"Without a powerful infrastructure, digitalisation hits its limits fast"
08 March 2018
Jörg Scheer, Head of the Weidmüller Group's Device & Field Connectivity Division
In this interview Jörg Scheer, Head of the Weidmüller Group's Device & Field Connectivity Division, discusses the place connection cables have in digitalisation.
Digitalisation is increasingly becoming a part of our customers' processes and products. That also means – apart from a greater scope of application and functionality – increased complexity. Weidmüller as a partner for Industrial Connectivity supports and unburdens its customers with product solutions and consulting from the concept to the production stage. With this approach it helps customers to seamlessly integrate their application into a digital infrastructure: whether power, signals or data – Weidmüller connect customers' devices comprehensively, reliably and simply from sensors and devices in the control cabinet or in the field all the way to actuators.
Digitalisation in general is increasingly evolving from a vision to reality along with Industry 4.0. The IT and automation industries continue to grow closer together. The industry increasingly experiences what we already know as "Smart Home" from our living rooms. Technologies such as single-wire Ethernet, I/O-link, but also TSN (Time-Sensitive Networks), or increasing popularity of standards such as OPC UA accelerate this development.
All of this pivots around a reliable and comprehensive infrastructure as no energy, signals or data can be transmitted without the proper connections. Having been a significant part of the development process for energy and signal transmission connection systems right from the start, Weidmüller now increasingly focus on industrial-grade and high-performance data push-in connectors. Apart from new concepts for energy transmission and distribution, the automation technology of the future will also depend on information flow without interference or losses. Digitalisation would hit its limits fast without a powerful and comprehensive infrastructure.
What requirements for simple components such as plug-in connectors result from this?
Digitalisation changes the entire conventional landscape of connectivity. The IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), as the digitalised industry is also referred to, consists of so-called cyber-physical systems (CPS). This means a symbiosis of hardware and data that has a "digital twin" for each component. This twin is not only an exact replication of the physical properties but also an ever-growing memory containing all data and events – from development, components and properties of a component or a system over its entire life cycle to its end-of-life. These two dimensions of digitalisation apply to Weidmüller products as well: One thing is that Weidmüller increase performance and expand specifications, e.g. by using faster data transmission rates and by ensuring electromagnetic compatibility through improved shielding. It also includes smart functionalities such as predictive maintenance.
In addition to that, Weidmüller will also provide customers with the above-mentioned digital twin for every single product. There is still a lot of unused potential in the area of plug-in connectors. If all information on the properties and usage of the plug-in connector accompany the product for its entire life cycle as a digital data set, the advantage for customers goes well beyond efficient and error-free processing in the production process. New business models can also be created with regard to applications.
Apart from the actual plug-in connectors, you also offer so-called cord sets. Where do connection cables have their place in digitalisation?
The cord sets are predominantly standardised or customised configurable individual cables or entire cable harnesses for data communication. Not only do customers get an individual plug-in connector for connecting a device in the control cabinet with a machine but Weidmüller provide them with a comprehensive and prefabricated solution from a single source. From field-attachable plug-in connectors to pre-assembled end-to-end cable solutions – Weidmüller provide the entire electromechanical infrastructure for data, signals and power from a single source.
Speaking of power: At the SPS show, Weidmüller introduced additional power plug-in connectors for connecting devices using PUSH IN technology. Apart from a reduction in installation time, this technology eliminates service costs by being maintenance-free.
What new developments do you see in the field of robotics – in Germany and globally?
The field of robotics is currently transforming the value-added chains in production and hence mostly affects machine construction. Current figures underline just how large this lever is: The industry association International Federation of Robotics (IFR) estimates in their annual report published in late September that the inventory of industrial robots will reach three million units by 2020. Considering that there are currently approx. 1.3 million industrial robots in all factories worldwide, this would mean double the capacity in less than three years. Last year alone the global market gained 16 percent with around 295,000 units sold. The VDMA confirms this: The association corrected its prognosis for Germany in 2017 from seven to a whopping eleven percent increase in turnover. In robotics alone, there is now an expected growth of 15 percent over 2016 in Germany instead of the forecasted eight percent.
China plays a particularly important role in market growth as well as in technology development in the field of robotics. Progressive industrial policy and subsidies further increase the speed of this development. Another example is the recent inauguration of the new "Robotation Academy" in Fushan – a cooperation of global market leaders and local players – focusing on smart production i.e. Industry 4.0. The academy provides the framework conditions for interdisciplinary research and development aimed at getting concrete applications within reach and learning from the experience. Industry 4.0 is also increasingly gaining relevance in China as the country struggles with extreme salary increases and experiences a transformational process away from the extended workbench of the West towards increasing levels of automation.
You are describing a number of technologies and developments that currently are hot topics across the industry. In brief: How does Weidmüller face the challenges?
Weidmüller is already positioned well. It is proactively developing products and competencies further towards digitalisation – with the declared goal of being a supportive partner to customers with their own challenges and transformation processes. Be it face-to-face or online, with products, samples or data, in development or approval processes. The company is by their side all the way providing experience, competencies and future-oriented solutions with proven Weidmüller quality. Weidmüller wants to explore new ways together – before today becomes yesterday.
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