April 1, 2019
Siemens and Festo are presenting an innovative linear motor drive and control concept, designed to offer flexible and efficient high-performance solutions for short-cycle applications. The Multi-Carrier-System (MCS®) from Siemens and Festo has been integrated into the Rexroth TS 2plus transfer system, thus adding the modular MCS to Bosch Rexroth's versatile building-block system based on standardized units. The advantages of the existing systems have been merged, and users are free to combine them in almost any way they wish to achieve maximum flexibility in their processes. This opens up new possibilities in assembly technology or in battery production, for example.
The Multi-Carrier-System enables carriers be accelerated, moved and precisely positioned independently of one another on the MCS track. This not only means that different product formats can be manufactured on a single production line, but also that much shorter cycle times and higher production volumes can be achieved within the same time. The carriers travel smoothly from one system to the other, with seamless loading and unloading. They can also be integrated into existing intralogistics systems.
Linear motors from Festo form the technical basis for the Multi-Carrier-System, ensuring free and dynamic movement as well as precise positioning for the direct transport of products weighing up to 50 kilograms. Thanks to holistic engineering from Siemens and the integrated motion control functionality provided by Simotion and Simatic, movement can be controlled precisely and different machine modules can be coordinated within a single system. The Multi-Carrier-System can be seamlessly integrated as part of a digital transformation process – irrespective of the industry or the company size, since kinematic data is already available in a digital format. These data can be directly used to program the controller, for example, resulting in shorter commissioning times.
The Rexroth TS 2plus transfer system is designed for transporting carriers. It comprises standardized building blocks that can be flexibly combined to create a complete system. The modular design enables manufacturers to exploit potential for increased efficiency at a reasonable cost. All of the components feature a particularly rugged design and ensure increased operational stability.
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With Canadian manufacturing suffering from a growing labour shortage, the participation of industry in skills development is emerging as a vital component in hiring and retention.
The needs are stark: The Canadian Exporters and Manufacturers Association says almost 40% of its members have jobs they can’t fill. Five years from now, 60% expect to be short-staffed, especially when it comes to skilled trades. Statistics Canada forecasts the country’s labour force growth rate will remain below 0.2% for the rest of the decade, below replacement levels.
This growing shortage is affecting companies of all sizes. Already, some manufacturers acknowledge losing out on contracts because they can’t find the manpower to fulfill them.
In reality, the challenge is two-fold: to replenish and expand the workforce to help close the gap between the number of job seekers and vacancies through 2030 when the last baby boomers reach age 65, and ensure workers get opportunities throughout their careers to upgrade or add to their skillset as current technologies evolve and new ones emerge. Festo, through Festo Didactic, one of the world leading provider of equipment and solutions for technical education, intends to help Canada meet this challenge on both fronts. In essence, the approach Festo has always taken is that the learning never stops.
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New Product
Emerson recently introduced the ASCO™ Series 209 proportional flow control valves, which offer the highest standards of precision, pressure ratings, flow characteristics and energy efficiency available in a purpose-built, compact architecture. With this combination of size and performance, Series 209 valves allow users to precisely regulate the flow of fluid in a wide range of devices that require exacting performance, like those found in the medical equipment, food and beverage, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industries.
Accuracy, response time and repeatability are critical in high-precision flow control applications, such as controlling tool speed in dental chairs, the flow of steam in coffee makers, water flow in cooling systems and hydrogen flow in fuel cells. Series 209 valves have low hysteresis (less than or equal to 5%), excellent repeatability (less than or equal to 1%) and high sensitivity (less than or equal to 0.2%) that contribute to their precision.
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Featured Product
Teledyne FLIR Integrated Imaging Solutions is pleased to announce the all new Ladybug6— the latest addition to its field proven Ladybug series. Ladybug6 is the leading high-resolution camera designed to capture 360-degree spherical images from moving platforms in all-weather conditions. Its industrial grade design and out-of-the-box factory calibration produces 72 Megapixel (MP) images with pixel values that are spatially accurate within +/- 2 mm at 10-meter distance.
“The new Teledyne Ladybug6 is designed for mobile mapping and all-weather inspection projects requiring excellent image quality and high resolution,” said Mike Lee, Senior Product Manager at Teledyne FLIR. “With the addition of Ladybug6, we are now pleased to offer a wider variety of spherical cameras with higher resolutions ranging from 30 MP to 72 MP.”
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