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Day: 28 October 2022

Fast charging of workstation batteries

Posted on by David Priestman

As with the e-car, fast charging of mobile workstation batteries seems to be as valuable as changing systems. Recognising this, ACD Elektronik has added two new mobile workstations to its product portfolio, the MAX 400 Li-Ion and the MAX 500 Li-Ion.

True to the motto “charging instead of changing”, the new MAX models have been designed with the latest charging technology, eliminating the need for tedious and time-consuming battery changes. “The MAX 500 Li-Ion is charged to 80% in under two hours, so that working in multi-shift operation with many consumers such as laptop, scanner and printer is possible without any problems,” says Julia Höß, Product Manager at ACD Elektronik GmbH.

If the quick charging is still not enough, the mobile workstation can be simply charged and operated at the same time. Both new models can also be used without restrictions during charging thanks to the bypass circuit. “The fast charging as well as the simultaneous charging and operating thanks to the bypass are two new highlights in our product portfolio,” says Andreas Zwißler, Managing Director of ACD Elektronik GmbH.

With this rounding off of the product portfolio, a logical step in the development of mobile workstations was continued. Thanks to the five different power classes (375 VA, 400 VA, 500 VA, 750 VA and 1200 VA) and corresponding specialisations such as fast charging or bypass switching, a very large product spectrum is covered. “Due to the modern charging technology and charging in the fastest possible time, up to 90% of all applications in the field can be covered with the two new MAX models. So there is a suitable solution for every process,” says Höß.

Proven technology remains

The advantages of Li-ion technology are also part of the new MAX models. The mobile workstations are noticeably lighter, intermediate charging is possible during breaks, for example, and the service life of the batteries is significantly longer. The mobile desks are also convincing due to the extensive modular system with many add-on equipment and a multitude of accessories. Customer-specific accessories or new add-on parts are also conceivable at any time and can be implemented individually and quickly.

The MAX mobile workstation can be easily and intuitively assembled on the ACD Elektronik website in the online configurator, and test devices with individual equipment are possible at any time free of charge.

Wiliot partners with Identiv over IoT tags

Posted on by David Priestman

Wiliot, the Internet of Things pioneer whose IoT platform is on the path to enabling trillions of “things” to gain intelligence, has announced its largest-ever single order for the company’s breakthrough IoT Pixel tags. The order represents an important milestone for Wiliot and the Ambient IoT ecosystem – which it says is poised to revolutionise supply chain efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. The 25 million IoT Pixels will be manufactured by Identiv, one of the world’s largest producers of specialty RFID tags, inlays, and labels, and is the first part of an even larger order to be delivered to a major new customer.

“This agreement with Identiv represents an inflection point for Wiliot and the Ambient IoT,” stated Wiliot CEO Tal Tamir. “It demonstrates the enormous manufacturing scale that the industry offers to us, while also bringing a leading producer of smart and specialised tags into the Ambient IoT ecosystem – a market that is growing to include many of the world’s largest IoT and telecommunications companies. Global demand for our IoT Pixels is surging and the collaboration with Identiv, alongside other leading manufacturers, will ensure we’re well-positioned to deliver.”

The Ambient IoT leverages new breakthroughs in ambient computing technology – or computing that’s self-powered by harvesting its energy from the radio waves that are all around us – to connect almost everything to the internet; not just expensive things like cars, appliances, and shipping containers, but the things inside them: fruits, veggies, vaccine vials, clothes, crates, and just about everything else.

With nearly everything in the global supply chain connected to the internet and transmitting item-level information – about their location, temperature, fill-rate, carbon footprint, and more – businesses are equipped with the data they need to create more efficient, sustainable, and productive supply chains.

Wiliot says it is leading this Ambient IoT transformation through a fundamental breakthrough in ambient computing technology delivered by its IoT Pixels, which are stamp-sized computer tags that cost pennies, attach to any product or packaging, and power themselves by harvesting the energy from radio waves transmitted by other IoT devices.

