Connectivity - Videos

Machine vision technology on show at Routeco Live 2024

Jamie Moss, Account Sales Engineering Team Leader, Cognex, speaks to Roger Fowler, Creative Marketing Specialist at Sonepar, ahead of this year's Routeco Live events. Explains Moss, Cognex specialises in industrial machine and barcode vision technology. Machine vision benefits include increased operational efficiencies, process optimisation, traceability and compliance, effective quality assurance, and improved OEE. Edge learning and AI will be among the areas of focus at the event.

Business benefits and outcomes of a successful MES implementation

A well-planned MES implementation represents a cornerstone to a company's digital transformation journey, with several potential benefits on the table: greater flexibility, better efficiency, agility, less scrap, better OEE insights, and the ability to free up budget and people resources. An open-ended and agile approach is encouraged, as benefits may lead to evolution in a company's future production, technology implementations, and other plans.

Revolutionising automation to streamline product distribution

Rising demand, growing complexity, and evolving workforce: these drivers form the backdrop to how DigiKey Electronics is setting out its strategy to revolutionise automation. Through its recently-opened 2.2m sq ft facility in Thief River Falls, Minnesota (one of the 10 largest warehouses in the US), the company aims to accelerate its growth into the next decade. Automation will play a key role in this.

Fluid sensor system provides modularity and compatibility

The PS+ Series from Turck Banner is a robust modular fluid sensor technology that enables customers to provide reliable measuring instruments with intuitive operation. Already recognised with an iF Design Award, the PS+ pressure sensors can be commissioned easily. After the sensor is connected, it automatically registers whether the controller or the bus module requires a PNP or NPN, current or voltage signal.

Hottest automation trends for 2024

Could 2024 be the year that UK manufacturers finally embrace robotics? After trailing behind our international counterparts for years, the UK is now starting to catch up when it comes to the installation of industrial robotics. Here, seven experts from leading robotics manufacturer FANUC UK share their views on the hottest automation trends to look out for in 2024.

Universal Automation – A time for change (Part 1)

In the first part of this exclusive interview, Publisher Andrew Quenault chats with Dave Sutton of Schneider Electric to explore how new industrial automation open technologies and standards are impacting control systems and how this, together with a new concept called Universal Automation, is now enabling accelerated digital transformation. Watch part 2.
Universal Automation – A time for change (Part 2)

In part two of this exclusive interview, Connectivity's Group Publisher Andrew Quenault and Dave Sutton of Schneider Electric delve deeper into the subject of Universal Automation and where this game-changing technology is going next.

Interview: Connectivity sponsors Hazardex Live 2024 award category

Taking place on 28 & 29 February 2024, Hazardex Live is a two-day conference, exhibition, and awards ceremony dedicated to those concerned with protecting their personnel, process & plant in hazardous area/potentially explosive environments. Connectivity is delighted to be sponsoring the Net Zero Innovation category at the prestigious Hazardex Awards 2024, taking place on 28 February. Register now for Hazardex Live 2024.
Material handing automation within assembly and machining lines

At a Ford engine facility in Valencia, Spain, having already eliminated forklifts, the facility had a vision then to eliminate all industrial vehicles, as well as automate all of its logistics processes. The solution? The plant uses more than 50 AGVs across 20+ routes, and covering 60,000+kms per year. The benefits? A safer, more efficient working environment for its workers.

A holistic approach to digital transformation

Using 'digitalisation' as a toolkit, companies may bring about so-called transformation as their ultimate goal. Approaching this holistically, a company needs to look at its entire manufacturing operation, its complex systems, knowledge, and strategies, and bring these all together to achieve better operational efficiencies, minimal waste, better time-to-market, and better management of cyber risks.
Lighting, safety and I/O Link solutions

Specialising in small-form-factor, flexible and cost-effective end-of-line automation solutions, Iris Factory Automation offers collaborative and industrial palletising, automated vision inspection for traditional traceability or AI-based inspection, and case packing. The company works with Banner Engineering on solutions such as simplification of lighting indication and safety systems.