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Industrial automation experts share their predictions on top manufacturing technology trends for the year.
by Sukanya Ray Ghosh
Women in the manufacturing automation sector share their inspirational success stories of building a career in this industry.
Sukanya Ray Ghosh
Case study: How a partnership between Black Controls and Rittal has been advantageous for both parties.
Sukanya Ray Ghosh
DEAL MAKERS
TE Connectivity partners with Phoenix Contact for miniature relay product line
TE Connectivity (TE) has acquired the force-guided narrow safety relay (NSR) elementary relay technology from the Phoenix Contact Group (Phoenix Contact), as part of a long-term partnership agreement.
The acquisition adds a single-pole, force-guided offering to TE’s broad relay portfolio for the factory automation, elevator and rail markets.
As agreed upon for this partnership, TE will manufacture and market the NSR element relays. This is aligned with the company’s focus on offering miniaturized solutions and advanced safety technology, especially in robotic control, programmable logic control, elevator and servo drive applications.
“As the industry continues to shift toward more advanced automation technologies, operator safety has easily become one of the most critical issues facing our customers today,” said Vish Ananthan, senior vice-president and general manager of TE’s industrial business. “When humans are involved, equipment must work every time, without restrictions to functional safety. The addition of the NSR product line underscores our commitment to this vital need and to providing much-needed space savings as our customers manage the dramatic increase of signal, power and data in the modern production environment.”
In 2015, Phoenix Contact set a new standard in the narrow safety relay market with its PSRmini product portfolio. For this purpose, the company had designed and manufactured the force-guided NSR elementary relay, a highly compact relay.
Ulrich Leidecker, member of the Phoenix Contact management board and president of the Industry Management and Automation (IMA) division, adds, “We are confident that this partnership
agreement with TE Connectivity will be the optimal basis for successful global marketing of the NSR. With their expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and distribution, we will bring the marketing of the NSR technology to a higher level and develop additional markets. We look forward to the expansion of this long-term partnership, which is an essential element of our safety relay strategy.”
ROBOTICS
Mecademic’s new regional partners to help the company meet growing demand for its robots
Montreal-based Mecademic Robotics has expanded into regional markets in Canada, U.S., France, Germany and Australia through
new value-added partners. Mecademic has increased its production capacity and regional presence to meet the rising global demand for small industrial robot arms.
Mecademic has added several automation solution providers to its network of vendors, including Electromate (Canada), Allied Automation (U.S.A.), The Knotts Company (U.S.A.), Pagès Group (France), LMZ (Germany) and
Discover the new generation of our safety relays. Experience
Andrew Donald Design Engineering (Australia).
“We’re proud to count these automation solution providers amongst our partners. Their expertise benefits our customers, while their physical proximity allows for live demonstrations of our robots, which are unique to the market,” said Mecademic’s director of sales and strategy, Ahmed Mostafa.
The increase in demand for its robotic arms has ensured a sustained rapid revenue growth for Mecademic. The company recently won Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50TM Award. The award recognizes the exceptional achievements of Canadian technology companies, highlighting their commitment to innovation, continued resilience amid a global pandemic, strong leadership and rapid revenue growth.
Electromate provides solutions for the industrial automation industry. It is known for its robotic and mechatronic solutions. Allied Automation, The Knotts Company, Pages Group, Andrew Donald Design Engineering and LMZ all offer automation solutions in the regions where they operate.
EXPANSION
ABB invests $16 million in Quebec facility as part of five-year digital transformation strategy
ABB has announced a $16 million investment in its installation products division manufacturing facility in Pointe-Claire, Canada. Higher production capacity as a result of this investment will equip the company to meet increasing customer demands across the country.
“ABB’s investment is part of a five-year strategy to integrate new digital processes and automation across our operations,” says Matthias Heilmann, president of ABB installation products division. “With our
ABB’s investment will help meet customer demands across Canada.
customer-first approach, this enables us to further innovate our products and manufacturing capabilities to meet the specific needs of the Canadian market.”
The expansion will create over 60 full-time jobs in the upgraded 75,000 square foot facility to deliver the legacy Canadian brands produced by ABB’s Pointe-Claire facility. These include Marrette wire connectors, the NuTek series of non-metallic thermoplastic boxes, and Snap-it plastic fittings. The site also produces Carlon PVC products and other components used in a range of Canadian product lines.
“The additional team members will enable the site to operate multiple product lines and shifts to meet increasing demand for safe, smart and sustainable electrical solutions across industrial, commercial and residential applications,” says Alain Quintal, vice-president and general manager of ABB installation products division in Canada. “Having operated in this community for nearly a century, ABB is committed to continuing its strong heritage as a trusted industry partner and employer of choice.”
ASSOCIATIONS
PTDA announces leadership changes for 2022; J.P. Bouchard appointed president
The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) recently elected its board of directors for 2022.
J.P. Bouchard, vice-president, General Bearing Service (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) is to lead the association as PTDA president. Active in the association since 2015, Bouchard previously served on the editorial board of Transmissions, PTDA’s quarterly newsletter. He was also on the Industry Insights and End Customer Needs committee. Bouchard has been on PTDA’s board of directors since 2018.
“This is a pivotal time for the PT/MC industry. Changes driven by the COVID pandemic make professional networking, development and knowledge sharing more valuable than ever. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow PTDA volunteers and members to develop programs and opportunities to help shape the future of the industry,” said Bouchard.
The 2022 PTDA board of directors also include:
• Immediate past president Brian Davis, co-CEO, B & D Industrial (Macon, Ga.)
• First vice-president Mike McLain, vice-president of Allied Bearing & Supply (Harahan, La.)
• Second vice-president Brian Nowak, president and CEO of Kurz Industrial Solutions (Neenah, Wis.)
• Treasurer Bill Shepard, vice-president of BDI (Cleveland, Ohio)
• Manufacturer council chair Randy Disharoon, sales director of conveying division for Regal
Rexnord Industries (Charleston, S.C.)
