The Festo customer magazine | Issue 1.2020

in automation

Decisions When, how and why?

20,000 Five ... 50 –100 times a day – technologies with masks per minute, head or gut instinct different strengths depending on the design We will support you with your decision- making. Dr. Ansgar Kriwet, Member of the Management Board Sales

Dear reader,

Does this sound familiar? Sometimes you only have a fraction What made this event special was the combination of the virtual of a second to make certain decisions, for example when playing world and real space. I’m convinced that we’ll have many more sport or in traffic. Most of the time these are automatic and formats like this in the future. After all, the figures speak for learned actions that lead to exactly the right decision. During the themselves: 14,000 customer registrations, 68 sessions in par­ coronavirus pandemic we weren’t able to fall back on any such allel in 4 languages and over 33,000 live stream views in total. experiences. And yet we had to make some decisions more quickly than usual and sometimes in a completely different way to before. In addition to the quick decisions required in some situations, there are also those based on long-term, strategic considerations. While working from home, we launched projects together in no For example, several years ago we decided to successively extend time at all, saw them through to a successful conclusion and lent our product portfolio in order to give you even more options our support worldwide in the fight against the coronavirus pan­ to meet your automation needs. At Festo you now have a choice demic. For example, we provided support for the construction of five technologies – more than with any other automation com­ of an emergency hospital and even developed an emergency pany. With this wide range of possibilities, there will always be ventilator that can be ready to use in the shortest possible time a solution that perfectly fits your task. We will support you with under certain circumstances. You will also find our components your decision-making. To find out how, go to page 14. in a new automated mobile mask production facility. Subsystems for rapid tests featuring unique, very precise piezo technology One of the more than 20,000 conscious or unconscious decisions are in demand, too. You can find out more about these special that you make every day will be whether you read the articles in projects on page 22. this magazine and find innovative ideas and inspiration for your automation. Swift decisions were also needed after the sudden cancellation of the Hannover Messe. Festo responded quickly and set up I hope you enjoy reading this issue. its first virtual trade fair on 15-16 July in record time. With the slogan ‘Smart. Flexible. Digital.’, Festo showed experts from all over the world topics they would have discovered at our stand at the Hannover Messe: the latest innovations and highlights for the key trends, digitalisation, individualised production, climate protection and demographic change. Ansgar Kriwet 12 30

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Imprint Publisher Festo SE & Co. KG, Ruiter Straße 82, 73734 Esslingen, Germany, Telephone +49 711 347­0 Design, project management and editorial management Silke Gartenmeier, Customer Magazine and Technical Press, [email protected], Telephone +49 711 347­3902 Responsible for content Dr. Guido Purper, Head of Market Communication, [email protected] | Please note: All terms such as customer, user, specialist or technical consultant are used as all­inclusive nouns, regard­ less of gender. Copyright 2020 Festo SE & Co. KG All rights reserved. All images, graphics and texts are protected by copyright law or other intellectual property rights. Any reproduction, modifi cation or use in other print or electronic publications is prohibited without the express consent of Festo SE & Co. KG. Feedback [email protected] 1.2020 trends in automation Contents 4 – 5

In focus Decisions

Not all decisions are made in such stunning settings as here on a small island to the north of the polar circle. Or in 90 minutes, either. But sometimes decisions have to be made more quickly than usual. You can read all about where and why, head or gut instinct, and which automation concept is the right one for you, as well as lots more, in this issue. Photo: © Daniele Gomiero

Editorial 3 Panorama 6 Compact 42 Soft Stop 46

Compass Impulse

How we decide what we decide The right choice One more question Neurobiologist Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerhard Roth Where once the focus was on pneumatic Dr. Frank Melzer, Member of the breaks down the four types of decisions. solutions, nowadays the Festo portfolio Man agement Board at Festo, talks about And explains how external factors also boasts fi ve technologies, all equally his work as head of the central steering infl uence our decision-making process. 8 represented. 14 group of Plattform Industrie 4.0 and about forward­looking decisions. 20 Seeing and understanding More than 3,700 subscribers, over 120 videos in German and English, 1 million clicks: the YouTube video series Synergies ‘service2see’ is the perfect complement to the technical hotline. 12 The right response A wealth of diamonds a day Both a challenge and an opportunity: Buko, Belgium: high­performance auto­ successful partnerships, joint projects mation solution with fast­switching valves and new ways of communicating during brings out the sparkle in diamonds. 36 the coronavirus pandemic. 22 A perfect fi t Rapid mask production Paro, Switzerland: fl exible electronics Mikron, Germany: a mobile system for assembly with the Multi­Carrier­System. producing face masks made possible The transport solution increases the with engineering support from Festo and fl exibility of the plant. 38 featuring products from the core product range. 28 Care and cooperation Croatia, Alfa Car: new production plant Cutting-edge machining for car cosmetic products. More than Stama, Germany: milling­turning centres 200 process valves can be controlled with integrated automation and key fully automatically using a complete components from Festo. Four customised solution from Festo. 40 solutions play their role in the high­speed handling processes. 30 Too many decisions?!

We make around 20,000 micro-decisions every day. It starts when we get up, have our morning cup of coffee or tea and choose what to wear.

Decision fatigue is what happens when someone has to make too many decisions Wearing the same thing every day at least gets rid of in a day; eventually they no longer make one decision in the morning. Well­known proponents them as easily or as well. of this: Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg. 20.000

Do you follow your gut instinct or decide with your head? Wisdom of age

Is there a typical gut instinct Older people make decision­maker and a typical smarter decisions. They head decision­maker? Accor­ are better at weighing ding to a study by the Max up the immediate and Planck Institute for Human delayed gratifi cation. Development, this is based They are therefore more likely to use the prefron- more on the subject matter 1 of the decision than on tal cortex (1), the area 2 personality. of the brain responsible for rational and considered action, The preferred decision­making approach – head or gut instinct – when making decisions. depends on how competent you feel in an area. If you do not con­ sider yourself an expert on a topic, you will be more likely to make Younger people are more likely to use the a knowledge-based decision, in other words one controlled by the ventral striatum (2), which tends to lead to head. You will be more likely to make an intuitive decision, in other a more impulsive and spontaneous response. words using gut instinct, on a topic about which you feel confi dent.

Mixed teams make More men better decisions Greater risk tolerance More women A balanced team composition results in balanced Lower risk tolerance decisions. If a group is dominated by one sex, the decision will have a higher degree of risk (more men) or lower (more women) than if the Mixed groups individuals had made the decision alone. Balanced risk tolerance 1.2020 trends in automation Panorama 6 – 7 Firing on all cylinders

A study by the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience in Berlin showed that when people can make decisions in their own time rather than on the spot, the brain will already have made up its mind. It can take up to 7 seconds before a conscious decision is made.

Even in the case of a decision that has to be made on the spot, it is possible 7 SEC to detect a certain brain activity that happens a few hundreds of a millisecond before the decision is made. The brain is simply faster than the rest of us.

Influencing decision-making

Alternatives help: Joel Huber from Duke University discovered the decoy effect. Some­ one who cannot choose between two things needs a decoy in the form of another option. Decoy Effect

? ? Oh, expensive! Oh, OK!

Decoy

Too much choice The paradox of too much choice People prefer to have a wide choice, but can find itharder to make a decision. In addition, the joy of the decision is diminished. The other option might have fitted better! This is called opportunity costs.

The main thing is to do nothing. In the late 80s, economist Jack Knetsch conducted an experiment. He gave students a coffee mug and, a few minutes later, asked them whether they wanted to trade the mug for a chocolate bar. 90% preferred to keep the mug. But it was the same the other way around. If the students got the chocolate bar first and could then trade it for a coffee mug, around 90% still declined. This phenomenon is called decision paralysis, and it primarily describes an unwillingness to opt for something new. The preferred action is to do nothing.

Sources: Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Psychological Science, Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Wiwo.de, Business Insider, Washington Post, Spon.de Neuroscientist Gerhard Roth on the types of decision How we decide what we decide

People make up to 20,000 decisions a day. Much of what we do is automatic and intuitive, the conscious mind is just the tip of the ice­ berg. For neuroscientist Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerhard Roth, the simple division into ‘head and gut’ falls short; in his view, there are no purely rational decisions.

ggs or marmalade, bread or muffi n? Or what about cereal? Bike, car or train? Where to buy, when to buy, what to buy? Celebrate a milestone birthday with a big E party at home or avoid the whole fuss altogether? Tackle a project straight away or start by brainstorming with colleagues? Each day is packed with decisions, of which people only con­ sciously notice a fraction. And yet the rational decision­making approach is more popular than the unconscious one, particularly when it comes to professional matters. According to Gerhard Roth, however, too much weight is often given to the ‘head’ when it comes to when and how we should make decisions. To better understand ourselves and others, he differentiates four kinds of decisions: automatic decisions, gut instinct decisions with and without time pressure, considered decisions and deferred intuitive decisions. While concepts such as ‘intuitive’, ‘emotional’ and ‘automatic’ are often lumped together in general, Roth separates them in order to develop a clearer picture of how we make decisions in different situations. 1.2020 trends in automation Compass 8 – 9

In everyday life much is done automatically Most of the decisions we make every day are automatic. They are either made totally unconsciously or only with ‘associated awareness, and in any event without much deliber­ ation’. For someone who gets up in the morning, eats breakfast and drives to work, most of the decisions are automatic. We decide when but not how to do something.

The background to automatic decisions is that our brain is always working on standard­ ising decision­making processes and turning them into routines so that less and less effort is required in similar situations in future and we can make decisions without much deliberation. “We observe that decisions in new and unfamiliar situations are initially taken consciously and after a lot of deliberation. But if we repeatedly face the same problems and our earlier decisions were right, an automation process sets in and our consciousness is usually less and less involved,” explains Roth.

“Two thirds of the decisions top managers make alone are intuitive.”

Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerhard Roth, University of Bremen

Not all gut instinct decisions are the same The second type of decision is gut instinct decisions. According to Roth, these can be divided into those made under time pressure and those made without time pressure. The saying ‘making a gut instinct decision’ best fi ts spontaneous decisions, i.e. those made under time pressure. “They are similar to automatic decisions, but are not standardised. These are quick decisions, often in situations of stress or danger, and we cannot or do not want to spend a long time thinking, but at the same time they are emotionally charged situations,” explains Roth. We are not only talking about events like fi res, assaults and other threats from people or animals, but also about quick purchase deci­ sions or about our conduct in traffi c.

We make a gut decision with no time pressure according to the motto ‘follow your heart’. Whether consciously or out of necessity, for exam­ ple in a state of great fear, great anger or great love, we do not con­ sider the consequences of our actions. “It’s important that we take our time so that these decisions can ‘mature’,” stresses the neuroscientist. Photo: © Marijan Murat

Apropos intuition ...

When should you rely on intuition, Prof. Roth? It is worth relying on intuition in decision­making situations where something similar already occurred and when very complex decisions need to be taken. However, whether you should rely on your intuition or apply classic decision­making rules depends on the situation. While an intuitive approach is widely accepted when selecting personnel, something like an accounting system cannot be operated on this basis. Another critical aspect is whether the situation is a completely new one or action is being taken on the basis of facts that are already known. Since intuition feeds on the totality of previous experiences, it is very reliable if the situation is familiar. It is also helpful to Interviewee profi le use intuition under time pressure or when there is a limited amount of information. Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerhard Roth

What role does intuition play in management? Gerhard Roth has spent over 40 years as a Every manager has, over the course of their life, acquired Professor of Behavioural Physiology at the knowledge as an individual about how they make decisions in University of Bremen, from 1989 to 2008 in different situations. This decision­making knowledge is built the role of Director of the University’s Insti­ on countless experiences. Top managers report that two thirds tute for Neuroscience and the current Centre of the decisions they make alone are intuitive. However, they for Cognitive Sciences. A Doctor of Philoso­ also admit to looking down their noses at making a decision phy and neurobiologist, he has written a without an analytical rationale when a third party is involved, series of books discussing the signifi cance because they see themselves under pressure to justify their of recent neurobiological fi ndings on philo- decision to others. This therefore shows that we cannot make sophical, moral and educational questions. decisions freely; there are many external factors that also He is also involved in consulting and further infl uence our decision-making process. training with the privately­owned Roth­Insti­ tut Bremen. Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerhard Roth has been awarded the Lower Saxony Order of Merit and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (First Class). 1.2020 trends in automation Compass 10 – 11

What can the ‘head’ do? Considered or rational decisions are the opposite of gut instinct decisions. “These decisions are not spontaneous or purely emotional, they’re considered and weigh up alternatives and their consequences,” says Roth. There is still a widespread view that the more a decision comes from a place of understanding and reason, the better it is, i.e. rational decisions are better decisions. In the neuroscientist's opinion, there are no purely rational deci­ sions in reality. Instead, there is typically a battle between under­ standing and feelings, motives and counter­motives. Reason is best explained as the ability to solve problems using experience­ based and logical thinking.” It thus includes the ability to identify tasks in a given time and apply available expertise properly, for example in order to solve problems or gain a personal advantage. Often, however, decisions are so complex, says the neuroscien­ tist, that we cannot make them purely rationally; there are too many factors to bear in mind or that are not well known.

Intuition for solving complex tasks The fourth type of decision, the deferred intuitive decision, is particularly good for solving complex tasks and problems. It is important not to confuse this with gut instinct decisions. “There’s a big difference between saying ‘listen to your gut!’ and ‘follow your intuition!’. These are decisions in relatively complex situations where you spend some time thinking about them, then leave the matter to rest for a few hours or days before making a reason­ ably spontaneous decision.”

Deferred intuitive decisions are a classic example of a situation in which you spend a long time thinking about something in vain or unsuccessfully trying to remember something. It's only when you let it go that you think of the answer, often hours later as if from out of the blue. Prof. Dr. Dr. Roth explains this as the so­called ‘preconsciousness’. “The infor­ mation processor in our brain doesn’t just consist of the level of consciousness and the level or rather levels of unconsciousness; it also consists of the preconsciousness. This preconsciousness encompasses everything that is not conscious in the moment, but was conscious once and can be made conscious again under certain circumstances.”

Roth says that the preconsciousness is almost limitless in its memory and processing capacity compared with what we can consciously process. People store almost everything they have ever experienced in their memory, but cannot remember all of it. “The ability of the preconsciousness to solve problems is therefore also much greater. This happens preconsciously, not unconsciously, and it happens according to principles other than our rational thinking, even intuitively,” he explains. ‘service2see’ video tutorials Seeing and understanding Whether commissioning a valve terminal with bus system, using the Festo Configuration Tool FCT, changing a toothed belt or converting the rotary indexing table DHTG, the YouTube ‘service2see’ video series shows you step by step what to do. 1.2020 trends in automation Compass 12 – 13

“Commissioning, confi guring, repairing, retrofi tting – the YouTube channel ‘Festo Service’ makes this quick, easy and safe.”

Joana Kölle, Market Media Creation, Festo

And... Action! By professionals for professionals. More than 3,700 subscribers, over 120 videos in German and English, 1 million clicks. These are the impressive stats of the Festo video team that works with Festo technical experts to precisely recreate scenes in the in­house studio. This guarantees that the videos show exactly what should be done in real life. Festo Hotline and Technical Support, who commission the videos, know exactly where the potential problems might occur and offer videos about the most frequently requested topics.

See how it works: Each service video starts with information about the expected task duration and the level of diffi culty. During the video, subhead- ings and progress bars indicate the completion status.

Understand what’s going on: The tutorials include many close­ups, helpful infographics and compact texts. Information about the tools required is provided at the start of each video.

Know what the tricky parts are: Clear picture com­ parisons help to identify typical mistakes quickly. Clear graphics convey even complex topics in an understandable way.

youtube.com/FestoService 5 The right choice

In the middle of the 20th century, the question of what was the best automation concept was decided very quickly: pneumatic solutions were the state of the art. Nowadays, the Festo portfolio boasts five technologies, all equally represented. On the following pages you will find an overview of the differences between them as well as their strengths and weaknesses. 1.2020 trends in automation Impulse 14 – 15

Characteristics of pneumatics – Holding and pressing are where pneumatics comes into its own – End position travel – Wide range of versions – ISO cylinders, integrated guides, etc. – Many variants for a broad range of applications: temperature, corrosion resistance, chemical resistance, food safety – Sturdy and straightforward technology with low maintenance requirements

he history of automation using apps that control the mechanical system. _ 1 _ Pneumatics: simple, sturdy pneumatics and electrics is Electric automation, on the other hand, and low-cost interesting in that it reveals two initially evolved in a medium and high The strengths of pneumatics is founded T opposing developments: simple technological and price segment. on the kind of holding, clamping and pneumatics initially experienced a big pressing typically required when bonding, increase in technological functionality The Simplifi ed Motion Series is now the when working with and sawing wood or thanks to servo­pneumatics. The expan­ fi rst generation in development to have when milling metal workpieces. Once the sion provided by intermediate positions been specifi cally designed for simple func- object in question is secured, pneumatics and travel profi les opened up many new tionality and low cost. Assuming there needs no more energy in the form of possibilities for pneumatics. The inno­ are no specifi c restrictions like explosion compressed air. Electric actuators, on the vation would not have been possible protection or IP classes, electric solutions other hand, are always energised and without three things: the development can be used for all automation tasks. thus continuously consume electricity. of closed­loop proportional valves, new The simple and sturdy technology for sensor options and the corresponding travel into end positions is therefore data processing. Digitised pneumatics popular in almost all sectors that use is the latest development – here, it’s the automation technology. Pneumatics is simple and cost­effective. Servo­pneumatics extends the possi­ bilities, for example by adding force/ distance control and intermediate positions.

Klaus Rautenbach, Product Management Servopneumatic and Firmware, Festo

Characteristics of servo-pneumatics – Ideal for gentle movement and free positioning of workpieces – Excellent for applications with force control – Fast switching from position to force control – For loads up to 300 kg horizontally or 100 kg vertically – Stroke lengths up to 2,000 mm

_ 2 _ Servo-pneumatics: cost-effective is a very good and cost­effective solution signifi cantly fewer components are needed positioning of heavy loads even when positioning heavy loads of since the apps control the piezo valves Servo­pneumatics is characterised by up to 300 kg. that can carry out all the pneumatic and smooth movement for delicate work­ servo­pneumatic functions. pieces and free positioning, fast switching from position to force control and the abil­ _ 3 _ Digitised pneumatics: Its advantages also extend to other areas, ity to transport heavy loads weighing up the future of pneumatics is digital such as previously unknown levels of to 300 kg. It opens up pneumatics to new The latest development is digitised pneu­ process reliability. It enables absolutely tasks such as pressing casters into the matics. It is controlled using Motion Apps reproducible and tamper­proof setting of base of desk chairs. Travel profi les can and thus heralds the end of the era of complex confi gurations with, for example, also be realised with servo­pneumatics. hardware­driven product development. a large number of actuators operating This means that several steps with differ­ In terms of pure functionality, this disrup­ simultaneously. There is no tedious and ent parameters or tools can be combined tive innovation can do exactly what con­ time­consuming adjustment of mechani­ into one station and carried out sequen­ ventional pneumatics or servo­pneumat­ cal fl ow control valves, while the adjust- tially on a workpiece. Servo­pneumatics ics can do. However, in complex tasks ments of the fl ow control valves in ramps 1.2020 trends in automation Impulse 16 – 17

ensures virtually vibration­free travel. apps also make predictive maintenance _ Forecast _ all three technologies This results in faster cycle times and a possible. The condition of components or are here to stay longer service life for the components systems can be monitored on­edge on the The experts at Festo forecast that digitised used. machine, on­premises on a central com­ pneumatics will not completely replace the puter or in the cloud via a host. two other variants, conventional pneumat­ _ Not incompatible _ standardisation ics and servo­pneumatics. This will only and fl exibility Digitised pneumatics can, for example, be the case where it is worthwhile and the Digitised pneumatics also combines two also compensate for pressure fl uctuations tasks in question demand a suitable tech­ important requirements for many modern­ within certain parameters defi ned by the nology. If a simple, continuous movement day production setups: despite extreme user. But if the compressed air require­ from A to B is needed, then conventional standardisation, it still offers a high ment increases because of a signifi cant pneumatics will remain the fi rst choice. level of fl exibility, for example in format increase in a cylinder’s friction, then this And when it comes to heavy loads, smooth change­overs down to a batch size of one. cylinder will be replaced during non­ motion and fast switching from position to The presets that can be defi ned in the production time. This means that many force control, servo­pneumatics will always apps save a lot of setup time. The relevant malfunctions just don’t arise any more. be in demand.

