16 May 2023
Machines Create Improved Versions of Themselves
The Manufacturing Performance Days (MPD) event 2023 provides solutions to the future challenges and opportunities of the manufacturing industry, which are based on automation, electrification, batteries, circular economy, and reuse.
The industry-reforming summit, Manufacturing Performance Days, taking place in June in Tampere, 2023 focuses on the theme “Sustainable and Resilient Growth”.
As technology advances, leading companies in the machine building market are continuously searching for innovative solutions to improve their operations. With new business models such as manufacturing as a service, and continuous machine updates, it is important for companies to not only provide customers with the best-in-class machines, but also to address modern security risks. This requires new thinking and technical solutions that are well-known in the IT industry, such as container technology, microservices, and CI/CD pipelines.
Noux Node, ABB Robotics, B&R Automation, and Visual Components introduce a cutting-edge solution to address these challenges at the Manufacturing Performance Days event. The demo, based on a real customer-case, features the ABB GoFa robot executing a task in cooperation with B&R Automation PLC and visualization system, while the Noux Node EdgeAPP collects data from the setup and sends it to the NouxCloud platform. The digital twin, running in Visual Components environment, tests an alternative code version for the same task, while the Noux Node EdgeAPP collects data from the digital twin and compares the results in NouxCloud.
The results indicate that the new software version is more effective than the one in the robot, leading the programmer to send the new version of the code to the version handling system. The code is automatically pushed through an API to NouxCloud’s file handling repository, where the Noux Node EdgeAPP recognizes the new version, fetches it from the cloud, and offers it to the PLC and robot. After user acceptance, the software is updated and the robot cell starts to follow the new, improved version of the code.
ABB Robotics and B&R Automation have built this impressive demo using NouxCloud platform, while the digital twin was created by Visual Components using their own 3D simulation tool. This technical demo set showcases the power of innovative solutions and demonstrates how they can be used to overcome modern challenges in the machine building industry.
Technology speakers from the top of the industry
MPD 2023 gathers the top management of the manufacturing industry, technology decision makers, experts, and technology and service providers from around the world in Tampere. Dr. Minna Lanz, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Automation at Tampere University is the Scientific Co-chair of Manufacturing Performance Days.
The event will be opened by MPD Chairman Mikko Nyman, CEO of Fastems, and Andre Klein, who will present John Deere’s electric modular autonomous tractor.
The speakers also include, among others Dr. Dirk Didascalou, CTO, Siemens Digital Industries, Juha Mäkitalo, CEO, Pemamek, Dr. Pekka Tiitinen, Managing Director ABB Finland, Mikko Uuskoski, Managing Director, Beckhoff Automation, Amy Chen, CIO, KONE, Mika Laitinen, Solution Sales Director, Fastems, Timo Laitinen, Vice President, BU Rock Drills, Sandvik Mining and Construction Oy, Malte Lohan, Director General of Orgalim, Europe’s Technology Industries, Soili Mäkinen, Senior Vice President, Sustainable Business Development, Cargotec Oyj, Annamaija Mäki-Ventelä, Project Director, Operations, Patria, Giuseppe Saragò, Director, Manufacturing Excellence, Wärtsilä, Mikko Veikkolainen, CTO, Kempower, Dr. Riikka Virkkunen, Professor of Practice, VTT and Dr. Valtteri Vuorisalo, Head of Trusted Society, Fujitsu.
Top of industry and digitalization as partners
The partners of the event are Beckhoff, Business Finland, Delfoi, DIMECC, FAME Ecosystem, Fastems, Siemens, Tampere University, Technology Industries of Finland, VTT, Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology of the Republic of Austria, Noux Node, SIXNET network, 3D Formtech, 3DStep, Advian, Amexci, ANDRITZ Savonlinna Works, Atostek, Brightplus, Citec, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Tool Project, CSC – IT Center for Science, Dekra, Delva, Elomatic, EOS, Etteplan, Fodesco, Fujitsu, ifm electronic Oy, KONE, Kongsberg Maritime Finland, Lillbacka Powerco, Machine Technology Center Turku, Mectalent, Mirka, Netum, Patria, Ponsse, Raute, Salon Metalelektro, Stereoscape, Teamviewer, Top Data Science, Turku Vocational Institute, Turku University of Applied Sciences, University of Turku, Vaisto, Valmet, Vilpe, Wärtsilä, Åbo Akademi, Ceterio, Lenz, PipeCloud, Twinverse and A.Spire, Cecimo, Deutsch-Finnische Handelskammer, The European Factories of the Future Research Association (EFFRA), Manufuture EU, Orgalim, Tampere Chamber of Commerce and the City of Tampere.