• Manufacturer council vicechair Kristin Jennings, director of marketing and industrial distribution at Climax Metal Products Company (Mentor, Ohio)
• PTDA Foundation president Bill Moore, vice-president of business development for ERIKS North America)
• EPTDA president Des Spillings, director of Acorn Industrial Services Ltd. (United Kingdom)
CERTIFICATION
Pleora Technologies receives ISO 9001:2015 certification
Pleora Technologies, a supplier of AI, real-time sensor connectivity and rugged networking solutions, recently announced that it has received ISO 9001:2015 certification.
The company noted in a statement that this third-party certification recognizes its focus on ensuring its products and support meet customer, statutory and regulatory requirements through an effective quality management system.
“Continuously improving all aspects of quality, from how we design products to technical after-sales support, is a daily focus for our team,” said Jonathan Hou, president of Pleora Technologies. “The ISO 9001:2015 process measured us against the top global standards and best practices for excellence, and certification validates our dedication to customer satisfaction.”
To receive the ISO 9001:2015 certification Pleora had to go through and pass a rigorous audit of its quality management system including a review of leadership, risk management, objectives measurement and change and communication processes. ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 165 national standards bodies.
PHOTO: ABB
PHOTO: PTDA
EVENTS
Hannover Messe 2022 rescheduled to the beginning of June
Organizers of the Hannover Messe 2022 show recently announced that the show is being rescheduled for May 30 to June 2. The show was
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Weidmuller announced the appointment of Michael Daly as its new managing director for Canada. Daly brings with him around twenty years of experience to his new role. He has served in several sales positions and has worked in the industrial automation and distribution industry. Daly will provide strategic leadership to the Weidmuller Canada team, focusing on growth and local production capabilities.
OTTO Motors has appointmented Carolyn Garvey and Donald Leslie as co-presidents of the company. They will report directly to CEO Matthew Rendall. Garvey will head the manufacturing and operations teams while Leslie will lead the sales and service teams. Garvey and Leslie both come from Ontario-based Prodomax Automation where they served as co-CEOs. They were responsible for the growth of Prodomax as one of North America’s major automation companies. Under their leadership, the company’s management team developed a strategic plan that led to a six-fold increase in the company’s valuation in three years. The pair brings with them expertise and experience in leading teams to engineer, build and install integrated automation systems for blue-chip automotive industry companies. | MA -
originally slated to take place in April. The decision was made by Deutsche Messe AG, along with the Hannover Messe exhibitor advisory board and partner associations VDMA (Association of German Mechanical and Plant Engineering) and ZVEI (Central Association of German Electrical Engineering and Digital Industry).
A major global industrial event, the Hannover Messe show will focus on digitalization and sustainability to stimulate innovative and efficient approaches to production and climate protection.
The show will run for four days this year as the Hannover Exhibition Center has a full event calendar in June. The show is expected to return to its regular
five-day schedule in April 2023.
“Right now we cannot predict if the COVID situation will be better by April, so the new date offers our customers the greatest possible planning security so that they can present their innovations at the world’s most important industrial trade show,” said Dr. Jochen Kockler, CEO of Deutsche Messe AG.
Through a wide range of EtherCAT Terminals with advanced functionality, Beckhoff integrates measurement technology in a standard I/O system. This delivers high speed, high bandwidth and precise synchronization capabilities in a DIN rail-mounted form factor. Modular measurement terminals empower applications ranging from temperature, power, current and voltage measurement up to complex mains monitoring or Condition Monitoring. The signals are acquired via electrically isolated channels and sent to the controller for further processing. To promote more efficient engineering in these applications, Beckhoff offers numerous time-saving TwinCAT software libraries.
to experience the advantages of system-integrated measurement technology
TOP TRENDS IN 2022
Industrial automation experts share their predictions on top manufacturing technology trends for the year.
COMPILED BY SUKANYA RAY GHOSH
In recent times, supply chain risks, labour market inefficiencies and heightened geopolitical tensions and the tightened global operating environment have accelerated the transition towards smart manufacturing and adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. Automation experts share their predictions on trends that professionals need to watch out for in 2022 and respond to accordingly. To look back on to predictions from previous years, check out our digital archive at automationmag.com/digital.
Eric C. Cosman is the founder and principal consultant with OIT Concepts. He has served as the vice-president of standards and practices and executive board member at the International Society for Automation (ISA) and was the society president for 2020. He is currently co-chair of the ISA99 committee on industrial automation and control systems security.
1. The value of open automation
In response to a push towards open process automation systems by several major asset owners, the Open Process Automation Forum (OPAF) has identified standards to accelerate the creation of open, interoperable, and secure automation architecture that addresses both technical and commercial challenges of current systems. Much of this architecture has now been defined and facilities have been established for testing the performance and operation of individual components and standards.
With the increasing acceptance of the general concepts associated with open automation systems, the emphasis must now shift to the demonstration of these concepts using practical examples and case studies. Attributes such as interoperability, performance and security can also be claimed by proprietary systems. So, it is critical to show that an open systems approach delivers these capabilities with more value to the asset owner.
2. Operations cybersecurity across sectors
Although there is still much to be done in securing automation systems, the standards and practices in this area have been improving for many years. Much of the initial effort was focused on specific industries. However, it is now evident that the fundamental concepts and practices are not sector-specific. As a result, there is now more interest in –and acceptance of – the idea of cross-sector standards that address the common elements of a cybersecurity program while bringing together the disciplines of information and automation security. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) recently positioned IEC 62443 as a “horizontal standard,”
With the increasing acceptance of the general concepts associated with open automation systems, the emphasis must now shift to the demonstration of these concepts using practical examples and case studies.
encouraging their various committees to use these standards as a basis for their response. This trend must continue as it moves the dialogue from the common or general requirements applicable in all situations to a more focused examination of the detailed practices required in specific industries. Individual sectors should develop profiles and recommended practices that interpret the fundamentals of effective cybersecurity using concepts, models and terminology that are most meaningful in their context.