Characteristics of digitised pneumatics – Software­controlled valve functions via Motion Apps: pneumatics and servo­pneumatics – Maximum standardisation combined with maximum fl exibility – Numerous pneumatic functions in one piece of hardware Digitised – High precision: self­correcting functions, for example through machine learning pneumatics – Very high process reliability through condition monitoring and process monitoring offers maximum – Fast format change­overs possible – Free positioning with and without motion planning process reliability as well as better energy effi ciency, and supplies data for highly effi cient process and maintenance management.

Marcus Stemler, Product Management Pneumatic Controls, Festo With the Simplifi ed Motion Series, Festo has brought the simplicity of pneumatics into the world of electric automation.

Nigel Dawson, Business Development Electric Automation, Festo

Characteristics of the Simplifi ed Motion Series – Suitable for simple electric motion into the end positions – Software­free commissioning without the need for programming – High process reliability thanks to defi ned speed and dynamic response – Digital I/O and IO­Link® integrated as standard – IO­Link® for fl exible force and positioning – Integrated, intelligent, electric valve actuators

_ 4 _ Simplifi ed Motion Series: without software. Despite the simple also with infi nitely variable intermediate simple, low-cost, precise design, state­of­the­art communication positions. At the same time, they move This type of electric drive technology was and control concepts are possible. very precisely, quickly and dynamically only recently launched on the market; and with great force. Synchronised move­ the components of the Simplifi ed Motion ments across multiple axes or combina­ Series now facilitate simple electric drive _ 5 _ Electrical variety with tions with dynamic, fl exible Cartesian solutions for the fi rst time. They are low- traditional servo drive solutions robots are also possible. cost and precise for linear or rotary move­ They are the allrounders of electric auto­ ments between two end positions, with mation: millions of combinations for One small but important detail: over 60% high process reliability thanks to defi ned linear or rotary multi­axis movements in of electric servo applications are rotary and reliable speed and force control. In fl exible confi gurations carry out com- applications where the mechanical system addition, the integrated IO­Link® permits pletely different tasks, for example pick is not fi xed. Electric servo drives demon- diagnostics and an Industry 4.0 connection and place systems that feed and remove strate their great fl exibility especially in to the cloud. Commissioning takes place plastic containers during thermoforming – turning and screwing processes. 1.2020 trends in automation Impulse 18 – 19

Characteristics of traditional servo drive solutions – For intermediate positions, precise speeds and dynamic movements – Good process reliability with guaranteed cycle times – Mechanical system in gantry and piston rod design, voltage ranges from 24 V to 415 V – Servo drive and motor combinations for synchronised multi­axis movements – Linear drives can be combined with dynamic and fl exible Cartesian robots – High fl exibility in rotary movements

_ Conclusion _ the right technology Nigel Dawson, Business Development for the right application Electric Automation. “Using this approach, Each of these technologies has its which is often a game of questions and strengths and its weaknesses. The answers, we learn to better understand strengths can often be combined by what matters to them and how they Quick check drive technology: designing systems with different tech­ tackle automation solutions. The decision You will fi nd more information and nologies. An example: the hybrid rotary about which technology is best for the your route to the right technology linear module DSL combines pneumatics customer’s task is often only made during in the Festo Automation Guide for gripping with electrics for the stroke the discussion. That’s why contact with www.festo.com/automation-guide for unscrewing containers. customers is so important to us. And we are always very pleased when we see “The better we know our customers’ afterwards that our advice was spot on requirements, the better and more com­ and we picked the right solution.” prehensively we can advise them,” says Dr. Frank Melzer, Member of the Management Board Product and Technol­ ogy Management at Festo, heads up the central steering group of Platt­ form Industrie 4.0 and represents the industry in dealings with the German government. He explains how this came about and what it takes to make forward-looking decisions when there are up to 350 stakeholders involved. One more question

trends in automation: Can you briefl y explain what Plattform Industrie 4.0 is and what its objectives are?

Dr. Frank Melzer: The platform is made up of over 350 stake- holders from more than 150 companies, associations and trade unions as well as the worlds of science and politics, and supports companies in their transition to Industry 4.0. The platform part­ ners see Industry 4.0 as the biggest opportunity to strengthen Germany’s competitive edge as a manufacturing base. We promote the development of Industry 4.0 in Germany in four ways: by developing pre­competitive concepts and solutions and putting them into practice; by providing companies with recommended actions for practical implementation, information and application examples; by feeding their ideas into the international Industry 4.0 discussion and by playing a part in international standardisation processes. Personally, I think the idea of the platform and what is behind it is unique.

Was the decision to take over the chair of the steering group an easy one?

Melzer: Yes. Even though the call came at short notice in autumn 2018, I didn’t hesitate. I made the decision quite quickly. It goes without saying that being involved in the platform of course also 1.2020 trends in automation Impulse 20 – 21

“Creating a good decision­ making basis requires lots of small and concrete steps.”

Dr. Frank Melzer, Member of the Management Board at Festo

refl ects positively on Festo. Festo aspires to be an innovation Plattform Industrie 4.0 as a framework for action and orienta­ leader and thus also a preferred automation partner for its cus­ tion. The working groups in the platform concentrate on the tomers worldwide. Since 2015, the chair of the steering group implementation of the individual points. For topics that cannot has been held for two years by a member of the management be implemented by the platform's working groups alone, board of one of the leading industrial companies involved in the separate initiatives and projects are set up by members of the platform. After Siemens and SAP, it was Festo’s turn. We have platform as well as from outside. These include, for example, four to fi ve meetings a year during which we steer the platform’s the GAIA­X initiatives, papers on the topic of sustainability work in terms of content and the implementation strategies. and Industry 4.0 or projects on the practice and implementa­ tion of the reference architecture with administration shells. What are the key priorities you decide together with representatives from different interest groups? What infl uence does the Plattform Industrie 4.0 and your work as the chair of the steering group have on Festo? Melzer: Our focus is bundling expertise in the fi eld of Industry 4.0 and transferring that to the companies. A major step was Melzer: It is very important for Festo to support our customers the joint development of the ‘2030 Vision for Industry 4.0’. with intelligent products, decentralised systems and digital It defi nes three areas for shaping digital ecosystems in a global services. This requires a good decision­making basis with lots context: autonomy, interoperability and sustainability. This will of small and concrete steps that make digitalisation manage­ involve actions such as creating an autonomous digital infra­ able. We benefi t from the wide-ranging discourse on digitalisa- structure in Europe or establishing international standards as tion offered by Plattform Industrie 4.0. a prerequisite for smooth collaboration between individual components in a networked manufacturing setup. Among other things, at Festo we are working internally on agreeing a common language for Industry 4.0 so as not to Making decisions on such a scale and with so many stake­ confuse our employees and customers with the different holders must be extremely diffi cult. Can you tell us about this terms. That is why we created a digitalisation glossary that and give us an example? we’re constantly further developing. We’re also continuing to expand internal communication by facilitating exchanges with Melzer: That’s what I initially thought too, but I was pleasantly colleagues using new dialogue formats like the ‘workshop surprised. Our decision­making processes are based on a broad talks’ or ‘DigiCafés’. It’s very important to me that our consensus with extensive coordination in advance, and then the employees feel included and are in the know when it comes implementation can go surprisingly fast in some cases. We all to this complex topic of digitalisation and Industry 4.0. know that we have shared interests and shared objectives that This in turn benefi ts our customers. benefi t us all.

So we jointly developed a 10­point plan, roughly based on the vision, and adopted it in the steering and management groups. This 10­point plan is intended to be used by the members of Festo during the coronavirus pandemic: partnerships, projects, technologies The right response When the Hannover Messe is called off and Festo instead invites its visitors to a virtual trade fair, when Festo employees from many different divisions develop solutions together while working from home, when web conferences replace customer visits, then this is a new and challenging situation for Festo, too. It is precisely the greater physical distance during the coronavirus pandemic that has enabled Festo employees and customers worldwide to come even closer together. Instead of the usual country profile, the current situation has prompted us to compile examples of successful partnerships and projects during these coronavirus times that have often required quick decisions. 1.2020 trends in automation Synergies 22 – 23

What do you do when the Hannover Messe is cancelled and contact with customers is limited because of coronavirus? You get together a motivated team and build a stand on your own premises as quickly as you can, and guide visitors around the exhibition in a ‘real­time visit’. Festo’s fi rst virtual trade fair open its online door on 15 and 16 July with more than 14,000 registrations.

Visitors were able to discover new prod­ ucts and future automation solutions, for example in the fi eld of digitalisation and personalisation, during 68 live sessions This was the fi rst time this type of inter- conducted in four different languages. active live event was held; it was an Experts from all Festo national companies exciting project and the lessons learned were available to share their expertise per­ were passed on immediately to colleagues sonally via chat and in themed chat rooms. in the USA. Their fi rst ‘Festo Virtual Trade The Bionics and FutureConcepts divisions Show’ took place on 5 and 6 August. provided some added inspiration, with promising new developments.

