• July 09, 2021

The preliminary World Robotics data for China released by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) shows a sales increase of industrial robots by 19% in 2020. The outlook for the robotics industry is optimistic”, says Milton Guerry, President of the International Federation of Robotics. “In China, where the coronavirus lockdown came into force first, the robotics industry started to recover already in 2020. In total 167,000 industrial robots were shipped. Market growth in China also has a strong positive impact on foreign suppliers – up 24% or 123,000 industrial robots were shipped from abroad. Japanese suppliers have a dominant market share. Domestic suppliers delivered 44,000 units to their home market which is an increase of 8% compared to 2019. Worldwide, North America and Europe Global robot installations in 2020 were down 2%, particularly under the impact of the Corona pandemic. Still the decline in sales was more moderate than expected. OECD projects global GDP growth to be 5.5% in 2021 and 4% in 2022. Nevertheless, the situation is mixed in different countries. The order intakes of the robotics industry 2021 give reason to expect strong growth in North America and Europe. Order books in the US for example are filling up fast. In Germany, the forecast for the current year shows a strong recovery and signifies a positive turning point for the industry. Even better sales figures will be achievable if the current supply bottlenecks for key components can be quickly overcome. Reduction of carbon footprint The global path to climate neutrality is generating new business. In order to achieve the ambitious climate targets, economies have started to scale renewable energies and environmental technologies to unprecedented dimensions. Robotics and automation enable companies of all sizes to produce the components needed, e.g. fuel cells for hydrogen-powered cars or batteries in the transport sector and solar panels in the energy sector. The new generation of easy-to-use robotics helps to optimize performance in the production process and move manufacturing closer to regional markets at competitive cost. Robotics have proven flexibility to quickly adapt production and respond to changes in demand as well as smaller batch sizes,” says Milton Guerry. “The benefits of increased productivity safeguards jobs by keeping companies competitive.

• June 22, 2021

The report "Smart Manufacturing Platform Market with COVID-19 Impact, by type (Device Management, Connectivity Management, Application Enablement Platform), Application (Performance, Optimization, Asset & Condition Monitoring), Industry, Region - Global Forecast to 2026" According to the new research report, the global smart manufacturing platform market size is expected to grow from USD 5.8 billion in 2021 to USD 13.2 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 18.0%. The growth of this market is driven mainly by growth in industrial automation, growing adoption of smart manufacturing platforms in automotive industry, increasing support from governments for industrial automation, and growing need for streamlined and automated data to boost productivity. Discrete industry is estimated to hold the largest growth rate of the smart manufacturing platform market during the forecast period. The discrete industry includes automotive, industrial manufacturing, electronics & semiconductor, medical device, aerospace & defense, and others. Among these, the automotive industry dominates the smart manufacturing platform market and is expected to grow at the highest rate of 22.1% during the forecast period owing to changing consumer preferences and inefficiency of traditional processes. Changing consumer preferences, technological advancements, and the introduction of regulations associated with the automotive industry are responsible for the high complexity of automobile products. Smart manufacturing platform for device management platform type to grow at highest CAGR from 2021 to 2026 The emergence of artificial intelligence, IIoT, smart manufacturing, Industry 4.0, digitization, and connected enterprise has influenced various industries to deploy advanced solutions in their plants. As a large amount of data is generated from various devices used in industrial facilities thus, it has become vital to manage the devices and data generated. The device management platform allows to connect and disconnect new devices, control various devices, view details of devices and check their status, and monitor devices remotely. The smart manufacturing platform market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2021 to 2026 The smart manufacturing platform market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2021 to 2026 Major companies operating in this smart manufacturing platform market include ABB (Switzerland), Siemens (Germany), Schneider Electric (France), IBM (US), PTC Inc. (US), SAP SE (Germany), Emerson Electric Co. (US), and GENERAL ELECTRIC (US).

