Smart Manufacturing: March 2019
The March 2019 edition of Smart Manufacturing is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.

ROLLING INTO ASIA: Two German Firms’ Timely Moves
February 19, 2019
To date, GBneuhaus has only produced its nanotech-enabled coatings in Neuhaus am Rennweg, a small village in the state of Thuringia. But that’s about to change: The 28-year-old firm in June founded a company in Pune, India, and will soon begin producing its antimicrobial coating there.

Cloud Computing Gives Medical Manufacturers a Booster Shot
February 19, 2019
Cloud computing helps any kind of manufacturing with cybersecurity, efficiency, on-call scalability, and Industry 4.0. But for medical manufacturers, cloud computing brings additional critical benefits.

Machine Vision Technology Advances Rapidly
February 20, 2019
Machine vision is proving ideal in helping humans perform tedious but crucial manufacturing tasks. That is why it is poised to grow significantly in the next few years.

After Jamming in Paris, 7 French Firms Play N. America
February 18, 2019
Business France will in March wrap up its first accelerator “dedicated to the industry of the future in North America.” The 10-month program is specialized in monitoring and control tech, as well as data analytics.

Where Microns Matter: Optical Measuring SystemsWhere Microns Matter: Optical Measuring Systems
February 21, 2019
Optical measuring systems, which use light instead of touch, are becoming more widely used in manufacturing because of their faster speed, higher accuracy and ability to measure oddly shaped parts.

Out with the old sensors (puh-lease!) and in with the new
February 19, 2019
Sensors are making their way deeper into process manufacturing where they monitor PH levels in vinegar, ensure towering bins of sugar aren’t overfilled and measure humidity in bakeries. Sensors are even helping power better mousetraps.

READY TO SHARE: MetraLabs Robots Poised to Grease the Skids for Automotive Suppliers in an AI World
November 27, 2018
Cofounder Johannes Trabert, who lives a poetic life in the Thuringian Forest, says the future will be focused on ‘the clever share of work’ between humans and robots.
Up Front
-
Smart Manufacturing
How a Small, Influential Maker of Robots Sees Human Workers
February 25, 2019The human factor is sometimes just too cumbersome in manufacturing. Take the German chipmaker Infineon: By using an autonomous robot called Scout from MetraLabs for the last several years, the automotive supplier shrank to 10 from 300 the number of minutes it takes to collect the clean-room data needed to measure the presence of rare gases in the air.
Mfg Intel
-
Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing
Ensuring the Security of Additive Manufacturing
January 8, 2019One of the key advantages of additive manufacturing is its digital thread, which allows for rapid communication, iteration, and sharing of a design model and its corresponding physical representation. While this enables an efficient design process, the flow of data opens vulnerabilities to cyber-attack.
Passport To Innovation
-
Smart Manufacturing
Personalize Products? Switch Product Formats in 15 minutes? It’s Happening at L’Oréal
January 15, 2019In Paris, Smart Manufacturing Editor in Chief Brett Brune interviews Stéphane Lannuzel, chief digital officer for Operations at L’Oréal.
Guest Columns
-
Smart Manufacturing
What to Do About Spare Part Supply Issues for Aging Assets
February 19, 2019Aging assets have long been the culprits behind common supply chain disruptions like unexpected downtime and production delays. They can have a direct impact on revenues and service levels, and the older they get, the more costly the risks they pose are. -
Smart Manufacturing
Energy Storage Systems Can Help Calm Sea of Uncertainty
February 19, 2019Energy markets across the world are changing rapidly with the increase of renewables and the change to a more distributed energy network. Energy storage is key. The capabilities of large-scale batteries have expanded, allowing users to capture more value and create a powerful tool to manage energy needs. -
Smart Manufacturing
On-Premises or the Cloud: Which Makes More Sense?
February 21, 2019So you have finally decided to start your digital transformation. You have seen the benefits around digitizing your operations. By connecting your disparate systems, you can start seeing what is actually happening in your plant and become more efficient. And not just in one plant, but in multiple plants. -
Smart Manufacturing
Meticulous Recordkeeping Doesn’t Have to Be Painful
February 21, 2019The requirements for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 are in place for a good reason: When companies are making a part that goes inside your body, the engineering and manufacturing process must be meticulously documented, tested and controlled. People’s lives are at stake.
Podcasts For You
Advanced Manufacturing Now is the perfect podcast for manufacturing professionals. Hear about the latest technology, equipment, processes and factors impacting manufacturing from industry leaders and experts.