Festo Virtual Exhibition 15th + 16th July 2020 Day 1 15th July, Wednesday

We want to offer you an optimal experience. Therefore, please note the information at the end of the plan for setting the screen parameters before you take part in the event. Sessions Stream 1 < simultaneously running > Sessions Stream 2

UTC + 2h

09.00 - 09.15 Pneumatic Automation 09.00 - 09.15 Get inspired by Bionics and SupraMotion Language: CN Highlights in our Core Product Range Language: EN A glimpse into future concepts. Xuhui Liu Karoline von Häfen, Marinus Matthias Moerdijk, Michael Schöttner

09.30 - 09.45 Electric Automation 09.30 - 09.45 Productivity Master Language: CN Seamless Connectivity from the workpiece to the cloud Language: EN Industrial Transformation - Xuhui Liu a glimpse of the future in a single production machine REALtime Nigel Richard Dawson

10.00 - 10.15 Productivity Master 10.00 - 10.15 Electric Automation REALsphere Language: CN Industrial Transformation - Language: EN Seamless Connectivity from the workpiece to the cloud a glimpse of the future in a single production machine Nigel Richard Dawson Zhou Gong REALtalks

10.30 - 10.45 Get inspired by Bionics and SupraMotion 10.30 - 10.45 Highlights in Automation Language: CN A glimpse into future concepts. Language: EN New Products and Services in Factory- REALmoderation Karoline von Häfen, Yu Zhou, Zhou Gong & Process-Automation and Digitalisation Martin Beier REALchats 11.00 - 11.15 I4.0 - Digital Products and Services 11.00 - 11.15 Pneumatic Automation Language: CN Value added services for #higherproductivity Language: EN Highlights in our Core Product Range Xuhui Liu Bernd Müller, Xuhui Liu

11.30 - 11.45 Highlights in Automation 11.30 - 11.45 Productivity Master Language: CN New Products and Services in Factory- Language: DE Industrial Transformation - and Process-Automation and Digitalisation a glimpse of the future in a single production machine Xuhui Liu, Jing Liebeherr Eberhard Klotz

12.00 - 12.15 Get inspired by Bionics and SupraMotion 12.00 - 12.15 Highlights in Automation Language: DE A glimpse into future concepts. Language: DE New Products and Services in Factory- Karoline von Häfen, Timo Schwarzer, Michael Schöttner & Process-Automation and Digitalisation Carolin Kolb, Tino Bieber

12.15 - 13.00 Break 12.15 - 13.00 Break

13.00 - 13.15 Highlights in Automation 13.00 - 13.15 Automation and Assembly Technology Language: DE New Products and Services in Factory- Language: DE Virtual tour through the technology plant in Germany & Process-Automation and Digitalisation Christoph Kögler Carolin Kolb, Tino Bieber

13.30 - 13.45 Festo LifeTech 13.30 - 13.45 I4.0 - Digital products and services Language: DE Improving quality of life Language: DE Value added services for #higherproductivity Marc Köppler, Chr. Sampedro y Hoffmann, Andreas Schüle Dirk Zitzmann

14.00 - 14.15 Electric Automation 14.00 - 14.15 I4.0 - Digital products and services Language: DE Seamless Connectivity from the workpiece to the cloud Language: EN Value added services for #higherproductivity Tim Otto Dirk Zitzmann

14.30 - 14.45 Pneumatic Automation 14.30 - 14.45 Festo LifeTech Language: DE Highlights of our Core Product Range Language: EN Improving quality of life Bernd Müller, Xuhui Liu Marc Köppler

15.00 - 15.15 Highlights in Automation 15.00 - 15.15 Productivity Master Language: ES New Products and Services in Factory- Language: EN Industrial Transformation - & Process-Automation and Digitalisation a glimpse of the future in a single production machine Javier Alcazar, Francisco Costarrosa Nigel Richard Dawson

15.30 - 15.45 Electric Automation 15.30 - 15.45 Pneumatic Automation Language: ES Seamless Connectivity from the workpiece to the cloud Language: EN Highlights in our Core Product Range Eduardo Soares De Andrade Bernd Müller, Xuhui Liu

16.00 - 16.15 Pneumatic Automation 16.00 - 16.15 Electric Automation Language: ES Highlights in our Core Product Range Language: EN Seamless Connectivity from the workpiece to the cloud Francisco Costarrosa Nigel Richard Dawson

16.30 - 16.45 Get inspired by Bionics and SupraMotion 16.30 - 16.45 Highlights in Automation Language: ES A glimpse into future concepts. Language: EN New Products and Services in Factory- Karoline von Häfen, German Roberto Biquez Talayero & Process-Automation and Digitalisation Martin Beier

17.00 - 17.15 Productivity Master 17.00 - 17.15 Festo Motion Terminal VTEM Language: ES Industrial Transformation - Language: EN Digitised Pneumatics for integrated technology a glimpse of the future in a single production machine andhigh flexibility Arquemino Lopes Junior Marcus Stemler

17.30 - 17.45 Festo LifeTech 17.30 - 17.45 Sustainability in Automation Language: ES Improving quality of life Language: EN Better solutions for cost- and energy-efficient systems Marc Köüüler, Arquemino Lopes Junior Roland Volk The speed at which coronavirus spread around the world resulted in an enormous increase in demand for medical and protective equipment. Festo took its social responsibility seriously from the beginning and did what it could to alleviate the crisis. A number of projects were therefore launched straight away, including the development of an emergency ventilator, support for face mask production and cooperation in the distribution of medical gases in an emergency hospital.

Right at the start of the coronavirus concept, the necessary flow control Dr. Frank Melzer, Member of the pandemic in Germany, a 320-bed tempo- valves MS2 were manufactured in Hungary Management Board, Product and rary emergency hospital was built on and the distribution systems were built Technology Management, Festo the grounds of the Messe Stuttgart exhi­ and installed on site by employees from bition centre. It was intended to provide the trade fair division as well as the medical oxygen to patients who could Scharnhausen Technology Plant. Thank­ “We have learned still walk and breathe on their own. Festo fully the temporary emergency hospital supported the Malteser Hilfsdienst aid was not needed, since the hospitals were a lot and been organisation with the build and with the never overwhelmed as had been feared, able to consolidate distribution of the gas. Festo’s Business and it was dismantled again at the end Unit Pneumatic Supply came up with the of April. that knowledge, and not just from a technical point of The Portuguese company CEiiA is a centre air intake. The electronic control board view. We accelerated of engineering and product development was developed directly on site. that specialises in the development of interdepartmental global aerospace programs as well as the implementation and operation of new- work, dismantled generation intelligent systems for urban mobility. As part of a consortium of pri­ silos, developed vate organisations and the government, the company developed an automatic an even better ventilator specifically for the Portuguese- understanding of speaking world, in close cooperation with and using technology and know-how what other depart­ from Festo LifeTech. The device works on the basis of piezo technology, which ments do and what enables proportional flow control with expertise they have precision adjustment for oxygen and and established new networks and In Hungary, researchers from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics contacts within the developed a ventilator in just 21 days. It has since gone into series production. Companies involved in the project included, among others, Festo Budapest, which company.” contributed a modified version of a pressure regulator and its technical expertise. 1.2020 trends in automation Synergies 24 – 25

During the coronavirus pandemic, Festo Indonesia supported PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN) with the development of a critical care ventilator. TMMIN also worked together with PT Yogya Presisi Tehnikatama Industri (YPTI), PT Stechoq Robotika Indonesia (STECHOQ) and the University of Gajah Mada (UGM) throughout the development process. From initial discussions at the beginning of April to the completion of a design for a pilot unit took just two weeks. Most of the components for the ventilator come from Festo, for example the pressure regulator MS2-LFR for controlling the input pressure of the oxygen and air supply as well as the proportional flow control valve VEMD for controlling the flow rate. All the communication during the project took place digitally.

Intensive research into solutions to cylinder were designed, 3D printed and Dr. Frank Jacob, contain the COVID-19 pandemic was also tested by Hage. Together with the HAGE3D Head of Business Unit LifeTech, Festo conducted in Austria. Especially in the team, a properly functioning, pressure- early days of the pandemic there were monitored machine was ultimately pro­ often supply bottlenecks, in particular for duced. The design was further refined and medical products, and so one of the aims optimised in several stages in close coop­ “The high quality of the Austrian initiative was to develop eration with the Medical University of standards for a pressure-controlled form of artificial Graz, and optimised for use with patients. respiration for crisis and emergency situa­ medical devices tions that could be made available quickly When it comes to pneumatics, the special­ and did not need medical approval. For ists at Hage rely on the rapidly available are guaranteed example, Hage Sondermaschinenbau Festo core product range. Compact cylin­ worked together with the Medical Univer­ ders of the type ADN as well as a pump by EN ISO 13485. sity of Graz to develop an emergency ensure the correct volume and optimum ventilator within just a few weeks. The pressure for the air/oxygen mixture. The Festo can, when new respirator is made from conventional sensors SFAH and SPAN record the pres­ needed, develop industrial components and 3D-printed sure and flow rate, while solenoid valves parts, which ensures rapid availability on MHE4 ensure the intended forced mixing and produce cus­ the regional market. Initial versions based of air and oxygen as well as the optimum on a bag valve mask and pneumatic counterpressure on exhalation. tomised medical solutions within these standards.” Hand hygiene is one of the most important measures to prevent infection, and has been the subject of increased focus in recent months. Unifortes, a Dutch manu­ facturer and supplier of industrial clean­ ing systems, integrated the Festo cylinder DSNU into a dispenser for disinfectant foam. In the dispenser, air mixes with liquid disinfectant to produce foam. The round cylinder acts as a plunger through which air is added to the liquid. A foot pedal enables visitors to sanitise their hands. The innovation received official approval from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RVIM). The dispensers are now installed at Festo sites in the Netherlands and Belgium. One of the pivotal points of Festo during the coronavirus pandemic was and is the Business Unit LifeTech. It is in contact with medical equipment manufacturers from all over the world, so that it can also support them in times of crisis with prod­ uct testing, safety standards and with the suitability of materials for medical use.