• June 10, 2021

In a new report on the warehouse automation service market, research company Interact Analysis has revealed that soaring growth in the warehouse automation equipment market is causing parallel growth in the market for service contracts–worth $4.3bn in 2020 and projected to grow to $8.7bn by 2025. Interact Analysis’s research predicts that the global market for servicing of installed automation equipment will see year-on-year double-digit growth up to 2025, when revenues will top $8.7bn. This will be a stable and lucrative market for OEMs and integrators, affording higher profit margins than equipment sales. Currently, a significant number of end-users carry out service and maintenance in-house or use a third party. And there are also customers who consider it cost-effective to leave their machinery un-serviced. Interact Analysis’s work shows that the growing complexity of equipment and rising pressure to avoid machinery down-time, will mean that OEMs and integrators will significantly grow their share of the services market in the next five years. The research shows that the potential revenue generated from offering a lifetime service contract to an automation project is roughly equivalent to the original cost of the project. So, in broad brush terms, a whole-life service contract could double the original revenue from the sale of the machinery. Furthermore, the research shows peaks and troughs in the service cycle, with the highs coming around the 5-, 10- and 15-year marks, corresponding to times when parts are likely to require replacement, and computers and control equipment to need upgrading. In 2020, on-site service in various incarnations - site visits to identify and repair problems, preventive maintenance visits, and the deployment by OEMs of technicians to sites on a full- or part-time basis – accounted for 40% of service revenues. Upgrade services (modernization or alteration of existing systems, not replacement) accounted for 22%, and remote services, where customers have telephone hotline access to support, 19%. That figure of 19% belies the fact that basic hotline service packages have a very high take-up among end-users, some 80-90%. Additionally, on-site services will become more prevalent as automation solutions get more sophisticated.   

• May 24, 2021

Analog Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADI) announced a newly commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Analog Devices, that shows that industrial manufacturers who have made investments in connectivity technologies (“high maturity”) are better positioned to drive innovation and gain a competitive advantage compared to firms that have been slower to implement connectivity (“low maturity”) across the factory floor. The study, based on a survey of more than 300 manufacturing, operations and connectivity executives across the globe, found that 85% of high maturity firms are currently using Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies across much of the factory floor, compared to 17% of low maturity organizations. Over half (53%) of low maturity organizations report that their legacy equipment is unable to communicate with other assets. This past year was a true catalyst for digital transformation and many businesses needed to navigate and adopt connectivity strategies that helped them to become more agile and lay the groundwork for future innovation,” said Martin Cotter, SVP Industrial, Consumer & Multi-Markets at Analog Devices. “We see significant opportunity in the adoption of connectivity solutions, including 5G, to help organizations get data more quickly, enabling end applications. Connected firms believe that improving network reliability (including adding 5G networks) will create significant opportunity: 68% of high maturity firms say this will enable them to make better use of existing cloud infrastructure and 66% believe their industrial data and IP will be more secure. Conversely, only 21% of low maturity firms believe that improving network reliability will help improve security. However, all respondents agree that improving network reliability will improve efficiency by freeing up employees who are constantly resolving downtime issues. Low maturity firms struggle with security risk: 54% say that their lack of sophisticated cybersecurity strategy puts their business, customer, and employee safety at risk. The human element continues to pose challenges: Almost half (47%) of low maturity firms say they lack the expertise to understand which connectivity technologies to invest in, indicating a skills gap. Even high maturity firms report that it is not easy for them to access the insights they need to make labor planning and safety decisions. Real-time monitoring of equipment and productivity demonstrates an acute awareness of the high cost of unscheduled downtime: High (5%) and medium (17%) maturity firms reported much lower occurrence of unscheduled downtime of their industrial technology or equipment each week than low maturity companies (53%). These interruptions lead to higher cost of holding inventory and labor per unit, loss of production and customer confidence and decreased work capacity. This research shows us that while many firms are benefiting from the promise of industrial connectivity, others have signi...

