Automatica interview: 170 exhibitors show solutions for the packaging industry

Automatica project group leader Armin Wittmann reports on what visitors from the packaging industry can expect at the trade fair for automation

15. June 2018

Impression of the Automatica 2016 in Munich

All well-known manufacturers will be presenting robot applications at Automatica 2018. Here you can see an impression of Kuka at the previous Automatica. (Image: Messe München GmbH)

What will be the role of humans in the smart factory of the future? What can visitors from the packaging industry expect at Automatica? We talked about this with Automatica project group leader Armin Wittmann.

pj: You reported on the increase in exhibitor numbers back in autumn last year. How have they developed since then?

Armin Wittmann: Automatica is growing. We are expecting a total of almost 900 exhibitors and more booked space. For the first time, the trade fair will occupy six halls in full.

pj: Compared to Automatica 2016, what are the main changes that have taken place in the automation industry since then?

Armin Wittmann: Digitalisation in manufacturing and human-robot collaboration are bringing new requirements to the world of work. Training and further education will become increasingly important in the future. This will be a major topic at Automatica 2018.

Armin Wittmann (Image: Messe München)
„In the future, humans and machines will work as a team. People with their emotional intelligence will remain at the centre - the robot will assist.“, Armin Wittmann, project group leader of Automatica 2018.

Rapidly growing range of variants

pj: What can visitors who are looking for automation solutions for packaging applications at Automatica expect?

Armin Wittmann: Around 170 exhibitors currently offer solutions and components for the packaging industry. The rapidly growing diversity of variants has a direct impact on the packaging industry. The requirements can only be met with increased levels of automation, ever more powerful systems and more flexible processes. Automatica showcases the entire technological spectrum.

pj: Keyword digitalisation: Where does the German automation industry stand in this process? Can Automatica make a contribution to advancing the digitalisation of industrial production?

Armin Wittmann: German suppliers of automation, robotics and mechanical and plant engineering are positioned among the international leaders as providers and users of Industry 4.0 technologies. Digitalisation in manufacturing is a key factor for competitiveness and future success. With its own „IT2Industry“ themed area, Automatica covers everything from robotics and automation to information technology, cloud computing and big data. The idea is to provide manufacturing companies with an overview of current digitalisation trends, promising strategies and important IoT technologies.

Human-robot collaboration important for all exhibitors

pj: Which solutions from the field of human-machine collaboration should visitors to Automatica be sure not to miss?

Armin Wittmann: Human-robot collaboration is an important topic for all Automatica exhibitors. Various technological aspects will be highlighted at the trade fair: from sensor technology, gripping technology and mechanics to programming and division of labour.

pj: The VDMA trade association „Robotics + Automation“ is organising the special show „Humans in Automation“. What do you think: Will humans disappear from the smart factory of the future?

Armin Wittmann: In the future, humans and machines will work as a team. Humans with their emotional intelligence will remain at the centre - robots will assist. The „robot colleague“ has already arrived in practice. The task now is to make the smart helper even more intelligent and flexible.

[infotext icon]You can get an overview of what's happening at Automatica in this article.[/infotext]