What is Smart Manufacturing?

Smart Manufacturing for Greater Energy Efficiency

For resource-efficient production, not only must energy be saved, but the available energy must also be optimally utilized. Robotec Solutions therefore develops solutions that focus on smart manufacturing.

Those who want to save costs and protect the environment value energy-efficient production. Robotec Solutions AG is also aware of this. More and more customers are approaching the company, which specializes in robotic systems, with the desire for an energy-saving solution. Nick Koch, CEO of Robotec Solutions: "One-third of customers already want the integration of a measurement system to evaluate energy consumption. A need that will continue to increase in the coming years." The SME therefore develops solutions that optimize energy efficiency. And the results are impressive. "Recently, we evaluated the energy consumption of a system that feeds and removes components from an injection molding machine. It was two kilowatts – that's less than an oven consumes," explains Nick Koch.

Wild & Küpfer AG as a Pioneer

The plastics manufacturer Wild & Küpfer AG placed importance on energy efficiency early on and requested a 100% electrified machine from Robotec Solutions 20 years ago. An idea that was very innovative at the time. CEO Tobias Wild says: "Back then, there weren't as many electrical components as there are today. Nevertheless, individual parts of the system could be realized in an energy-saving manner. Robotec Solutions developed a conveyor belt system for us that ran on electricity instead of pneumatics. For us, that was an important first step into an energy-efficient future." Today, Wild & Küpfer AG fully relies on smart manufacturing and has networked all systems together.

Smart Home for Industry

While smart home technology has long been a part of our homes, smart manufacturing has only been a hot topic for about a year and a half. And this is despite the fact that such solutions would have been possible before and would help many companies with proactive planning and action. According to Nick Koch, the reason lies in energy costs: "Energy is still too cheap, so it receives too little attention." However, as more and more companies produce sustainably and pay attention to the environment, smart manufacturing is increasingly being used. But resources are conserved not only by networking systems and evaluating and controlling energy efficiency. The use of robots themselves is also more energy-efficient than traditional solutions. On the one hand, the applications replace hydraulic and pneumatic functions with electrical ones. On the other hand, the robot goes into sleep mode when it has no task. With a life expectancy of 20 years, the customer also receives a long-term solution that adapts flexibly to changes. Nick Koch adds: "However, it is important that the entire periphery around the robot is also electric. Only then can the desired energy and cost savings be achieved." Robotec Solutions assists with this and uses 30 years of experience for individual and sophisticated solutions.