More exhibition space than two years ago, robotics and the „Internet of things“ as megatopics for the smart factory and many innovative automation solutions from the packaging and food sectors: Automatica 2018 from 19 to 22 June 2018 in Munich is growing once again and expanding its range of topics.
The eighth edition of the trade fair is taking place in the midst of a boom in the automation sector. It was only last autumn that the VDMA launched the Growth forecast for robotics and automation from seven to eleven per cent. This is reflected in the interest shown by exhibitors. More first-time exhibitors are also expected.
Germany is the third most automated country in the world. Accordingly, Automatica will be the centre of attraction for all the world's leading robot manufacturers. Solutions for the Human-robot collaboration are one of the defining trends. On show at Stäubli (Hall B5, Stand 321/521), for example, a smart production line for tool changing systems and at Universal Robots (Hall B4, Stand 303) will present a cobot for vehicle assembly. Also Kuka (Hall A4, Stand 221/231) will be showcasing cobot solutions for industrial applications.
Packaging industry is one of the growth drivers
The plastics, food and packaging industries are also increasingly driving growth in automation. Handling applications and, above all, optical inspection systems for the food and packaging industry will be presented.
- Yaskawa (Hall B6, Stand 501/502) will explain, for example, how the Cobot „Motoman HC10“ and the „AirGrip“ gripper system can be used to handle drinks bottles.
- Cognex (Hall B5, Stand 500) will be exhibiting image processing and identification systems for the automation of production, packaging, handling and logistics processes. These systems can be used, for example, to check the caps and fill levels of drinks packaging.
- Vision systems for the packaging systems has Isra Vision (Hall A4, Stand 316) in the portfolio. For example, the Swiss company Model AG uses Isra Vision's „Papermaster“ for quality inspection in corrugated board production and inspects printed corrugated board with the „Cartonstar“.
- The quality assurance of food packaging is also addressed by Stemmer Imaging (Hall B5, Stand 502). Among other things, the company's image processing systems inspect aluminium trays for food for integrity at Leuthold Mechanik AG in Switzerland.
- Vision systems, lighting and algorithms form the basis of the inspection solutions from VMT (Hall A4, Stand 303). They can be used to monitor the packaging of vials and ampoules.
Presentations and forums on current automation developments
The accompanying programme of the trade fair provides information on current developments in the automation industry. The „IT2Industry“ exhibition area for industrial „Internet of things“ solutions will be located in Hall B4. Presentations on the use of information technology will be held in the IT2Industry Forum. Younger visitors are encouraged to take part in the „Makeathon“ and the „European Robotics Challenge“ will be drawn into the hall. Finally, the robotics conference „International Symposium on Robotics 2018“, which will be held on 20 and 21 June 2018 as part of Automatica.
[infotext icon]What are the highlights of Automatica 2018? What developments for the smart factory can be seen? We asked Armin Wittmann. Read the answer here Interview with the Automatica project group leader[/infotext]
