5th April
10.30am
Driving machines beyond limits
Following the major technical advancements of the last few years, the automation industry needs to constantly adapt to newly emerging trends. Doing so brings many challenges manufacturers of all industries try to overcome. This seminar will demonstrate the advances the industry is making with extreme automation challenges.
11.30am
Energy efficiency gains in compressed air systems
Vanda Jones, executive director of The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS)
Compressed air systems have a significant impact on the energy consumption and efficiency of manufacturing systems. BCAS, executive director, Vanda Jones will discuss the energy efficiency gains in compressed air systems.
Afternoon session:
12.30pm
Dynamic states of safety
Pilz Automation Technology
Traditionally a safe state on a machine is when it is stopped and there is no movement, however, this can impede productivity. Whilst absolute standstill is still necessary in the majority of cases, where a risk assessment permits and the required technical measures are feasible (such as safe mode selection, safe speed detection etc), a case can be made for allowing equipment to run without necessarily stopping it during human-machine interventions (such as machine setting up and fault-finding). This seminar will describe the various safety functions designated in IEC 61800-5-2 and some of the technologies available to realise them to the adequate safety level.
2pm
Wake up to automation
Nikesh Mistry, sector head for Industrial Automation, GAMBICA
There is little doubt that manufacturing industry will play an increasingly important part in our economy and future prosperity post-Brexit. It is clear that a dramatic increase in investment in robotics and automation will be essential if we are to remain competitive and achieve the productivity levels required to attain the growth needed to sustain our economy. This seminar will set out the positive impact that future investment in automation and robotics can have on UK competitiveness.
3pm
Safe human robot collaboration
Pilz Automation Technology
The increased interest and adoption of collaborative robots, also known as cobots, is being driven partly by the digital revolution. Many of the benefits of using cobots are very similar to those of traditional industrial robots– repeatability, accuracy, productivity – whereas the question of safety requires some careful consideration as new safety concepts permitting or foreseeing actual human-cobot collision have emerged. As with most dynamic situations, realisation of a safe and compliant application must be done on a case by case basis.
6th April
Morning session:
10.30am
Asset management and maintenance of fixed plant items - the conventions, legislation and statutory duties
Martin Barnes, technical engineer - Ambipar Response/ Society of Operation Engineers (SOE)
The main focus of this presentation is fixed asset management and maintenance of fixed plant items, the conventions, legislation and statutory duties associated with production plant and machinery. As part of this seminar, Martin Barnes, will discuss the management system his company uses to track physical and maintain physical assets across three different UK sites and the upset incorrect data causes during audits etc. He will also discuss, the trials and tribulations of pump maintenance including testing of pumps prior to installation, the testing of hydraulic systems, standby hydraulic power packs to power fixed production machinery, standby power generation and compressed air systems.
11.30am
Government support to help companies develop high efficiency drives using advanced semiconductors
Andy Sellars, Strategic Development Director, CSA Catapult
This presentation describes a recent project to develop UK supply chains of SiC for power conversion applications. It describes support for industry from UK government, including funding through the Industrial Strategy, and describes the Catapult’s role in helping companies adopt new technologies as part of their ‘Net Zero’ strategy.
Afternoon session:
2pm
Energy efficiency in motor driven pump systems
Gary Wilde, technical services manager, BPMA
Gary Wilde will outline the energy efficiencies to be gained by the correct configuration of motor driven apparatus in relation to pump systems.
3pm
A guide to sensors for safeguarding of machinery
Pilz Automation Technology
With so many options on the market to safeguard machinery, selecting the optimum solution for both safety and productivity can be a complex exercise. This seminar will outline the latest technology solutions and their pros and cons for different applications.
7th April
Morning session:
11.30am
Using condition monitoring to improve plant reliability
Dean Whittle, senior reliability engineer, RMS Reliability
Monitoring the condition of machinery with condition monitoring techniques is an essential part of any cost reduction (and safety improvement) program. But are we doing enough simply monitoring condition? This animated presentation provides a brief overview of various condition monitoring (CM) techniques.
Afternoon session:
12.30pm
Automation trends in the UK
Nikesh Mistry, sector head for Industrial Automation, GAMBICA
AI, robotics and other forms of smart automation have the potential to bring great economic benefits, potentially contributing billions of Pounds to the UK economy. This seminar will talk about the most significant technological achievements over the past year and illustrate promising trends for the future in the field of automation.
