a power consumption point of view etc . compared to the previous facility . They show real-time CO₂ emissions and users can drill down into the data . All over the facility are monitors and cameras e . g . the system is programmed to pick up on whoever wears silver AGIC jackets ( engineers , AGIC staff ). Artificial intelligence ( AI ) is used to adjust the heating and lighting depending upon who is in the facility at the time .
The second board displays machine data specific to the site ( Site 01 for blanking / blanking automation / welding machines and Site 02 for bending / bending automation technologies ). Customers can choose machines on the screen and check their status remotely ( including camera views inside the machine ). AMADA encourages its customers to engage more interactively with all its machines and technologies at AGIC .
“ The AMADA Group has always made the environment a top priority . Producing eco-friendly machines with low power consumption and high energy efficiency in an environmentally friendly facility is part of that ethos ,” AMADA told ISMR .
The Eco Boards at Site 01 showing real-time CO₂ emissions and machine data specific to the site .
The new AGIC philosophy illustrates our desire not just to be more innovative and advanced with our technology developments , but also to offer greater benefits and responsibility to society as a whole
AMADA ’ s new AMNC 4ie fourth generation control for bending operations ( right ) and blanking operations ( below ).
Social responsibility
“ The new AGIC philosophy illustrates our desire not just to be more innovative and advanced with our technology developments , but also to offer greater benefits and responsibility to society as a whole . This means not just reducing CO₂ emissions but also tackling societal challenges such as the ageing population , lack of skilled workers etc . So , there is a real focus on the environment and technologies such as automation , voice control and artificial intelligence in AGIC ,” explained Matt Wood , Manager , EU Product Promotion , AMADA .
“ The other AGIC innovation is that we have fundamentally changed the way that we explain things to customers . In the past , we explained what the machines can do . We have now changed our philosophy from the ‘ what ’ to the ‘ why ’. We explain to customers why we are developing systems and why the technologies function in certain ways . That is quite a step change . Eventually , we will roll out this AGIC philosophy globally i . e . as our international solution and technical centres carry out minor renovations , we will embed the AGIC philosophy . That is quite a challenge , moving forward ,” he continued .
AMADA also showcases its new control , AMNC 4ie , at AGIC ; this incorporates significant features to
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