Its position as a supplier to frontline industries means that Festo has so far been able to keep all of its sites up and running with almost no restrictions, and ensure a reliable supply of products to its customers.

In the fi ght against the corona- virus, ventilators based on piezo technology play an important role. Piezo valves are particularly well suited for use in portable or sta­ tionary ventilators for outpatient care, in hospitals or in anaesthe­ sia. What makes these compact For 16 years, a concept by a group of scien­ top performers from Festo ideal tists for an emergency ventilator – based for use in medical technology on Festo automation components – lay is their low power consumption, in the archives of the British government. their silent operation, the absence Back then it was developed in response of heat generation, their compact to the SARS pandemic of 2002/03. In and lightweight design and the spring 2020 – at the height of the corona­ long service life. With proportional virus pandemic – an enquiry from a cus­ valves with piezo technology from tomer in Great Britain provided the incen­ Festo, high­precision dosing and tive to dust off the plans and develop regulation is possible in integrat­ an emergency ventilator using modern ed functional solutions. automation components.

The project started with ten Festo em­ ployees from the LifeTech and Advance Within the space of just four weeks, they Development business units. As the managed to develop a suitable solution requirements increased, colleagues for an emergency ventilator for a COVID­19 from the Pneumatic Drives, Electric Drives treatment, thanks to an agile development and Process Automation divisions came process and standard Festo components on board. The result was an interdiscipli- that were quickly delivered – and all while nary team of almost 100 creative minds. working from home. The mini proportional So that the concept could be optimally valves with piezo technology once again adapted to the specifi cs of a COVID-19 demonstrated their strengths. They enable treatment, the Festo experts were in fast adjustment of the pressure and very regular contact with lung specialists from precise pressure regulation. various hospitals in Southern Germany during the different development stages. Although the technical development pro­ cess of the ventilator is complete, it is not approved as medical equipment. Accord­ ing to the German Medical Product Law, a simplifi ed approval would be possible in a disaster situation to get it to the pro­ duction stage faster. 1.2020 trends in automation Synergies 26 – 27

Festo Brazil was able to react swiftly to the coronavirus pandemic, and now also sup­ plies components to ventilator manufacturers. In response to the international short­ age of medical products and the increased domestic demand, production was quickly refocused on the new market requirements. By July, medical valves for air and oxygen from Festo had been used to manufacture more than 11,000 ventilators in Brazil. An interdisciplinary working group was specifically set up in cooperation with universities and partner companies to rapidly adapt the manufacturing process in São Paulo. 15,000 valves were manufactured in the first series. A second series is now planned, with the same number of units.

To ensure that sales engineers were able to give their customers the best possible service during the pandemic while working from home, a new interactive channel called the Digital Collaboration Platform was developed. This meant that many frontline industries such as medical technology, laboratory automation and food and packaging were able to receive round-the-clock support, and continue to do so. The large number of cancelled on-site meetings and general travel restrictions exponentially increased the need for virtual customer contact almost overnight, at Festo too, At the beginning of the corona­ creating a major challenge for Sales and IT. virus pandemic, there was a serious shortage of respiratory masks. Festo supplied electric and pneumatic components and drives that are quickly available worldwide for the automation of mask production. Just one example is Mikron’s mobile mask production system.

On July 29th, Festo and the Fraunhofer IPA based on an existing app. Registered were recognized for the‘Virus Fighters users receive information via the app on Handbook’ App at the Award Ceremony how to use and maintain the ventilators of the Give a Breath Challenge in Munich, developed for the challenge, as well as an ideas competition organised by specific information for treating Covid-19 Munich Re and the Fraunhofer Society to patients. With Smartenance, Festo pro­ combat the corona crisis. In their project, vided an existing and stable platform Festo and a team from the Fraunhofer that only needed minimal reprogramming. Institute for Manufacturing Engineering The Virus Fighters Handbook is to be made and Automation (IPA) joined forces with available to users worldwide free of charge, medical experts from several hospitals to as an app for downloading and as a web develop a concept for a digital handbook application. Rapid mask production

Hard times often call for fast ormally you’d need six months solutions. In just six weeks, for systems of this size,” ex­ plains Nils Rödel, General Man­ Mikron came up with a mobile N ager of Mikron Berlin. “But this system for producing face is time you don’t have in the current coro­ navirus pandemic. So 20 of our designers masks at a rate of 50-100 and fitters spent a week concentrating masks per minute depending fully on this project and, using a 3D model, came up with the basis for this scal­able on the design. Engineering system,” says Rödel. support from Festo played a The system was up and running after key role in speeding up the another five weeks. “Even in this period of processes. crisis, the electric and pneumatic compo­ nents from Festo were available quickly. The fact that integrating and commis­ sioning the electric drive solutions in the system was so easy was also helpful,” says Rödel, adding: “the ‘Festo Automa­ tion Suite’ software made this child’s play for the servo drive CMMT, and we were able to quickly make decisions about the correct sizes.” 1.2020 trends in automation Synergies 28 – 29

Reliable system components – worldwide The pneumatic components are actuated Electric and pneumatic components from by valve terminals MPA. The safety valve Festo ensure the reliable transport of the MS6-SVE ensures that safety-critical sys­ parts and perform clamping tasks in all tem components can be exhausted and process steps, from the three-layer un­ de-energised as quickly as possible in the winding station, the shaping and folding event of a sudden emergency stop. The station for the non-woven fabric, the pneumatic drives from the core product ultrasonic sealing station for sealing the range, such as the compact cylinder ADN, edges to attaching the earloops. The servo the guided drive DFM or the round cylinder drives type CMMT for controlling the elec­ DSNU, are attractively priced, in stock tric drives EMMT can be easily connected worldwide and available within 24 hours. to PLCs from other manufacturers such as Beckhoff, Siemens and Rockwell. Compact in a container The compact design also played an impor­ tant role when building the mobile mask production system. Right from the plan­ ning phase of the mini factory, the focus Nils Rödel, was on being able to produce masks in Managing Director Mikron Berlin, Germany remote areas or even in crisis zones where meeting hygiene standards is more chal­ lenging. The new system therefore fits perfectly in a 20-foot shipping container “The fact that which can act as a cleanroom at the same time, for example next to a hospital, shop­ (A) integrating and ping centre or school. The integrated air- conditioning system with air purification commissioning filters means that production is even possible in places with high risk of viral the electric drive contamination. Depending on the raw solutions in the materials, the system can operate auton­ omously for more than two hours. “This system was so reduces the number of people required, and as a result the risk of infection,” easy was also (B) explains Rödel. helpful.” The system needs to be as easy to com­ mission as it is to build. “The current travel restrictions mean it can be extremely difficult for commissioning technicians to get to where the systems are to be built,” says Rödel. So Mikron came up with a digitised solution: “With the HoloLens, (C) commissioning can also be done virtually using an interactive 3D projection.”

www.festo.com/corerange www.getdigitalnow.com

(D)

(A) Mikron’s scalable system produces 50-100 masks a minute depending on the design. Here is the link to the video (B) Available globally and quickly: Products from about the system: the Festo core product range like the guided drive www.fes.to/mikron-yt-en DFM shown here preparing the earloops.

(C) Depending on the raw materials, the system can operate autonomously for more than two hours. (D) Compatible with higher-level controllers: The servo drive CMMT-ST/AS. Mikron Berlin GmbH, 12623 Berlin, Germany www.mikron.com Special machines and automation systems for automotive, medicine and pharma sectors Milling-turning centres with integrated automation and key components from Festo Cutting -edge machining

The world of abrasive manufacturing methods is in flux. What do modern milling-turning centres need to be able to do now and in the future? Complex components, in particular, require high flexibility, dynamic response and precision. The new MT 733 series is machine tool manufacturer STAMA’s answer to reliable and complete machining using milling and turning. A decisive factor in the handling process is that the workpiece automation is integrated as standard and the key components are from Festo. 1.2020 trends in automation Synergies 30 – 31

nyone who wants to be at the The ready-to-install foursome from Festo forefront of building machines The extremely durable loader axis ELGW for abrasive manufacturing from Festo ensures reliable feeding of the A needs to develop solutions chuck blank and removal of the workpiece, that increase productivity in the long once it has been machined and finished term. In the field of machining, STAMA on six sides. The profile of the loader axis sees complete processing as a key tech­ features a clean design and is used in all nology that meets the requirements of MT 733 types. The new background maga­ both series production and flexible pro­ zine from Festo offers more flexibility and duction. The contradiction between high autonomy – together with the tool maga­ flexibility and productivity seemed irrec­ zines with 2 x 36/64 positions supplied by oncilable up to now, and a challenge that the machine, up to 256 additional tools demanded a strong focus on development can be provided. Like the loader axis, the from STAMA. Different machine concepts background magazine was also specially were put to the test and with the MT 733 developed for the particular requirements series a new generation of milling-turning of the MT 733. The new tool change flap centres was developed. Its four types with the Festo Motion Terminal VTEM and simultaneously carry out heavy-duty mill­ the Motion App 'Soft Stop' saves valuable ing-turning and drilling operations with time when changing the machining tools. high dynamic response and precision on The advantages are reduced wear due to fives axes in one setup. Four customised soft travel into the end position at increased solutions from Festo contribute to the speed and the resulting shorter span-to- high-speed handling processes: the newly span time. The compressed air supply is developed loader axis ELGW, an innovative monitored and regulated by the energy background magazine, the Festo Motion efficiency module MSE6-E2M with cloud Terminal VTEM with the Motion App ‘Soft connection. All four solutions are supplied Stop’ and the energy efficiency module ready to install and are fully tested by MSE6-E2M. Festo before they are shipped out. Great scope for great solutions – the axis type ELGW feeds chuck parts to the machining centre and transports fi nished components away again. 1.2020 trends in automation Synergies 32 – 33