The benefits of the platform technology are vast. Produce stays fresher longer, reducing the amount wasted due to rot and spoil; delivery routes are more efficient, requiring less fuel and emitting lower greenhouse gas; and stock-checks transition from daily to real-time, resulting in supply chains both with lower carbon footprints and that can respond in real-time to online orders. Ultimately, the Ambient IoT will extend into the home and offer item-level insights into expiry dates and when consumers need goods.

“The Ambient IoT in many respects represents the future of our industry, as it promises enormous potential in making all businesses more intelligent and connected,” stated Steven Humphreys, Identiv’s CEO. “We’re proud to be working with Wiliot to build this Ambient IoT – leveraging our existing RFID manufacturing processes to demonstrate that sophisticated devices can be made in very large quantities for just pennies,” added Humphreys.

The Ambient IoT builds on the foundational work done by the RFID industry and takes it to the next level – with tags that continuously communicate in real-time and don’t require employees or consumers to tap or scan in order for them to communicate. Ambient IoT devices can sense and protect data with encryption and privacy controls and – unlike previous generation IoT devices – they can be embedded into other products because there are no batteries that need to be changed.

Wiliot is tapping the production capacity of smart tag manufacturers, like Identiv, to retool systems previously used to produce RFID tags, to now make its IoT Pixels, which have all the essential components of a programmable computer. In fact, the future market for Ambient IoT and Wiliot’s IoT Pixels is so large that manufacturers are also investing in new production systems to capitalise on this paradigm shift.

Ambient IoT support is being added to the wireless standards that enable the world’s phones, smart speakers, and access points. Industry analyst ABI Research predicted a total addressable market for Ambient IoT of over 10 trillion devices at the recent GSMA MWC event in a presentation delivered with Wiliot and Deloitte titled, “6G Ambient IoT Opportunity: Antidote to Supply Chain & Climate Crises?”

Wiliot will be announcing further purchases shortly to meet the needs of customers that will scale significantly beyond this initial purchase.

Wiliot partners with Identiv over IoT tags

Posted on by David Priestman

Wiliot, the Internet of Things pioneer whose IoT platform is on the path to enabling trillions of “things” to gain intelligence, has announced its largest-ever single order for the company’s breakthrough IoT Pixel tags. The order represents an important milestone for Wiliot and the Ambient IoT ecosystem – which it says is poised to revolutionise supply chain efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. The 25 million IoT Pixels will be manufactured by Identiv, one of the world’s largest producers of specialty RFID tags, inlays, and labels, and is the first part of an even larger order to be delivered to a major new customer.

“This agreement with Identiv represents an inflection point for Wiliot and the Ambient IoT,” stated Wiliot CEO Tal Tamir. “It demonstrates the enormous manufacturing scale that the industry offers to us, while also bringing a leading producer of smart and specialised tags into the Ambient IoT ecosystem – a market that is growing to include many of the world’s largest IoT and telecommunications companies. Global demand for our IoT Pixels is surging and the collaboration with Identiv, alongside other leading manufacturers, will ensure we’re well-positioned to deliver.”

The Ambient IoT leverages new breakthroughs in ambient computing technology – or computing that’s self-powered by harvesting its energy from the radio waves that are all around us – to connect almost everything to the internet; not just expensive things like cars, appliances, and shipping containers, but the things inside them: fruits, veggies, vaccine vials, clothes, crates, and just about everything else.

With nearly everything in the global supply chain connected to the internet and transmitting item-level information – about their location, temperature, fill-rate, carbon footprint, and more – businesses are equipped with the data they need to create more efficient, sustainable, and productive supply chains.

Wiliot says it is leading this Ambient IoT transformation through a fundamental breakthrough in ambient computing technology delivered by its IoT Pixels, which are stamp-sized computer tags that cost pennies, attach to any product or packaging, and power themselves by harvesting the energy from radio waves transmitted by other IoT devices.