3. Digitalization of engineering standards and practices
Traditionally, engineering standards and practices have taken the form of documents and related tools that define specific normative requirements with explanatory information and supporting rationale. This is an aging paradigm that does not meet the needs of current potential users and stakeholders. With the increased volume and complexity of information in these standards, it is essential to find better ways to deliver this information in a form that can be more easily applied.
Virtually all standards development organizations (SDOs) are now pursuing strategies for the delivery of “electronic standards.” While the definition of this term is somewhat imprecise and may be inconsistent across organizations, the fundamental goals are basically the same. Requirements must be available in a form that allows for quantitative comparison of alternatives and the development of conformance specifications. There must also be tools and facilities for navigating the information and responding to various types of queries.
It is still not clear what form standards may take in the future, but it is apparent that simple narrative documents will no longer be sufficient.
4. Workforce development, expertise retention and leverage
Workforce development and the retention of key knowledge and skills have long been a significant challenge for automation and other engineering disciplines. This situation is expected to continue as older professionals retire and leave the workforce. Recent developments such as the global pandemic will likely only exacerbate this situation.
Consistent with the adage “Necessity is the mother of invention,” we can expect that socio-economic influences will drive additional innovation in this area. New approaches are required for the retention of key technical and expertise-related information and transferring that knowledge and expertise to developing professionals. At the same time, it will be essential to find ways to apply this knowledge more broadly and effectively across a wide range of applications. Automation cybersecurity is but one example of this need. In that case, simply linearly applying common practices on a case-by-case basis is highly unlikely to meet the demand in an acceptable timeframe.
5. Practical applications of digital twins
Digital twins have been a subject of intense interest in recent years. They have been described as augmenting artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and software analytics to create functional digital simulation models that reproduce physical assets and systems in a virtual space where designers can model the behaviour of various processes.
Just as with other “new things,” the time has come for this concept to demonstrate value from useful and practical applications. Examples include providing a clearer line of
sight towards predictive maintenance, modelling the lifespan of a piece of equipment or system and providing manufacturers with the ability to model entire supply chains. While these and similar concepts sound compelling in the abstract, there must be proven cases where their application delivers significant benefit with an acceptable level of effort and cost. Without such examples, such concepts remain somewhat theoretical.
John Laughlin is the chief technology officer at NGen, a not-for-profit organization which builds world-leading advanced manufacturing capabilities, drives innovation and creates jobs across Canada. He is responsible for setting the technology direction for NGen and oversees a project portfolio of over $600 million of advanced manufacturing R&D projects.
1. Manufacturing sector needs
The Canadian manufacturing sector is currently facing several areas of technological, supply chain and product disruption. A key example of this is the automotive industry’s transition from an internal combustion engine product mix to an electric vehicle (EV) product mix. With only ten suppliers accounting for 49 percent of powertrain revenues, the need to shift to more flexible manufacturing is essential not only for the ability to pivot and meet customer needs. It is crucial in order to become more cost-competitive.
EV powertrains are approximately 20 percent more expensive than internal combustion engine powertrains. This increase in cost means that vehicle manufacturers will push some of
these additional costs back down onto the supply base. To retain jobs within the industry, it is critical to make the necessary investments in automation to meet the new product mix, lower volumes and higher cost pressures.
The shifting powertrain mix may also lead to vehicle manufacturers producing powertrain components themselves. The type of assembly for an EV powertrain may also reduce the number of robots involved in the assembly, albeit replaced with a larger, more complex robotic assembly.
2. The age of business integration
Many businesses that we work with at NGen have adopted industrial automation. However, a large proportion of them does not realize their business objectives. Some of the challenges that we see are around companies investing in single automation applications and not fully identifying the challenges they are trying to address. NGen was established to help solve fundamental issues that have plagued manufacturers in Canada. For example, at NGen’s inception, 80 percent of manufacturing companies had invested in advanced technologies, but 45 percent did not meet their business objectives. Even before COVID-19, 30 percent of Canadian manufacturers were at risk of going out of business due to a lack of adoption of advanced technologies.
We work with manufacturers to overcome some of these challenges by building collaborative projects between technology companies and manufacturers, identifying the challenges, and then putting in place the right selection of technologies to address those challenges.
The actual realization of the benefits comes when the integration is across the entire workflow and built into business practices. This requires transparency across all workflows and across all departments. This will ultimately result in optimizing business practices and providing more targeted and measurable KPIs. In 2022, we also expect a growing opportunity to embrace digital twins. It will enable companies to integrate the equipment and business practices to allow processes to respond to each other.
3. Technology adoption
Automation and robotics are some of the critical building blocks for advanced manufacturing. Historically, Canada has had a slower adoption rate of automation technologies outside of the automotive sector compared to other countries. Payback, ROI and the business case for automation can be hard to generalize. For specific high-volume
applications, automation is essential – there is simply no other way to meet demand. However, the cost of integration, and relative lack of flexibility, remain significant barriers to adoption. In the NGen project portfolio, we see some positive signs with new automation technologies in development that integrate more functionality, advances in machine vision and machine learning that offer more straightforward, lower-cost integration and system flexibility.
4. The continued rise of advanced technologies
In Canada, we are witnessing step changes in the advanced technologies being developed, which will serve to drive further adoption. At the same time, we also see new advanced manufacturing facilities being stood up around the country. 5G enables vast amounts of sensor data to be collected in real-time and be analyzed. This next generation of data analytics coupled with machine learning and advanced simulation offers opportunities to have more data-driven manufacturing, enabling more flexible manufacturing and lower costs. The integration of software, additive manufacturing, robotics and automation technologies allows some companies to disrupt their competitors by combining rapid turnaround, customer engagement in product design, enhanced quality control, greater precision, highly variable and low volume manufacturing and after-sales implementation and maintenance services. This works to overcome the challenges of variable demand and supply, volatile prices and labour shortages.