• April 06, 2021

The OPC Foundation is proud to welcome Inovance as the 800th OPC Foundation member. As a leading global provider of industrial automation solutions, Inovance uses agile production techniques and deep experience across all industry sectors to help companies establish and maintain industry-specific business units around the world. More than a products company, Inovance builds long-term partnerships with its customers providing them with access to world-class R&D and manufacturing and highly skilled engineering and industry-sector specialists. Dr. Yang Lei, director of research and development at Inovance, commented on the decision to join the OPC Foundation, "We are honored to join the OPC Foundation. OPC UA will play a significant role in our factory automation software and industrial Internet of things platforms. Dr. Yang continued, "This is an important step for Inovance as it helps us transform our automation solutions into digital transformation and intelligent factory solutions. The OPC UA standard is particularly attractive to us because it is system agnostic, has broad multi-function capabilities, and is secure. This enables us to integrate data from controllers, drivers, sensors and devices with our edge and cloud applications for data analysis–effectively enabling us to build network architectures that span every layer in the factory. Albert Zhang, managing director, OPC China, said, "As an international and a Chinese National Standard, OPC UA is well-positioned to contribute to the Made in China 2025 initiative. OPC UA enables China's manufacturers to take advantage of IIoT era data interoperability in their own factories and helps make their automation products more competitive internationally. Mr. Zhang continued, “Inovance is a great example of a leading Chinese company truly taking advantage of what OPC UA has to offer. We welcome Inovance to the OPC Foundation and look forward to the OPC UA enabled products and solutions it will bring to the market. Manager: Stan Email ：Stan@kerienplc.com Mb(WeChat):+86 13695017293 Website :www.kerienplc.com

• April 02, 2021

DC Systems is a Netherlands based start-up, specializing in active AC/DC microgrids, DC power conversion, and a comprehensive range of DC solutions This acquisition reinforces Schneider Electric’s expertise to provide resilient and sustainable energy infrastructures The world is becoming increasingly electric. Electricity is more than ever, the energy of the 21st century: it is the most efficient energy and the best vector for decarbonization. Innovation is part of Schneider Electric’s DNA and teams are constantly assessing promising trends and technologies that can help to make energy safe, reliable, efficient, sustainable, open and connected. Direct current in electrical distribution is one such area. With the acquisition of DC Systems, Schneider Electric is consolidating its portfolio, to offer customers increased simplicity and resiliency for relevant applications such as building microgrids in unreliable public grid environments, or long-distance applications such as public lighting. Schneider Electric has always been at the forefront of innovation,” said Nadège Petit, EVP of Schneider Electric’s Power Products Business. “This new acquisition aligns closely with our Company Purpose to empower all to make the most of their energy and resources. Furthermore, it reinforces our commitment to provide efficient and resilient solutions for microgrids in buildings, among other applications”. DC Systems has an established track record in developing hybrid AC/DC electrical distribution systems for microgrids, and its DNA has been built on the deployment of real-life projects. With several years of  experience in the field, DC Systems is recognized for being one of the first organizations to have made a “100% DC-electrified building”, namely the Amsterdam based “Circl building”. DC Systems has also provided DC electrical solutions for more than 300 kilometers of public road lighting, as well as for several commercial buildings across Europe. All of these projects were realized thanks to its existing ecosystems of contractors and integrators. In Schneider Electric we have found a like-minded partner with a shared vision, who, like us, is committed to delivering superior energy solutions, based on an open ecosystem, that offer tangible benefits for all,” said Harry Stokman, founder of DC Systems. “I look forward to tackling the energy challenge together. Manager: Stan Email ：Stan@kerienplc.com Mb(WeChat):+86 13695017293 Website :www.kerienplc.com