The benefits of the platform technology are vast. Produce stays fresher longer, reducing the amount wasted due to rot and spoil; delivery routes are more efficient, requiring less fuel and emitting lower greenhouse gas; and stock-checks transition from daily to real-time, resulting in supply chains both with lower carbon footprints and that can respond in real-time to online orders. Ultimately, the Ambient IoT will extend into the home and offer item-level insights into expiry dates and when consumers need goods.

“The Ambient IoT in many respects represents the future of our industry, as it promises enormous potential in making all businesses more intelligent and connected,” stated Steven Humphreys, Identiv’s CEO. “We’re proud to be working with Wiliot to build this Ambient IoT – leveraging our existing RFID manufacturing processes to demonstrate that sophisticated devices can be made in very large quantities for just pennies,” added Humphreys.

The Ambient IoT builds on the foundational work done by the RFID industry and takes it to the next level – with tags that continuously communicate in real-time and don’t require employees or consumers to tap or scan in order for them to communicate. Ambient IoT devices can sense and protect data with encryption and privacy controls and – unlike previous generation IoT devices – they can be embedded into other products because there are no batteries that need to be changed.

Wiliot is tapping the production capacity of smart tag manufacturers, like Identiv, to retool systems previously used to produce RFID tags, to now make its IoT Pixels, which have all the essential components of a programmable computer. In fact, the future market for Ambient IoT and Wiliot’s IoT Pixels is so large that manufacturers are also investing in new production systems to capitalise on this paradigm shift.

Ambient IoT support is being added to the wireless standards that enable the world’s phones, smart speakers, and access points. Industry analyst ABI Research predicted a total addressable market for Ambient IoT of over 10 trillion devices at the recent GSMA MWC event in a presentation delivered with Wiliot and Deloitte titled, “6G Ambient IoT Opportunity: Antidote to Supply Chain & Climate Crises?”

Wiliot will be announcing further purchases shortly to meet the needs of customers that will scale significantly beyond this initial purchase.

FANUC unveils speakers for Open House event

Posted on by David Priestman

With less than a week to go until FANUC UK opens the doors to its Coventry HQ (2nd-4th November 2022), the automation specialist has unveiled the full speaker line-up for its Open House event.

Bringing together experts from all facets of the industrial automation and robotics sector, industry thought leaders are set to discuss high-level topics such as Industry 4.0 and the future of manufacturing, the power of partnerships and the route to net zero in a series of panel discussions, keynote speeches and in-depth case studies across the three-day event aimed at showcasing the benefits of automation to UK manufacturers.

Day 1 – The power of partnerships

Opening the event on Wednesday 2nd November will be FANUC UK’s Managing Director, Tom Bouchier, who will set the tone for the event by discussing the current outlook of UK manufacturing and what FANUC and their partners can do to help. Following on from this will be FANUC’s newly appointed Head of Sales, Oliver Selby, joined by representatives from the company’s system integrator network and key partners. Their panel discussion will cover the power of partnerships and the fundamentals of good collaboration.

Visitors will also hear from FANUC’s Engineering Project Manager Ben Edwards, as well as representatives from Mazak Europe and key influencers for UK manufacturing.

Day 2 – Future planning

The second day (Thursday 3rd November) will focus on Industry 4.0 and the future of manufacturing. Highlights include a session by Phil Hadfield, UK Managing Director and Northern Europe Sales Director for Rockwell Automation, who will talk about how to meet the challenges of modern manufacturing.

This session will be followed by a practical guide by FANUC’s Paul Richards on what to consider before purchasing a cobot, before David Reardon of Plastics Industry Awards 2022 finalist Bloom in Box unveils an in-depth case study on how the company is powering its FANUC ROBOSHOT entirely through solar energy, assisting in its goal to become carbon neutral in the next 12-18 months. A panel discussion on the importance of putting sustainability at the forefront of any manufacturing plans rounds off the second day’s presentations.