Flexible, yet productive It swivels the blank bar (length up to “We don’t know what workpieces our 1,000 mm and diameter up to 102 mm) or customers will be machining in the future chuck blank, while the tool itself remains with our milling-turning centres, because fi xed. The advantage of the reduced bear- an ever-changing market demands great- ing kinematics is that it ensures stability er individuality in terms of products and for complex components and materials the methods used to manufacture them,” that are diffi cult to machine. The new explains Dr.-Ing. Frank Müller, Head of gantry design of the MT 733 series with Design and Development at STAMA the increased thermal, static and dynamic Maschinenfabrik GmbH. “One of the cen- stability adds further precision to the tral challenges today and in the future is machining process. “Thanks to the auto- to ensure that the processes remain very matic, extremely precise workpiece trans- fl exible, while at the same time increasing fer, we not only increase precision but productivity and thereby signifi cantly process reliability too,” explains Müller. “With Festo we reducing the costs per unit. We therefore With the four types of MT 733, STAMA had four overriding objectives for the new offers an innovative and future-oriented don’t just gain time, development: more stability on the basis concept for complete machining, both of greater static and dynamic rigidity, for the fl exible manufacturing of different we also increase greater dynamic response through lower variants and for highly productive series moving masses, increased precision manufacturing. Workpieces that in the the reliability of thanks to thermal stability and increased past would have needed two or more our machining reliability based on better machine avail- machines to fi nish them can now be ability,” says Müller. milled and turned in a single setup with processes.” the STAMA MT 733 with integrated auto- Full machining in one setup mation solutions from Festo. Dr.-Ing. Frank Müller, Head of Design and Like the models before it, the new gener- Development, STAMA Maschinenbau GmbH ation of STAMA milling-turning centres doesn’t have a classic swivel head – this is and remains a unique selling point of the STAMA milling-turning technology.

Integrated automation solutions

Flexible background magazine

None of the tool magazine solutions commonly found in the market were able to fully meet the requirements of the STAMA developers for the new MT 733 machine generation. Festo as a long-standing automation partner therefore developed a new background magazine that can swap two tools in parallel.

Up to 256 tools are arranged on the front and back in the cabinet-shaped, box-type magazine. Two grippers remove tools from the milling-turning centre in parallel and swap them with the new tools previously added to the magazine in a process taking just seconds. The large number of available tools enables a dramatic boost in the fl exibility of the MT 733. The new Festo box-type background magazine is designed as a modular system and can be individually confi gured according to specifi c customer requirements. An easy-to-use confi guration tool is available for customer- specifi c selection by STAMA.

>> Enlarged magazine with up to 256 tools • High level of fl exibility thanks to large tool storage • Custom mounting • Supplied pre-tested Great scope for great solutions – the axis type ELGW feeds chuck parts to the machining centre and transports fi nished components away again.

Stable electric linear axis ELGW

The axis ELGW developed by Festo for the STAMA MT 733 milling­turning centres reliably feeds chuck parts to the machining centre and transports the fi nished components away again. At a length of up to 6 metres, the electric linear axis with toothed belt offers great scope for differently sized auto­ mation solutions. Its high stability and running performance is thanks to a new extruded aluminium profi le with clean design.

In the machining chamber, the axis is subjected to ambient conditions that put it under heavy strain. Oils, lubricants, chips and dust settle wherever there are edges, grooves and recesses that might trap dirt or are susceptible to the slightest contamination. The extended aluminium profi le was developed with as few edges and corners as possible to prevent increased wear due to contamination. One of the main features of the new axis ELGW is the linear guide on the underside. This offers even fewer points that are susceptible to contamination, especially from chips. An integrated scraper actively protects against contamination. The drip edge profi les mounted on both sides seem, at fi rst glance, a small detail but, at second glance, have a huge impact. They ensure that the liquids which drip off are channelled away and do not get into the guide. The axis ELGW was developed in close cooperation between STAMA and Festo. It is supplied fully pre­assembled and ready to install.

>> Newly developed aluminium profi le• Improved running performance thanks to clean design • Guide on the underside • Innovative drip edge profi les• Supplied pre­assembled 1.2020 trends in automation Synergies 34 – 35

Dynamic Festo Motion Terminal VTEM with Motion App ‘Soft Stop’

Small fl ap, huge effect – the tool changeover fl ap separates the tool maga- zine containing the individual tools from the machining chamber. It ensures that contamination and chips remain in the interior of the machine, and thus protects the magazine. During the design phase of the new machines, the development engineers at STAMA had to ask themselves the question of how they should move the fl ap: electronically or pneumatically? An elec- tric drive was not a good choice because of the limited installation space and increased costs.

The approach chosen was pneumatics with end­position cushioning via an app: the Festo Motion Terminal VTEM with the Motion App ‘Soft Stop’. This allows the end­position cushioning to be controlled and adapted by maximum counter pressure at exactly the right moment. The benefi t for STAMA and its customers is added speed through faster tool changes.

Securely closed – with the Festo Motion >> Faster tool changes through shorter travel times • Adaptive Terminal VTEM and the Motion App ‘Soft Stop’, the movement of the tool change fl ap is quick end­position cushioning • Reduced vibration • Less wear and well­cushioned.

Reliable energy effi ciency 4 module MSE6-E2M

The interaction of the innovative automation solutions from Festo at STAMA is com­ pleted by the energy effi ciency module MSE6-E2M. It reduces the compressed air consumption by actively intervening in the supply, especially during the machine’s standby times. In addition, monitoring and regulating central operating parameters such as pressure and fl ow rate ensure reliable production.

When the system is at a standstill, the energy effi ciency module MSE6-E2M auto- matically shuts off the compressed air supply, thus reducing the energy consumption. It can also autonomously detect leakages in the piping using pressure­drop parameters that have been predefi ned as critical, thereby contributing to increased system avail- ability. The downloadable fl ow rate, consumption and pressure measurement values form the basis for intelligent energy monitoring. For ease of working, the values are visualised in a user­friendly way.

>> Effi cient condition and energy monitoring• Actively reduces energy consumption • Indicates compressed air consumption and leakage • Visualises data clearly Economy meets reliability – the Festo energy effi ciency module MSE6­E2M.

STAMA Maschinenfabrik GmbH, 73278 Schlierbach, Germany www.stama.de You can fi nd more information and the video accompanying Development and manufacture of machining centres, milling­turning centres the article at www.festo.com/machinetools and turnkey solutions Automatic sorting of diamonds A wealth of diamonds a day

Before diamonds can sparkle on a finger, they must be meticulously processed. State-of-the-art, high-performance automation solutions provide the high process speeds this requires. The new GEMSORT/10000 from Belgium company BUKO uses fast-switching valves MHE2 to sort up to 10,000 of the precious stones per hour.

he lustrous gems only start To sort the diamonds ranging from 0.7 to Gentle handling of the stones revealing their sparkle and glam­ 3.6 mm in diameter precisely, quickly and To begin the sorting process, the diamonds our once the rough diamonds gently, BUKO uses an optical sieve. It is are placed on a glass plate lit from below. T have been polished into various based on a vision system with camera, Lenses mounted telecentrically on the cuts. One of the best-known is the bril­ lighting and the camera enable the light liant, but there is also the rose cut, oval beams to travel in parallel. A vibrating cut, emerald cut and step cut. A rough spiral conveyor transports the diamonds diamond can yield several brilliants one after the other onto the rotating, and other cuts in different sizes. round glass plate. The geometry of the When polishing the rough dia­ spiral conveyor flips the diamonds monds, the art is in losing as little onto their flat side, which prevents precious material as possible. the stones being damaged as they Once the stones have their final are dropped onto the glass plate. Once shape, they are sorted by size. they are on the glass plate, a photo cell detects each individual stone and then The company BUKO, a specialist in the triggers the camera. The machine control­ development and manufacture of ma­ ler determines the stone size based on chines and tools for the jewellery indus­ the photo. try, developed the GEMSORT/10000 to automate the sorting process. Fast- Fast-switching valves shorten switching valves MHE2 from Festo also cycle times give a sparkling performance thanks For the actual sorting of the diamonds, to their speed and precision. BUKO developed a new concept using fast-switching pneumatic valves, which Sorting using an optical sieve are arranged in a circle under the rotating “The classic way of sorting diamonds plate. The fast-switching valves from by size is using a sieve,” explains Kris Festo use a compressed air pulse to push Vierstraete, CEO of BUKO for the past the stones into one of 32 containers four years. “This process is fast, but has positioned around the glass plate accord­ some drawbacks: the accuracy is limited which measures the size of a diamond ing to their size. Achieving a capacity and stones regularly get caught in by counting the pixels on a photo. of 10,000 stones per hour requires the the sieve. And there is also the risk of The GEMSORT/10000 is accurate to vision, control and pneumatic systems to damaging them.” 5 micrometres. work extremely efficiently and precisely – 1.2020 trends in automation Synergien 36 – 37

(A) Photo: © shotshop.com

(B)

(A) The diamonds move between nozzles and sorting compartments on the rotating glass plate. As soon as a stone reaches the ejection point that matches its size, a compressed air pulse pushes it into the appropriate container. (B) A vibrating spiral conveyor transports the diamonds for visual inspection and aligns them so that they are not damaged.

(C) Extremely efficient and precise: the fast­switching valves from Festo have a response time of less than 2 milliseconds and a repetition accuracy of less than 0.2 milliseconds. (C)

two good reasons why BUKO opted for of the 32 containers at a rate of around the fast­switching valves MHE2 from three per second. According to BUKO, Festo. They have a response time of less this would not be possible using conven­ than 2 milliseconds and the repetition tional technology. accuracy of the response time is less than 0.2 milliseconds. The fast response and www.festo.com/catalog/mhe2 high precision make it possible to devel­ op applications with very short cycle times. In the new GEMSORT/10000, the cycle time is less than 3 milliseconds. At a capacity of 10,000 diamonds per hour, BUKO, Engelse Wandeling 5, 8500 Courtray, Belgium this means the stones are blown into one www.buko.be Development and manufacture of machines and tools for the jewellery industry Electronics assembly with the Multi-Carrier-System A perfect fit

Its unrivalled flexibility is what makes the Multi-Carrier-System MCS from Festo so attractive. This was also the opinion of the Swiss plant manufacturer PARO, which found the high-speed transport solution perfect for a fully automated system for assembling terminal blocks.