5. Labour market inefficiencies drive uptake of industrial automation
Canada has experienced a labour market transition, due in large part to an aging and changing workforce. Canada is not alone in this challenge – other countries such as Japan have experienced significant downturns in the labour market. One common solution to this challenge is to replace missing labour with new technologies that can drive productivity. The issue is not that there is a lack of jobs. But in an inefficient labour market, workers do not necessarily have the skills that match the industry job requirements. This challenge hits manufacturers and goods-producing sectors the hardest as they rely on more highly skilled and technical labour. As of 2026, 20 percent of Canadian workers will be eligible for retirement. With a large contingent of the workforce exiting the labour market in the coming years, manufacturers will have to turn to new tools and technologies – especially automation and robotics – to boost productivity, remain
competitive and grow their business.
Jeff Burnstein is president of A3, the parent group of the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), AIA – Advancing Vision + Imaging, and the Motion Control and Motors Association (MCMA).
Burnstein joined RIA in 1983 and has held a variety of senior positions, culminating in his promotion to president in 2007.
1. Labour shortages drive adoption of automation
It’s no secret to the manufacturing industry that it’s difficult to find and retain employees, especially ones to fill the “dull, dirty and dangerous” jobs. Unfortunately, the pandemic has made the labour shortage even worse for manufacturing companies and contributed to a sharp increase in job openings throughout most industries in North America. In fact, according to Deloitte Canada, nearly a third of Canadian businesses are grappling with labour shortages.
To stay productive and competitive, many companies are turning to automation and robotics to fill jobs in manufacturing and logistics as well as automotive, agriculture, construction, electronics, food processing, life sciences, metalworking, warehousing and more. While the automotive industry was the earliest adopter of automation and still remains the largest user, the latest statistics on orders (Q3 2021) show that nearly twothirds of sales came from non-automotive industries, further demonstrating the trend of robotics growing into areas outside of automotive OEM and tier suppliers.
2. Smarter and easier-to-use robots
Robots are becoming smarter, driven by advances in artificial intelligence that allow the robots to teach themselves how to perform previously difficult or impossible tasks in real (or close to real) time. Solutions leveraging advancements in AI in many shapes and forms are already working across myriad industries, helping robotic systems adapt to their work environments, rather than designing every aspect of the environment and processes to suit the limitations of the machines. These advances will enhance both productivity and safety, and lead to more applications involving true collaboration between humans and robots.
With more and more connected systems featuring advanced sensor technology, AI can identify patterns in the data that are associated with breakdowns and other mechanical issues. This data will drive predictive
applications, where AI can detect patterns that indicate a robot needs maintenance soon. It can automatically alert engineers to take necessary steps towards repairing a machine before it breaks down, saving companies costly downtime. AI-powered analysis of this data could also help businesses optimize their processes to improve quality and reduce waste.
In addition to advances in AI, robots are also becoming increasingly collaborative, flexible, more dexterous and overall easier to use, with many requiring no coding. As a result, deployment of new robots can often be achieved in hours or days. Many robotics vendors also have developed a wide range of packaged solutions meaning a company can get everything it needs to automate a specific task with little or no extra engineering required.
The collaborative and flexible nature of smaller robotic arms is also offered by autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that move independently within facilities without needing to disrupt infrastructures from the start or as needs change. The AMR market is growing very quickly driven by the explosion of e-commerce.
3. The increased importance of robotics-as-a-service business model
While robots are becoming smarter and easier to use, the perceived – and in most cases real –costs of automation have remained a deterrent to many. Over the last few years, many robot vendors have introduced robots-as-a-service (RaaS) offerings, which let manufacturers and other companies finance their automation without large initial capital investments. While most of these vendors “rent” their robots for a specified amount of time, some companies have created business models around multiple vendor partners, allowing manufacturers to deploy best-of-breed industrial, collaborative or autonomous mobile robots – or a combination of these systems. They often charge by the hour (some as low as eight dollars an hour) and only when the robotic system is functioning.
A growing number of RaaS companies are also taking on the entire deployment and service process, reducing or even completely eliminating the complexity and time associated with automation along with the financial burden. The RaaS companies can handle vendor selection and project management after initial consultations with the manufacturer on what they would like to automate. Since manufacturers only pay when the system is working, the RaaS companies also ensure the robotic systems are maintained and proactively address any issues to maximize uptime.
4. Robot mobility is gaining in importance
Autonomous mobile robots are playing an increasingly prominent role in warehouses and factories, but industries such as construction, security, delivery, etc. are also benefitting as they look to move materials or disinfect schools, hospitals and airports. The increased flexibility and diverse applications, as well as their unique ability to safely navigate in an uncontrolled environment, make them a highly attractive option for performing many of the highly repetitive, yet necessary, tasks.
Mobile robots also became increasingly important during the pandemic, as e-commerce expanded and required rapid fulfillment. Automation became all the more necessary. AMRs not only keep the supply chain moving along as much as possible in manufacturing facilities but also play an increasing role in retail environments for tasks like shelf scanning and floor cleaning.
The interest in AMRs for myriad industries was never more evident than at A3’s Autonomous Mobile Robot & Logistics Conference in Memphis this October, where companies
such as FedEx (the platinum sponsor) and AMR vendors shared advances in AMR technology and new developments in logistics automation that helped potential users understand and deploy these technologies to increase efficiencies and stay competitive. The next AMR & Logistics Conference will be in Boston next October.
Electrical Enclosures
5. We’ve only just begun
Despite increased adoption, we’re still in the early innings. While non-automotive sectors are now surpassing automotive sectors in robot use, there are hundreds of thousands of small- and medium-size companies around the world who still haven’t automated in a wider range of industries than ever before. As more companies hear about and experience the benefits of automation, including how it is helping companies fill jobs they are struggling to fill, the number of robots and other forms of automation will see significant growth.
We’re also seeing innovative new start-ups enter the robotics market, many receiving significant funding, who are developing new applications and improving existing ones. From my perspective, having spent four decades witnessing the development of the robotics industry, this is the most exciting time ever! Anyone interested in seeing what’s going on should visit Automate 2022 in Detroit (June 6 to 9) to see the latest developments from more than 600 leading automation companies. | MA
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INSPIRING CHANGE
Women
in the manufacturing and automation technology sectors share their inspirational stories of building a
BY SUKANYA RAY GHOSH
career.