Day 3 – Education, education, education

The final day’s sessions (Friday 4th November) centre on the future workforce and the importance of upskilling existing staff. Patrick Daniels, Head of National Competitions and Careers for WorldSkills UK, will address the audience on the impact that WorldSkills has made on the industry to date, while a representative from the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) will outline the importance of investing in R&D and uniting industry and academia.

Visitors will also have the chance to pit their skills against this and previous years’ finalists of the WorldSkills UK for industrial robotics.

Hands-on robot demos and training

In addition to the high-level presentations, debates and keynote speeches taking place each day, the afternoon sessions will have a more practical, hands-on feel, incorporating live demonstrations, FANUC Academy taster sessions, and a planned preventative maintenance overview. The event will also feature an exhibition area comprising more than 35 leading automation companies, including Rockwell Automation, Mazak, Mitutoyo, Bauromat, Mills CNC, Mollart, Nikken and Robopod, who will be ready to showcase their knowledge, expertise and latest innovations to the hundreds of visitors in attendance.

CLICK HERE for the full agenda and to register your attendance at the FANUC Annual Open House (2nd – 4th November 2022, Ansty Park, Coventry).

FANUC unveils speakers for Open House event

Posted on by David Priestman

With less than a week to go until FANUC UK opens the doors to its Coventry HQ (2nd-4th November 2022), the automation specialist has unveiled the full speaker line-up for its Open House event.

Bringing together experts from all facets of the industrial automation and robotics sector, industry thought leaders are set to discuss high-level topics such as Industry 4.0 and the future of manufacturing, the power of partnerships and the route to net zero in a series of panel discussions, keynote speeches and in-depth case studies across the three-day event aimed at showcasing the benefits of automation to UK manufacturers.

Day 1 – The power of partnerships

Opening the event on Wednesday 2nd November will be FANUC UK’s Managing Director, Tom Bouchier, who will set the tone for the event by discussing the current outlook of UK manufacturing and what FANUC and their partners can do to help. Following on from this will be FANUC’s newly appointed Head of Sales, Oliver Selby, joined by representatives from the company’s system integrator network and key partners. Their panel discussion will cover the power of partnerships and the fundamentals of good collaboration.

Visitors will also hear from FANUC’s Engineering Project Manager Ben Edwards, as well as representatives from Mazak Europe and key influencers for UK manufacturing.

Day 2 – Future planning

The second day (Thursday 3rd November) will focus on Industry 4.0 and the future of manufacturing. Highlights include a session by Phil Hadfield, UK Managing Director and Northern Europe Sales Director for Rockwell Automation, who will talk about how to meet the challenges of modern manufacturing.

This session will be followed by a practical guide by FANUC’s Paul Richards on what to consider before purchasing a cobot, before David Reardon of Plastics Industry Awards 2022 finalist Bloom in Box unveils an in-depth case study on how the company is powering its FANUC ROBOSHOT entirely through solar energy, assisting in its goal to become carbon neutral in the next 12-18 months. A panel discussion on the importance of putting sustainability at the forefront of any manufacturing plans rounds off the second day’s presentations.

Day 3 – Education, education, education

The final day’s sessions (Friday 4th November) centre on the future workforce and the importance of upskilling existing staff. Patrick Daniels, Head of National Competitions and Careers for WorldSkills UK, will address the audience on the impact that WorldSkills has made on the industry to date, while a representative from the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) will outline the importance of investing in R&D and uniting industry and academia.

Visitors will also have the chance to pit their skills against this and previous years’ finalists of the WorldSkills UK for industrial robotics.

Hands-on robot demos and training

In addition to the high-level presentations, debates and keynote speeches taking place each day, the afternoon sessions will have a more practical, hands-on feel, incorporating live demonstrations, FANUC Academy taster sessions, and a planned preventative maintenance overview. The event will also feature an exhibition area comprising more than 35 leading automation companies, including Rockwell Automation, Mazak, Mitutoyo, Bauromat, Mills CNC, Mollart, Nikken and Robopod, who will be ready to showcase their knowledge, expertise and latest innovations to the hundreds of visitors in attendance.