ARO AG stands for “Partner für springs and plungers. It can manufacture to different formats, sizes and product Automation & Robotik” (Partner different types of terminal blocks such types or, as needed in some sectors, to for Automation & Robotics). As as 2-row or 3-row terminal blocks in adapt production to the season. “That’s P the name suggests, the company many variants with a cycle time of exactly what we did; we designed our own develops customised assembly systems, one second. workpiece carriers that can easily handle with a focus on speed and a high level of the transition from our own Paromat automation. With the Multi-Carrier-System, Changeover at the push of a button transport system to the Multi-Carrier- the Swiss company found the ideal solu­ ’’The changeover between the different System,” confirms the assembly expert. tion for today’s requirements for assembly variants is done at the push of a button systems. “The Multi-Carrier-System is as and in virtually no time at all, and is fast as a cam-controlled rotary indexing therefore a real step in the direction of system, but much more flexible,” explains Industry 4.0,” says the automation expert. Freely configurable motion profile Gregory Kyd, Engineering Manager at This even allows one-piece-flow. Thanks System operators can feed the carriers PARO. The linear architecture means that to the Multi-Carrier-System, the system is freely into and out of the Multi-Carrier- further modules can be added to the so flexible that even an on-the-fly change System, just as they can accelerate, system. “We wouldn’t be able to extend between individual product variants decelerate and freely position the a rotary indexing system.” would be easy to achieve with minimal carriers. Different carrier and product programming effort. The entire assembly configurations can easily be used on Freely combinable system is characterised by fast process one system, and the motion profile can “A major advantage of the Multi-Carrier- steps: individual stations feed compo­ be freely configured for each carrier. System is the ability to combine it with nents or separate, pretension and press our own or third-party transport systems,” them in, all in short cycle times. Each carrier can move freely and inde­ says Kyd. “Other transport systems on the pendently of all other carriers on the market comparable to the Multi-Carrier- Increasing production line flexibility Multi-Carrier-System. They can move System are rigid and self-contained,” he PARO’s customer, a well-known terminal towards each other without colliding adds. The MCS is only used in the sections block manufacturer in west Germany, had and are easy to position. Several carri­ where flexibility is needed. In other parts been planning to manufacture its products ers can also be grouped and moved of the system conventional conveyor on a rotary indexing system. “But thanks synchronously with fixed spaces be­ systems fit the bill. “That’s ideal for our to the highly automated and flexible tween them. The Multi-Carrier-System purposes,” continues Kyd. For the assem­ system we built, this leading electronics achieves its fast cycle times thanks to bly system for terminal blocks created manufacturer decided to manufacture their speeds of 3 m/s and acceleration of by PARO, the company combined its own terminal blocks using the Multi-Carrier- 40 m/s² – jerk-free and with precision. conveyor system – known by the brand System,” explains Kyd. This means there are no limits to its name Paromat – with the MCS. flexibility. The Multi-Carrier-System, a joint develop­ The highly automated system produces ment by Festo and Siemens, also makes it complete terminal blocks by combining possible for a customer to use their own plastic housings of different sizes with carriers and thus quickly and easily switch You can find more information and videos at www.festo.com/mcs 1.2020 trends in automation Synergies 38 – 39

(A)

(B)

(A) Virtually infinite flexibility: the Multi-Carrier- System from Festo enables customers to use their own custom carriers or trays, depending on the requirement for the solution.

“With the Multi-Carrier- (B) Changeover at the push of a button: easy assembly of different terminal box variants System, we can signi­fi­ on PARO’s system. cantly increase the flexibility of our systems.”

Gregory Kyd, Engineering Manager, PARO

PARO AG, 4553 Subingen, Switzerland www.paro.ch Manufacture of custom, highly automated and high-speed assembly systems (A)

(B)

(C)

(A) A number of different substances are stored, transported, blended and bottled in the production system. (B) and (C) Automated process valves ensure reliable distribution of the substances in the various process steps.

Compact in the control cabinet: The valve terminal VTUG with PROFINET bus connection controls the process valves. 1.2020 trends in automation Synergies 40 – 41

Automation of process valves Care and cooperation

A twenty-fold increase in production was the goal of the Croatian car cosmetics company Alfa Car. To achieve this, the entire production cycle, housed in a new production plant, was automated. Festo supplied a complete solution for more than 200 process valves – including project management.

number of different products Reliability counts “Festo took on including water, alcohol, glycer­ The communication between a large ine, surfactants, oleic and number of different automated ball valves the coordination A acetic acids, sodium hydroxide and the new plant's higher­level control and potassium hydroxide are stored, system was also decisive for optimum with the various transported, blended and bottled for the process automation. This requirement production of car cosmetic products. This was met by a reliable solution with six process valve requires complex process automation valve terminals type VTUG with PROFINET suppliers and solutions. The Croatian car cosmetics com­ bus connection. pany Alfa Car has taken a big step into the delivered a com­ future: while building a new production More than 200 ball valves from different plant, the entire production cycle was fully manufacturers can be fully automated in plete automation automated, from the raw materials to the this way. Using a single source for the ball bottling line for the fi nished products. One valve solution took the pressure off both solution. This saved point of focus was the seamless automa­ Alfa Car and Arp Lučko when it came to tion of the process valves. designing and installing the new system. us a lot of time The extensive coordination of the various and resources.” Customised complete solution process valve suppliers, which Festo To address the challenge, the company handled as part of its project management Miroslav Sulejmani, Director at Alfa Car d.o.o. worked together with the system integra­ brief, also made the project easier. tor Arp Lučko and Festo. It would be Festo’s role to project manage the automation of the process valves. To ensure fast inte­ gration into the new system and maximum You can fi nd more information reliability in the future production process, about products and solutions for customised complete solutions were sup­ controlling media fl ows here: plied that cover the entire range, from the www.festo.com/fl ow process valve units to the valve terminals. When selecting the necessary components, particular attention had to be paid to the explosive environment. ALFA CAR d.o.o., Donja Dubrava, Croatia www.alfacar.hr Manufacture of car cosmetics Compact

Munich/Germany Award-winning digitalisa­ tion: Festo won the ‘Digital Transformer of the Year 2019’ award in the Industry and Technol­ ogy category in March this year. With the award, the DTOY panel of experts acknowl­ edged the comprehensive approach to digi­ talisation, which extends from the corporate strategy, smart products and digital services to Festo Didactic’s digital training programme. Festo also scored points with its approach of working with Resolto Informatik GmbH to in­ tegrate artificial intelligence into products and thus into customers’ applications – not only in cloud solutions, but also on-edge or Precise pressure directly in the component. Germany // In inotec AP GmbH’s SMARTTESTER®, proportional pressure The Digital Transformer of the Year (DTOY) ini­ regulators VEAB control the contact pressure on rows of artificial test teeth. tiative and a community of CEOs, CDOs and The modular and flexible carrier for varying test setups was specially adapt­ other leaders of transformation have been ed to this specific test scenario. The focus was on aspects such as cleaning awarding the prize since 2017. The study quality and durability. To simulate people’s behaviour when using a tooth­ ‘Digital Transformer of the Year 2019’ is based brush as faithfully as possible, 24 proportional pressure regulators VEAB on an exhaustive online survey in which more control the contact pressure in a constant and gradual process. Their pre­ than 1,000 specialists and executives partici­ cise regulation and high repetition accuracy enable reliable and comparable pated and which, according to its own state­ test results. ments, aims to create the most comprehen­ sive picture possible of the mood regarding Apart from the extremely quiet control behaviour of the VEAB, the perfor­ digital transformation in the core sectors of mance density and durability were key arguments in favour of the pro­ the German economy. portional pressure regulators from Festo for Ralf Roth, Managing Director of inotec AP: “In addition to their com­ www.getdigitalnow.com pactness, we were also impressed by the www.resolto.com piezo technology, which allows incredibly www.dtoy.digital accurate control. They’re also durable and use very little energy.”

The one-cable installation with standard connectors and cables makes for easy installation of the proportional valves. When installed on a mounting plate, the compact VEAB can either be positioned in a small control cabinet or close to the application. Since the low energy con­ sumption means there is almost no heat build-up, the valves can be packed to­ gether very closely, making for a space- Small, quiet, powerful: propor­ saving installation. tional pressure regulators VEAB regulate the contact pressure of Tanja Maaß, Managing Director of Resolto (centre), test toothbrushes on test teeth and Andreas Oroszi, Festo Digital Business, accepted www.inotec-ap.com the prize on behalf of Festo. Resolto Informatik GmbH with a high level of precision. has been part of the Festo Group since 2018. 1.2020 trends in automation Compact 42 – 43

Body and brain training: the Robotic Personal Trainers DD System ELITE and DD System Pro with the pneumatic muscle from Festo.