In an industry that remains male-dominated, women work hard to establish themselves as leaders. Three women from the manufacturing automation sector share how their passion for this industry motivates them every day and the challenges they faced on the path to success.
KIM THIARA President, Acetronic
Kim Thiara had never planned on joining the manufacturing technology sector. Her intention was to do interior design. The success she enjoys today is a result of her hard work and dedication, even though it was chance that brought her here.
Even though she owns the company today, Acetronic was originally established by Kim’s father. About 27 years ago, he asked Kim to come in and help out with some paperwork. A couple of years later, Kim’s brother asked her to take care of the sales side of the business.
“My customers, my dad and my brother taught me everything about the business,” says Kim.
Kim Thiara (right) is a role model for her daughter Simi (left) who decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps.
Kim recalls how nervous and scared she was initially. So, she approached the company’s existing customers and was honest with them about her lack of knowledge. That helped develop trust with them and gave her confidence.
Kim believes in continuous learning is important to stay relevant. “I have subscriptions to industry publications. I am on the Canadian Association of Moldmakers (CAMM) as a board director. I sit on the board of the Auto Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA). I keep myself updated on what’s happening in the industry to plan what I need to do as a business owner to adapt my company,” she explains.
PHOTO: KIM THIARA
Kim is the owner of the company for nearly 15 years now. The biggest challenge she has faced in her career so far is when she bought the company in 2008. She signed the papers in July, and in November that year, business had come to a standstill. The company went from having nine employees to four.
“It was an extremely challenging time to run the company. We were going through a terrible global recession. Many of our customers didn’t survive. I was accountable for the money. My biggest fear was that I would fail. In hindsight, I believe that experience made me stronger,” says Kim.
The company survived and has been on a growth path since then. Although the pandemic brought its own set of challenges, Kim says that it didn’t feel as difficult. With COVID-19, the challenge was to keep everyone healthy and safe while ensuring that the business stayed open. With many of Acetronic’s customers pivoting to PPE production, it has had two very prosperous years.
Kim is very happy with the direction that she has been able to take the company to.
“We weren’t doing production on the scale that we are today. All of our production was manual, whereas we have invested in machinery. We previously had two people in production, now we have nine people. Over the last 15 years, I brought on some really good lines that complement what we were doing as a company and strengthened our position within the plastics industry as well. I am also very proud of the fact that my daughter, Simi, works in this company with me today,” shares Kim.
Being a woman in a male-dominated industry, Kim has faced her share of bias. She has been in situations where people did not pay attention to what she had to say. Even though conversations never went sideways, it was noticeable from the body language of people. However, she stayed focused and confident about her work and did not pay heed.
Kim says that there has definitely been a shift in the workspace
today. She adds that Acetronic’s success also commands respect with customers today.
Kim has been a role model for her daughter Simi who decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps. She says that for women who don’t have that support, it is important to have confidence in who they are.
“They have to work hard at gaining the knowledge needed
for their role and be honest with colleagues and people in their workspace. They should try to connect with women that are in the industry and be part of associations. Having such connections gives you a bouncing board for ideas and allows you to understand that you are not alone in facing these struggles and barriers.”
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Kim says that she will never be able to retire completely as she loves her work. Manufacturing is exciting and it is even more exciting to be in Ontario, the hub of manufacturing in Canada, she says. To the young generation, her advice is to open themselves up to all the opportunities in this industry as the sky is the limit here.
MARCY SKORYK
Account manager for Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Sandvik Coromant
“This career has chosen me...”
In high school, Marcy Skoryk came across a posting that said that if your science scores were good, you would get a job in the aerospace sector. Intrigued, she met with the guidance counsellor who advised her to gain some additional trade experience as well.
Marcy switched to a machining course, paving the way for her entry into the manufacturing industry.
“This career has chosen me. That was back in 1995. Now, over 20 years later, I’m glad that I had decided to join the machining course. I think having a career in manufacturing is great,” says Marcy.
As an account manager for Sandvik Coromant, Marcy currently works in a sales role. But she believes the role has a lot more to it than just sales. She helps the company’s customers find solutions for their challenges in manufacturing through products and services. This could mean, helping them improve or plan a process, finding the correct tool for their job, reducing cycle time for them and even educating their staff.
“It is about providing our customers with value-added services rather than just selling tools,” she says.
Over the years, Marcy has built a lot of great relationships in the industry with the customers. Initially, she had to go out to the customers but now, they contact her to help support them.
“That is very rewarding and it’s one of the
parts of my job,” notes Marcy.
Marcy recalls that initially, she didn’t feel quite comfortable in this industry. But the more she proved herself along the way, the more confidence she gained.
“If your colleagues feel that you have a good understanding of what you’re doing, the fact that you are a woman just goes away. When faced with any kind of conflict, I’ve always tried to deal with it patiently. Coworkers respect you more if you’re able to find common ground and be able to resolve the conflict,” says Marcy.
As she gained more experience, the challenges seemed to go away. Looking back, she recalls how her dedication has helped her along the way.
“I remember an instance when my supervisor had left and I didn’t know how to program anything. I had to figure it out and learn on my own. I looked at old programs and relied on myself a lot to find the correct solution. I think that was one of the turning points in my career. It gave me more confidence,” shares Marcy.
Another proud moment for Marcy is when she became a journeyman in 2002. At that time, she was the fourth woman in Manitoba to become a journeyman machinist.
At the moment, a project that Marcy is really excited about is a product called Machining Insights.
“The tool allows you to see what your cycle time is and figure out which project is the best to pinpoint to collect your machine efficiencies. When I used to work on the shop floor, I had to go from machine to machine and figure out which machine was giving the best production from that operator. It has changed so much. You can get real-time data from products now,” she explains.
Marcy shares how at the beginning of her career, she had to face bias for being a woman. During one interview, she was asked to lift the heaviest object in the shop, which would be difficult for even men to lift.
However, industry attitudes have changed over the years. When Marcy completed her apprenticeship and graduated, her employer wanted to promote her to a supervisor. However, she was pregnant at that time. So, they deferred that promotion as they saw the value she brought.