CLICK HERE for the full agenda and to register your attendance at the FANUC Annual Open House (2nd – 4th November 2022, Ansty Park, Coventry).

Garbe breaks ground in Bodenheim

Posted on by David Priestman

With a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony, construction work has officially begun on the logistics centre that Garbe Industrial Real Estate GmbH is developing in Bodenheim, Rheinhessen (Mainz-Bingen district), Germany. The tenant of the property, which has a total area of 14,500 sq m, is atrikom fulfillment, a company specialising in e-commerce and advertising materials logistics as well as dialogue marketing. The new building is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2023. Garbe Industrial Real Estate is investing around €23m in the site.

“Today sets the course for the successful implementation of our joint project,” Adrian Zellner, Member of the Executive Board of Garbe Industrial Real Estate, emphasised on the occasion of the ground-breaking ceremony. The Hamburg-based project developer will build a property with a hall area of around 12,100 sq m on the 23,500 sq m site in the “Bürgel” industrial estate. In addition, there are 1,325 sq m for offices and social rooms. A further 1,000 sq m of usable space are planned on mezzanine floors.

For loading and unloading trucks the facility will be equipped with ten dock levellers and two ground-level sectional doors. Parking spaces for five trucks and 48 cars are provided in the outdoor area.

Atrikom fulfilment, headquartered in Ginsheim-Gustavsburg, will operate a state-of-the-art e-commerce warehouse from the middle of next year in the new building. “With the commissioning of the logistics centre in Bodenheim, we are expanding our network of locations and will supply our customers’ clients just in time from there in the future,” said Daniel Deckers, Managing Partner of atrikom fulfillment, explaining the importance the new building will have for the company. It sends several million letters and more than two million parcels per year.

The property in Bodenheim is located only a few hundred metres from the B 9 highway. It connects the site with Mainz, Wiesbaden, Frankfurt and the other metropolitan areas in the Rhine-Main region via motorways 60, 63 and 67.

The realisation of the property also focuses on the issue of sustainability. For the generation of renewable energy, a powerful photovoltaic system is being installed on the roof. The entire building will be equipped with energy-efficient LED lighting. The car parking areas and bicycle shelters will be equipped with e-charging stations. The outdoor area will be extensively landscaped with trees and shrubs and should offer opportunities for a quality retreat.

Garbe Industrial Real Estate is aiming for certification in accordance with the Gold Standard of the German Sustainable Building Council for the new building. “The employees who will work in the logistics centre in the future and the surrounding area will benefit equally from the sustainable development of the property,” says local mayor Thomas Becker-Theilig with conviction.

Garbe breaks ground in Bodenheim

Posted on by Keith McKinley

With a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony, construction work has officially begun on the logistics centre that Garbe Industrial Real Estate GmbH is developing in Bodenheim, Rheinhessen (Mainz-Bingen district), Germany. The tenant of the property, which has a total area of 14,500 sq m, is atrikom fulfillment, a company specialising in e-commerce and advertising materials logistics as well as dialogue marketing. The new building is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2023. Garbe Industrial Real Estate is investing around €23m in the site.

“Today sets the course for the successful implementation of our joint project,” Adrian Zellner, Member of the Executive Board of Garbe Industrial Real Estate, emphasised on the occasion of the ground-breaking ceremony. The Hamburg-based project developer will build a property with a hall area of around 12,100 sq m on the 23,500 sq m site in the “Bürgel” industrial estate. In addition, there are 1,325 sq m for offices and social rooms. A further 1,000 sq m of usable space are planned on mezzanine floors.

For loading and unloading trucks the facility will be equipped with ten dock levellers and two ground-level sectional doors. Parking spaces for five trucks and 48 cars are provided in the outdoor area.