Pneumatic personal trainer

Switzerland // The young health technology company ddrobotec by Dynamic Devices shows how technologies from robotics, artifi cial intelligence and the cognitive sciences can be combined with established testing and training methods from sports and sports science. In the Robotic Personal Trainers DD System ELITE and DD System Pro, an artifi cial muscle ‘trains’ human muscles during sport and rehabilitation. The soft robotic training system with an integrated fl uidic muscle from Festo performs the role of an automated, interactive personal trainer. It not only assists with build­

ing the leg muscles, it also helps with, for example, the specifi c medical rehabilita- Photo: © Dynamic Devices tion of patients with neuromuscular illnesses or orthopaedic problems. Powerful and at the same time sensitive: the fl uidic muscle is modelled on the workings The two Robotic Personal Trainers combine their testing and training hardware with of a human muscle. visual feedback on a screen and evaluation software based on artifi cial intelligence. The dynamic systems monitor and analyse all the training completed on them, and use this as a basis for suggesting the next exercises. Together with the fl uidic muscle, the DD System ELITE and DD System Pro enable the type of training to The pneumatic muscle is a diaphragm be continuously changed and adjusted. In addition to building the muscles of the contraction system and its basic prin­ lower extremities, general mobility and cognitive performance are also optimised. ciple is similar to a tube that contracts “Our system promotes the dynamic interaction of muscles and the brain,” says Max under pressure. The dynamic abilities Lungarella, CEO of ddrobotec by Dynamic Devices, in describing the holistic effects of the fl uidic muscle are based on of the Robotic Personal Trainers on health. a combination of fl exible tubing rein- forced with fi bres in the form of a The fl uidic muscle as the centrepiece of the system is both strong and highly dynamic, rhomboidal mesh. As a kind of energy­ and yet remains smooth in its movements. It can generate a high force very quickly effi cient pneumatic spring, the pneu- and achieve the smallest variations in force. “The dynamic response of the fl uidic matic muscle moves without friction, muscle, the visual feedback via virtual reality and our AI controller enable us to pro­ even under extreme dynamic loads. duce real simulations during which people interact physically with their environment,” The usable tensile force is at its maxi­ explains Raja Dravid, Chief Business Development Offi cer of ddrobotec by Dynamic mum at the start of the contraction Devices AG. “Teaching even a relatively simple movement like walking requires a train­ and then decreases in a virtually linear ing system that can adapt very quickly and at the same time very smoothly to the manner as a function of the stroke. circumstances of the person being trained. This is only possible with the fl uidic muscle.” The varying spring force regulates the air pressure. www.ddrobotec.com Precise diagnosis: the RCM robot system from Soteria Medical supports targeted biopsies of suspicious tissue in the prostate gland.

Pinpoint accuracy

Netherlands // Medical robots are playing an increasingly important role in medical diagnostics. For example, partially automat­ ed handling solutions allow suspicious areas in the prostate to be more precisely targeted, thus delivering more accurate biopsy results and better detection of prostate cancer. Developed by the Dutch company Soteria Medical BV, the new Remote Controlled Manipulator (RCM) robot system facilitates the work of doctors and minimises the intensity and duration of the procedure for the patient. The metal­free RCM is used inside the limited space of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.

An important part of the RCM is its sophisticated software system, which is used in conjunction with MRT images for extremely precise needle guide placement. The current images of the target area are compared with previous diagnostic scans. Using the pneumatic polymer actuators of the robot, the needle guide is then moved The healthcare sector worldwide is to the exact location for the procedure. The system is controlled by a Festo valve facing ever greater challenges – chal­ terminal type MPA. The doctor then guides the biopsy needle safely and accurately lenges that could also provide new to the prostate using MR images to take a tissue sample for further investigation. inspiration for industrial automation. The LifeTech division at Festo not only Partial automation by a robot makes the biopsy procedure a lot less stressful for develops components, but also tailored the patient. Thanks to the high precision of the robot, which consists of state­of­ solutions for medical technology and the­art polymer stepper motors, just one or two samples are taken from the suspi­ laboratory automation. It focuses on cious tissue. With the more usual randomised systematic biopsies and ultrasound products for opening and closing sam­ guidance, however, the urologist takes 12­16 samples. ple vials and dispensing liquids as well as valves and fl ow regulators for effi - www.soteria-medical.com cient closed­ and open­loop control of medical gases. A key success factor in the development of ready­to­install solutions is the close cooperation with the customer right from the engineer­ ing phase.

www.festo.com/lab www.festo.com/medtech

Ready-to-install control cabinet: the Festo valve terminal type MPA controls the pneumatic cylinders of the robot system. 1.2020 trends in automation Compact 44 – 45

Moving heavy weights with ease

Slovakia // A handling solution that is highly fl exible, safe and easy to use: these were the requirements set out by car manufacturer Kia Motors Slovakia for the designers at MK­Tech s.r.o. The task in question consisted of design­ ing a new generation of balancer systems for handling and positioning parts with different weights like wheels and doors. The systems previously used at Kia could only move a defi ned weight. Boston, USA Boston is not just one of the The solution was realised with the balancer kit YHBP from Festo. It quickly oldest, most prosperous and culturally rich­ and automatically detects the weight to be moved on the basis of a servo­ est cities in the USA, the greater area around pneumatic positioning system and autonomously adjusts the balancing force. the capital of Massachusetts is also a trend­ It does this even when suspended loads are added or removed. It is controlled setter in robotics. Major companies, small intuitively via the pneumatic, ergonomic handle. Even at the maximum per­ start­ups and all sorts of technology special­ missible load of 999 kg, the balancer system can be easily moved at the ists come together here and drive the world touch of a fi nger. The drive solution from a single source is suitable for all forward in all things high­tech at breathtak­ common kinematic systems, such as lifting columns, articulated arms and ing speed. Festo also has a foothold in this parallel kinematics, and it can be easily retrofi tted into existing kinematic environment, with its own Technical Engi­ systems. The YHBP also monitors the safety of the entire balancer system neering Center in the LifeTech sector and just up to Performance Level d (SLS, SSC). recently as a member of MassRobotics, a well-known non-profi t organisation. The The manipulator for installing doors (see photo) is based on a column struc­ objective of MassRobotics is to shape the ture that is mounted on a suspension device and rotates on its own axis with next global stage of evolution of robotics. two degrees of freedom. The vertical movement is provided by a pneumatic The initiative relies on the know­how of es­ cylinder with a working stroke of 400 mm. Loads of up to 100 kg are moved tablished companies and new ideas from by precise adjustments on the intelligent handle. fi rst-class educational institutions.

“Having a company like Festo with all its ex­ (Abridged version of an article / ATP Journal Slovakia, Anton Gérer) pertise, resources and approaches to devel­ opment as a partner fi ts in perfectly with our objective of meeting emerging needs for ro­ bot solutions in production, in healthcare or even in agriculture,” explains co­founder of MassRobotics, Fady Saad. As a fi rst project, the two companies are working on a highly topical issue: the joint ‘Corona Task Force’ looks at ways of offering robot­based sup­ port in the medical fi eld. “What we’re think- ing about here are robots to disinfect sur­ faces and objects,” says Alfons Riek, Vice President Technology and Innovation, Festo, “there are lots of ideas. The project partners are currently in contact with hospitals and experts to fi nd out exactly what is needed and how we can put the spirit of the robotics scene to use to realise appropriate solutions on the ground.”

Photo: © Kia Motors Slovakia www.massrobotics.org Flexible and safe: a standard balancer system for highly customised applications in the automotive industry here shown being used to install doors. 1.2020 trends in automation Soft Stop 46

When are you off, Mr. Bogdanowicz?

I’d go tomorrow, but unfortunately it’s not as simple as that. When the photo shoot for this article took place, my wife and I had no idea that we would actually not be going anywhere. We were supposed set off on 1 April, but just a week before, in came the travel ban. Since 1 June, I’ve been working as the new managing director of Festo Japan from my home office in Germany. There are almost 9,500 kilometres as the crow flies – and a significant time difference – between me and my 60 employees. That’s already a real challenge for all of us, because most of the Japanese Festo employees are still working from home too.

Even though I’ve already worked in countries like Brazil, the USA, Korea and most recently China, I was really looking for­ ward to my time in Japan. For me, Japan is more than sushi, cherry blossoms and high tech. It’s the land of Kaizen – the Japanese philosophy of life and work. It’s an approach to continuous improvement that never ceases to fascinate me. Striving for improvement instead of maintaining the status quo is also one of my traits, one that drives and motivates me. Even though I already know Japan very well from numerous trips, living and working there is a different matter.

Until I can move into my office in Yokohama, my daily work routine will look very different. The first few hours of the day are given over to communication via Skype, whether to deal with operational and strategic matters or carry out staff appraisals. When there’s no personal contact, listening becomes extremely important. But this also means commu­ nicating clearly, coming to the point. That’s how mistakes can be avoided and decisions made more quickly and easily. We’re all constantly learning, and my management team and I have bonded extremely well on this journey. I’m sure that all the experiences we’re sharing at the moment will have a positive impact on our future cooperation. Of course we don’t yet know when that will be. But whenever it is, my wife and I are ready. After all, our suitcases are already packed. You want easy and seamless connectivity? You are looking for lasting and compatible concepts? We connect the present to the future.

Seamless connectivity – from the workpiece to the cloud One automation platform for all your needs. Don’t expect anything less than a comprehensive offer of solutions, from mechanical systems, integratred motion control solutions and subsystems to cloud solutions. That is how all your automation components always interact perfectly – mechanically, electrically and intelligently. www.festo.com/ea to Norwayandfootballfansthisoffersaspecialthrill. but thescenerymore thanmakesupforthis.For the520inhabitantsaswell asforvisitors or even intheArctic winterunderfl oodlights. There isnoprofessional teamandnostand, fates. racks,Whatever decidetheir sporting thewind andweather, underthemidnightsun the players surrounded ofHennigsvaer by rocks, IL, thesoundsofseaandcod­drying unique. Seenfrom the air, thespecialsettingof‘footballstadium’ isrevealed, where loving inhabitantsofthesmallfi shingvillageofHenningsvaer have created something ofthepolarcircle, inthemiddleof fascinatingarchipelago ofLofoten,North thesoccer­ 1:0 Henningsvaer www.festo.com/ie E­mail [email protected] +44(0) 1604667000 PhoneNI NI ROI Phone+353(0)12954955 D18 VH99 Dublin Sandyford IndustrialEstate Unit 5Sandyford Park Festo Ltd Ireland www.festo.co.uk/offi cialpartners www.festo.com/gb E­mail [email protected] Phone +44(0)800626422 7PY NN4 Northampton Brackmills TradingEstate Caswell Road Applied AutomationCentre Festo Ltd Great Britain www.festo.co.uk/twitter www.festo.com/facebook www.festo.co.uk/linkedin www.festo.com/youtube

Photo: © Lennart Pagel