• March 29, 2021

Leading market research company Interact Analysis has released a new report on the collaborative robot market. The report reviews what turned out to be a difficult 2019 and a tumultuous 2020 but gives reason for optimism for the sector from now up to 2028, with significant growth predicted. As is the case with many industries, Covid-19 has severely affected the short and medium-term outlook for the collaborative robot sector. In 2020 the market saw negative growth for the first time -11.3% in revenue terms, and -5.7% in shipment terms. Factory and warehouse closures slowed down demand; and customers became more cautious about investment, leading to delays or even cancellations of orders. But Interact Analysis’s research indicates that there will be a V-shaped rebound for the industry which will result in growth of nearly 20% in 2021, surpassing 2019 market size. Thereafter up to 2028 there will be an annual growth rate of the order of 15-20%. The forecast has been lowered considerably compared to the equivalent 2019 report, the main reasons being, besides the Covid effect, competition from small articulated and SCARA robots in industrial settings, and the slower than expected increase in cobot installations in non-industrial applications but, in these turbulent times, the outlook looks good for the sector. The impact of Covid-19 on the cobot market varies from region to region. The virus started in the Asian regions and then moved to Europe and North America. As a result, normal business operations and commissioning of automation projects in the Asia-Pacific region will resume earlier than in other regions. This is important for the cobot market, as over 50% of cobots were shipped to Asian countries in 2020. However, only the Chinese and, interestingly, the North American markets are forecast to surpass the size of 2019, mainly due to large domestic demand. China has seen high take-up of cobots because the country, as the world’s largest manufacturing base, is suffering from a labour shortage and is in strong need of higher levels of automation to improve production efficiency. By 2022 all regions are predicted to have exceeded the 2019 market-size, with Western Europe, along with China and North America seeing the fastest growth rates. Jan Zhang, senior director at Interact Analysis, told us: “Collaborative robots are still the new kid on the block. Their application potential hasn’t been fully exploited yet, by any means. At present, electronics is by far the biggest end-industry employing cobots, but their potential is now being recognized across a range of sectors. Their flexibility and ease of use makes them strong candidates for logistics, services and even education applications. Our research tells us that those non-manufacturing areas will account for 21.3% of collaborative robot revenues by 2024. Our little Cobot friends are certainly set to enjoy significant growth compared to other robot types. Manager: Stan Email ：Stan@kerienplc.com M...

• March 19, 2021

Distance and physical barriers are hampering data transmission to remote locations, but new technologies are evolving to break down these barriers. In its newest report, “Innovating Remote Connectivity,” Lux Research, a leading provider of tech-enabled research and advisory services, analyzes evolving technologies and their suitability for key industries that require remote solutions. Over long distances, the options for transmission technologies dwindle, leaving 4G/5G cellular, LPWAN, and satellite as suitable, reliable options for remote connectivity. The trade-offs between 4G cellular, LPWAN, and satellite have long been known,” said lead analyst and report author Michael Sullivan. “LPWAN’s low bandwidth is well-suited for remote device monitoring, while satellite’s long range makes it suitable for environmental monitoring. Remote connectivity solutions aren’t only concerned with how data is transmitted: Where data is processed is also an important consideration. Edge computing enables companies to strategically place data processing nodes closer to the data source, reducing latency. When data can be processed locally, as it is in edge computing, less traffic has to be sent to remote data centers or transferred to central cloud platforms for processing. This capability reduces bandwidth and power requirements and can allow lower-cost technologies to be deployed. Lux Research has ranked the different connectivity options that are best suited for certain industries. For example, oil and gas should utilize LPWAN for surface equipment monitoring and satellite for onshore or offshore drilling. The best solution for well and production data analysis is increasingly a 5G hybrid that combines both range and low latency. Remote manufacturing will benefit most from 5G for predictive maintenance and remote control of robots and machines but should use LPWAN for energy consumption monitoring. Mining and construction can benefit from a range of options: LPWAN for site equipment monitoring, satellite for site inspection, and 5G for automated machine operation. Manager: Stan Email ：Stan@kerienplc.com Mb(WeChat):+86 13695017293 Website :www.kerienplc.com