To young women who wish to build a career in manufacturing and technology, Marcy says, “You will thrive on something that keeps you intrigued. In this industry, you will be exposed to so many new and innovative products and materials that are shaping the future of manufacturing. This is a career that is ever-evolving and challenging in the best way.”
MARYAM EMAMI CEO and founder, AI Materia
“We need more women in this field. We need their voices, we need their opinions and perspectives on what the important problems are in the world of engineering.”
Maryam Emami’s passion for mathematics and science in high school charted the way for her career in the manufacturing and technology sector.
Maryam started her college career in Chemical Engineering, in the field of petroleum processing. With a keen interest to find meaningful solutions, Maryam went on to study advanced manufacturing and advanced materials when pursuing her PhD.
Currently the CEO of AI Materia, Maryam shares the story of how the company was created.
“Within material design problems, we are always trying to understand how we go from raw ingredients and treatment processes to a set of desired target properties in our product. My colleagues and I have been working in this field for many years, using experimental and computational approaches. With recent advancements in data science, we realized there are more efficient ways to engineer better materials. By using technical data, machine learning and artificial intelligence, we are able to accelerate the materials development process up to 10 times faster.”
Before founding AI Materia, Maryam had been working as a researcher and consultant for the advanced materials and advanced manufacturing industry. The technology and solutions that the company offers today are the result of the experience gained from the work she did then.
PHOTO: MARYAM EMAMI
PHOTO: SANDVIK COROMANT
“We know for a fact that there are certain problems in the industry and we try to address them. It is exciting to be a part of a revolutionary solution that can change the face of the future. ,” she says.
Research remains a big part of the work at AI Materia. Novelty and contribution to the knowledge of these research projects keep Maryam motivated and engaged.
Entrepreneurship and building a company have been both rewarding and challenging, says Maryam. She believes every challenge is an opportunity for learning, for growth and for improvement. The company faced its share of ups and downs. Maryam shares that they needed to execute a massive market research and find out the right solution that fit the needs of their customers.
“There were other parts as well, such as bringing the right people on board and building a good culture. When running a business, you have to learn how to navigate through a lot of challenges, to figure out how to address them. Every challenge demands a different solution. But there are resources and people that can be very helpful in different scenarios for you,” explains Maryam.
For Maryam, her parents were her first and most impactful mentors. At an early age, they taught her the engineering approach to face every challenge – to be strategic, efficient and pragmatic. They encouraged her to not give up under any circumstances. In her engineering career, she was fortunate to come across other helpful mentors.
“I worked with amazing supervisors, managers and great colleagues. I never had a conscious strategy for finding mentors but I never hesitated to seek advice from people around me,” she says.
Maryam adds that having a mentor is very helpful as they guide from their experiences. They know what mistakes could be avoided and the do’s and don’ts of situations, so there is no need to start from the first step. People often have different approaches
to tackle different scenarios and situations, she adds.
Research is something that excites Maryam the most. “There are plenty of reasons to love research. Research makes you think differently to create new knowledge. It is challenging. It stretches the mind to think of new ideas, new reasons, and new possibilities. Every project feels like a new adventure. It’s
exciting to be a part of a journey to innovate and open up the potential to make contributions to individuals and communities. ,” she says.
Maryam shares that engineering still remains a male-dominated area. This means that young women in the country have fewer female role models, mentors and leaders that they can look up to. This could make it difficult for
the young generation of female engineers.
“There’s nothing male about the engineering field, it is one of the professions that can actually claim it changes the world. We need more women in this field. We need their voices, we need their opinions and perspectives on what are the important problems in the world of engineering,” she adds.| MA
PARTNERS IN SUCCESS
A look at how a partnership between Black Controls and Rittal has been advantageous for all stakeholder.
BY SUKANYA RAY GHOSH
Located in Barrie, Ontario, Black Controls was founded in July 2019 to provide automation and controls solutions for clients in North America, Europe, and Asia. With its strong team of skilled designers, electricians and programmers specializing in designing, wiring and programming industrial control systems, the company has achieved success in a very short time.
At the beginning of 2022, Black Controls became a Rittal Certified Systems Integrator. Rittal Systems offers this certification only to those companies that have demonstrated proficient and exceptional knowledge and experience in specifying and configuring its enclosure and climate control systems.
Proud of the company’s achievement, Rick Black, owner of Black Controls said that this would create opportunities for further training and collaboration with Rittal’s team of experts globally.
An early union
The partnership between Black Controls and Rittal Systems began as early as 2019.
“The first panel that our company built was a Rittal panel. We decided to go with this company because we had previous experience working with them. I worked with Rittal’s systems a fair bit before Black Controls was created. I knew the systems very well. So, it made sense to collaborate with them from the very beginning,” shares Rick.
Over the course of the two years, Black Controls has worked with other electrical enclosure companies. However, currently, over 90 percent of the enclosures used by the company are from Rittal.
Black Controls builds a lot of systems for material handling operations, which includes conveyor systems. The company also has a strong customer base in the automotive industry. Rick explains that building conveyor systems involves the use of a lot of drives and VFDs that can be quite large in size.
The team needs space to house these components. That is where they like to use Rittal’s TS 8 series of bayed enclosures. The TS 8 series is all about scalability and offers them the flexibility they require for their jobs.
“We are able to design a similar layout and
then add and take away bays as necessary, depending on the number of components there are,” adds Rick.
Benefits of a partnership
For Black Controls, this relationship with Rittal has been quite advantageous.
Rick says that a major benefit is that the company gets to know the support and sales engineers and builds a relationship of trust with them. When new projects come along, Black Controls receive value-added support from the Rittal team.
“For example, recently, when working on a project, we reached out to the Rittal team to discuss fans inside washdown rated areas. They sell different accessories that we can install over the fans, while you still maintain that rating. It is easier and more convenient when such new requirements come up to reach out directly to the supplier or manufacturer,” says Rick.
Over time our team members get to know the Rittal team members and as the relationship builds, it is easier to work together and find solutions that fit our requirements. For
Rick Black (far left) holds the Rittal Certified Systems Integrator certificate as he poses with his team.