Atrikom fulfilment, headquartered in Ginsheim-Gustavsburg, will operate a state-of-the-art e-commerce warehouse from the middle of next year in the new building. “With the commissioning of the logistics centre in Bodenheim, we are expanding our network of locations and will supply our customers’ clients just in time from there in the future,” said Daniel Deckers, Managing Partner of atrikom fulfillment, explaining the importance the new building will have for the company. It sends several million letters and more than two million parcels per year.

The property in Bodenheim is located only a few hundred metres from the B 9 highway. It connects the site with Mainz, Wiesbaden, Frankfurt and the other metropolitan areas in the Rhine-Main region via motorways 60, 63 and 67.

The realisation of the property also focuses on the issue of sustainability. For the generation of renewable energy, a powerful photovoltaic system is being installed on the roof. The entire building will be equipped with energy-efficient LED lighting. The car parking areas and bicycle shelters will be equipped with e-charging stations. The outdoor area will be extensively landscaped with trees and shrubs and should offer opportunities for a quality retreat.

Garbe Industrial Real Estate is aiming for certification in accordance with the Gold Standard of the German Sustainable Building Council for the new building. “The employees who will work in the logistics centre in the future and the surrounding area will benefit equally from the sustainable development of the property,” says local mayor Thomas Becker-Theilig with conviction.

TVH achieves sustainability goal

Posted on by David Priestman

Parts specialist TVH has reached the second level in the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) sustainability trajectory, and may now call itself SDG Champion.

TVH − a global player in the field of parts for forklifts, industrial, construction and agricultural equipment – was one of the first Belgian companies to receive the UNITAR certificate of SDG Pioneer in 2020. This constituted international recognition for corporate sustainability.  Specifically, TVH garnered the highest praise during the last audit for its recycling efforts, ergonomic work environment, and extensive electric vehicle fleet and infrastructure. Now, TVH has also reached the next level, becoming an SDG Champion.

Anton Theunynck, Global Sustainability Manager at TVH (pictured left with Frederik Hanssens, TVH’s SHE Manager), said: “To our company, sustainability is of strategic importance. This clearly helped to convince the jury, as did our choice to commit to specific SDGs through targets and measurements. A final convincing element was our policy to have key actors, such as the board, management and focus groups, take on a specific role, all the while providing the necessary cross-pollination. We were also given some homework: translating all of this into bigger strategic actions.”

UNITAR wants to offer governments and organisations a compass for corporate sustainability, based on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (or SDGs). To receive UNITAR certification in Belgium, a company must realise actions for all 17 SDGs and obtain the Voka Charter Corporate Sustainability at least three years in a row. TVH meets both conditions.

 

TVH achieves sustainability goal

Posted on by David Priestman

Parts specialist TVH has reached the second level in the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) sustainability trajectory, and may now call itself SDG Champion.

TVH − a global player in the field of parts for forklifts, industrial, construction and agricultural equipment – was one of the first Belgian companies to receive the UNITAR certificate of SDG Pioneer in 2020. This constituted international recognition for corporate sustainability.  Specifically, TVH garnered the highest praise during the last audit for its recycling efforts, ergonomic work environment, and extensive electric vehicle fleet and infrastructure. Now, TVH has also reached the next level, becoming an SDG Champion.

Anton Theunynck, Global Sustainability Manager at TVH (pictured left with Frederik Hanssens, TVH’s SHE Manager), said: “To our company, sustainability is of strategic importance. This clearly helped to convince the jury, as did our choice to commit to specific SDGs through targets and measurements. A final convincing element was our policy to have key actors, such as the board, management and focus groups, take on a specific role, all the while providing the necessary cross-pollination. We were also given some homework: translating all of this into bigger strategic actions.”

UNITAR wants to offer governments and organisations a compass for corporate sustainability, based on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (or SDGs). To receive UNITAR certification in Belgium, a company must realise actions for all 17 SDGs and obtain the Voka Charter Corporate Sustainability at least three years in a row. TVH meets both conditions.

 

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