Plastics & Rubber World - May/June 2019 - 12

INDUSTRY COMMENT

Explaining TEMI at Wittmann Battenfeld Industry 4.0 open house

Make it connected
Barry Hill is managing director of Wittmann Battenfeld UK, manufacturer of
injection moulding machines and related software and hardware

Industry 4.0 has the potential to deliver
a 'win win' for business

'plug and play' operation, but it also connects to a Manufacturing
ike it or not, technology is compressing many aspects of
Execution System (MES) which is a bespoke product for plastics
our lives. Advanced systems allow you to run your house
processing needs.
via your smartphone - lighting, heating, security - from the
Known as TEMI+, the MES system supports production planother side of the world.
ning, monitoring and data storage. The plus sign stands for
These systems mirror Industry 4.0. In brief, this is the netthe support of functions realised through Wittmann 4.0
working and synthesis of all relevant technologies in an Internet of things, services and data, integrating, directing
technology. Using the MES, it's possible to automatically
and improving manufacturing systems to oﬀer quicker
connect injection moulding machines with all auxiliary
responses to customer demands.
equipment.
For plastics processing this highlights a trend towards
Based on this, the Wittmann Group claims to be the
holistic manufacturing, with less talk about stand-alone
ﬁrst manufacturer in the plastics industry able to oﬀer
equipment and more about focusing on the architecfull MES functionality.
ture, design and the business potential of a full injection
In short, this takes plastics processing management
moulding cell.
out of the 'dark art' era and places it securely on a digThe advance of connected equipment within the
ital platform. There will be teething problems for
moulding cell is supported by common masure, not least regarding the human factor.
chine language which serves to deliver
The idea of a smart factory is as at least as
an unparalleled degree of transparency,
much about integrating people with new
traceability and process management.
technology as it is about integration of
computers and machines.
This ultimately delivers improved producBut we believe that our industry has a
tivity for business owners which is reﬂectgreat opportunity to embrace its digital fued in superior customer response times.
ture and move forward to greater creativAt a practical level, this trend spells
ity in product and process design; upskillthe end for the traditional 'mix and
ing many people functions and skill sets.
match' approach to low-end manufacturLater this year we will share some
ing; assembling diverse pieces of equipcase study notes from a key customer
ment, most likely based on cheapest cost.
working with us to design and build their
There are multiple disadvantages with
custom-made Wittmann 4.0 manufacturthis strategy, not least with the lack of inOur industry has a great
ing cell. That's the other thing about the
formation.
The bottom line is that eﬀective manuopportunity to embrace its new manufacturing agenda. It requires
a much greater degree of partnership,
facturers will be investing in connected sysdigital future
transparency and collaboration. Still, all
tems. Our own system is called Wittmann
the signs are pointing to a 'win win' for
4.0. Not only has it been created for optiBarry Hill, Wittmann Battenfeld UK
business.
mal security and enabled for immediate

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