PHOTO: BLACK CONTROLS
the Black Controls team, it makes the work easier as well. The company has the option to purchase the same size panel or enclosure from other manufacturers. However, there are small differences in the way the things are connected, leading to a lot of different accessories being purchased. Being familiar with Rittal’s systems saves a lot of time on the design.
“Even adding those extra components to our drawings, then ordering and purchasing them adds time. If you miss anything, it could lead to delays in project completion,” says Rick.
With Rittal’s enclosures, the Black Controls team is confident when they spec them out. They are confident about the accessories and they know what they need. This confidence, says Rick, is based on working very closely with them over the past two years.
For the Black Controls design team and its building assembly group, the learning curve is always shorter. They know how everything goes together. Less time is spent on reading instructions and figuring out the fine details of new components. It makes the processes more efficient for them.
Solving challenges together
Working with Rittal has helped Black Controls solve challenges and obstacles they faced along the way.
When Black Controls first began working with Rittal, the Rittal team was able to help its designers refine the type of enclosures required, what baying materials would be needed and the number of divider panels and base plinths.
Learning the intricacies of enclosure accessories can often be a daunting task when new to the business. Rittal’s team was able to support
Black Controls during this time, offering information and education when needed.
“There are a lot of things involved, more than you would think when you see a completed electrical panel. Rittal’s applications team made sure that we selected the right components and they knew what we needed. When we placed orders with them, they would review our selections and let us know if we were missing anything” explains Rick.
This saved them a lot of time when putting the components together. For climate control, the Rittal team made sure that Black Controls was sizing the fans or air conditioners correctly so that the components inside the enclosures were not overheating. They made sure that they were kept within the operating specs for the environment where the panel would be installed.
Currently, Black Controls is working on a project for the food and beverage industry. Rick says that they will be using Rittal’s Hygienic Design series of enclosures.
2020-Nema-Electric-Motors-MANUFACTURING-AUTOMATON-third-page.pdf 1 11/6/2020 9:52:35 AM
Black Controls has a wide customer base that goes beyond North America. Recently, they had an issue with a Rittal air conditioner that they installed at a customer’s site in the
United Kingdom. Since Rittal has a global presence, they were able to instantly dispatch people to troubleshoot and fix the issue. Rittal’s global presence provides significant value in this regard.
“If we had to send someone over from our team to fix the issue or if we were relying on a supplier that was strictly local or North American, the process would have been expensive. We could end up going there twice, the first time to figure out the problem and the second time to solve it. Instead, Rittal was able to visit the site and troubleshoot on our behalf,” says Rick.
Black Controls customers have come to expect specific standards and quality of the products that they receive. Having Rittal as a major supplier allows the company to offer a level of consistency with its products.
Being international, Rittal’s systems comply with the standards and ratings requirements for worldwide markets, notes Rick.
“When we offer our products, the endusers are sure that what’s installed in them are appropriate for their area of operation,” he adds.| MA
The Black Controls team working on Rittal enclosures in the company’s facility.
NEW PRODUCTS
AUTOMATION SOFTWARE
New full version of eManage
The free version of eManage allowed users to upload, share and manage Eplan Platform projects in the cloud environment. Eplan introduced the full version of the software, which provides considerably more added value: master data can be accessed in the cloud along with supplementary documents, and performance is increased with additional capacity. The full version of eManage has been available since the release of the new Eplan Platform 2022 in September. The fee-based expansion stage of this innovative cloud software enables the first steps towards roundtrip-enabled
ROBOTICS
High path accuracy
Yaskawa Motoman introduced its new six-axis GA50 robot which offers high path accuracy and is well-suited for laser cutting small holes and sharp corners, as well as laser welding, plasma cutting and dispensing applications. Reliable, high rigidity and precision drives provide impeccable path accuracy. Formcut software automatically generates the ideal path to cut shapes based on user-specified geometry. Circle, rectangle, ellipse, pentagon and 2D hexagon shapes are supported with easy definition of shape size and rotation from a single programmed point. The cut motion start and overlap, robot speed, timing options and corner radii are all defined in the cut file. Depending on the application, path accuracy can be within 0.1 millimetres with a 30-kilogram payload. The GA50
engineering in automation. As of yet, if a project is shared in the cloud, the schematics are visible, but not all the accompanying documentation. The full version of Eplan eManage offers added value in this area. Project stakeholders are provided access to all data and documentation relevant to the project, including bills of materials as well as neutral documents in Excel. These become interchangeable with a uniform foundation of data. Appropriate rights management ensures that data access can be precisely regulated. Eplan eManage now offers the exchange of system-relevant master data that can be easily retrieved and, as necessary, taken along according to the “pack and go” principle. Project managers can thus make master data centrally available.
eplan-software.com
features a 3,161-millimetre vertical reach, 2,038-millimetre horizontal reach and ±0.015-millimetre repeatability. A remote laser welding or cutting laser head is easily supported due to the robot’s 50-kilogram payload capacity. Proportional analog generates a control signal corresponding to the speed of the robot. Installation is quick and efficient. A single cable is needed to connect the manipulator to the controller, resulting in easy setup. The GA50 can be floor-mounted. Brakes are included on all axes. The GA50 robot is compatible with the YRC1000 controller that is built to a global standard and does not require a transformer for input voltages ranging from 380VAC to 480VAC.
