Feature

Rethinking pneumatic technology for the factories of the future

Industry 4.0 needs intelligent systems and technologies with built-in sensing and communication. This requirement is creating a new spirit of innovation in the pneumatic sector.

31/07/2020 11:56:08

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Times are changing in the manufacturing sector – and fast. Widespread digitalisation has helped usher in the era of Industry 4.0, where automation and data exchange combine to provide real-time insight
into the performance of equipment.

In this brave new world, based on concepts such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), digital networks are key. They provide the ‘eyes and ears’ of
real-time data processing, enabling factory managers to make informed decisions that can help increase uptime and availability of assets in the pursuit of improved Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

As manufacturing continues
this rapid journey to digitalisation, one must wonder what will become of conventional technologies that have been around for a long time. Take pneumatics, for example, which remains based on the age-old
principle of controlling compressed air through tubes. Can this technology play a central role in the flexible & smart production lines of factories of the future?

Read the full article in the August issue of DPA.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.