motoman.com
MOTORS & DRIVES
Direct drives for linear motion
Beckhoff’s new AA3000 series electric cylinders are ideally suited as direct drives for linear motion applications with high process forces and speeds. The series offers optimal force, dynamics and a compact footprint combined with the advantages of servo technology, such as closed-loop positioning, safe positioning at a standstill and high energy efficiency. The integrated mechanism – composed of precise roller bearings, ball screw and guide – provides backlash-free, purely translatory motion. The shaft end of the spindle features an external thread to mount conventional adapters, such as ball heads or clamping hooks typically used with pneumatic and hydraulic devices. The flange size of the electric cylinder is based on ISO 15552 and has bolting points on both sides in case, for example, an application requires a swivel bolt connection. Beyond high resolution, the safe 24-bit multiturn encoder offers the advantages of One Cable Technology (OCT) and an electronic identification plate for fast and simple commissioning. beckhoff.com
Ultra-small pancakestyle gimbal motors
Orbex Group introduced a line of ultra-compact high-performance gimbal motors. Featuring a pancake-style form factor, the motors are wound to operate at low speeds typical for gimbals while exhibiting a high torque constant for fast response when needed. The new gimbal motors are engineered to minimize cogging torque, ensuring smooth rotation for stable imaging or pointing. Because these brushless motors are electronically commutated, they can change speeds quickly and offer reliability. Orbex gimbal motors are also lightweight – an important characteristic for drones, UAVs and other airborne craft that need to maximize flight time. Orbex gimbal motors are available in two sizes: 16 millimetres (OD) by 10 millimetres (H) and 26 millimetres (OD) by 12 millimetres (H). In addition to these standard units, Orbex can engineer motors according to an application’s needs, with special windings, connector configurations or mounting interfaces. The motors also allow users to easily integrate a magnetic encoder for feedback.
orbexgroup.com
ENCLOSURES & WORKSTATIONS
A free-standing, versatile option
Rittal’s new VX SE free-standing enclosure system offers greater versatility. The VX SE size range includes a 300 millimetres deep version that is suitable for applications where space is limited. The VX SE offers quicker time-to-delivery and faster, streamlined assembly, enhanced reliability, safety and compatibility with other Rittal
systems. Its advantages include high protection categories, a wide range of sizes from 300-millimetre depth to 1,800-millimetre width, different material options in carbon steel and stainless steel, and simple and complete engineering. Being TS 8 compatible makes installation easy. It also features high protection category up to IP 66/NEMA 4 or 4X. rittal.com
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
Slim relay and socket series
Carlo Gavazzi announced the launch of the RPYS series electromechanical plug-in relays, with screw and push-in terminal sockets, and accessories that include busbars, retention clips, ID tags and protection module. The slim, compact design of the RPYS is ideal for electronic and automation panels with limited space. Its 13-millimetre-wide footprint saves customers utilized space.
SENSORS
Compact gaging probes
Alliance Sensors introduced its GHS-19 series of spring-loaded LVIT (Linear Variable Inductive Transducer) gaging sensors. They are contactless devices designed for dimensional gaging and position measurements in factory automation and in various industrial and commercial applications where the sensing element cannot be attached to the object being measured. Using LVIT technology with its
Matching sockets are available in both screw and push-in terminals versions for quick and easy wiring as well as vibration-resistant connections. Wiring is further simplified by interconnecting multiple relays and sockets by means of busbars. Features of the RPYS series include SPDT 10A or DPDT 5A contact ratings; 12.6 millimetres width; nominal coil voltage of 12VDC, 24VDC, 24VAC, 115VAC and 230VAC; basic and test button plus LED versions; bidirectional LED indicator with polarity protection; matching screw and push-in terminal sockets; accessories such as bus jumpers, ID tags, retention clips, protection diode module; and agency approvals, including RoHS compliance, cURus (recognized only) and CE certification. gavazzionline.com
HMI & OPERATOR INTERFACE
For demanding applications
TRU-Vu Monitors released a new 21.5-inch industrial-grade LCD monitor. The new VM-21.5UNBS24 monitors provide 1920 by 1080 full high definition resolution. Their super-wide 178 by 178 viewing angles ensure crisp, brilliant full-colour video images from nearly any angle. The rugged
powder-coated steel enclosure and TRU-Vu’s exclusive TRU-Tuff treatment ensure maximum shock and vibration resistance for demanding applications. The VM21.5U-NBS24 features HDMI, VGA and Composite BNC video inputs for easy connectivity to any camera, device or system. They will operate on 12-24VDC as well as 90-240VAC, for maximum versatility. These monitors are in stock and ideal for manufacturing plants, refineries, processing plants, OEM equipment, inspection and surveillance systems, and more.
TRU-VuMonitors.com<
PROGRAMMABLE CONTROL
simple coil design, the GHS-19 series offers excellent stroke-tolength ratios. GHS-19 sensors have a 19-millimetre (0.75-inch) diameter aluminum or stainless steel body with a 1/2-20 UNF-2A threaded nose 38 millimetres (1.5 inches) long and two 19 millimetres (0.75 inches) hex jam nuts for drop-in installation in place of spring-loaded DC-LVDT gage heads. The sensors’ probes are equipped with a No. 9 contact tip, producing a maximum tip force of 0.45 kilogram-force. They are offered with a PT02A10-6P. Operating from a variety of DC voltages, these sensors are available with a choice of one of four analog outputs, and they all include ASG’s proprietary SenSet field calibration feature. alliancesensors.com
Have company news, case studies, events or story ideas to share? Send to srayghosh@annexbusinessmedia.com and you could be featured in Manufacturing AUTOMATION!
Robot programming via PLC
With uniVAL pi, Staubli launched a software solution that enables robot programming to be implemented in the future via the PLC, using Plug & Play in Siemens TIA Portal. With this optionally available communication interface, users can program Staubli robots without manufacturer-specific, high-level language knowledge in their familiar environment. As of now, all
Staubli kinematics can be ordered with the uniVAL pi option. In this configuration, the communication interface to the PLC is already fully developed. Analogous to the already known uniVAL PLC solution, which was developed for programmable logic controllers of all common manufacturers, customers only need to connect the robot to the Siemens world even with the uniVAL pi version and can get started immediately. Whereas PLC and robot programming were two different worlds in the past, these tasks can now be handled centrally by the PLC programmer via the Siemens TIA Portal. staubli.com
Get Your PROTOTYPE
Off the Ground
SOONER
MISUMI components can cover up to 90% of your bill of materials with material certification available upon request.
Choose the material, surface treatment, dimensions and alterations of a component, and see instant pricing and lead time. Configured components have a unique globally-recognized part number, allowing easy re-ordering anywhere in the world.
Learn more about MISUMI’s offerings for Medical Industry.
