Waldkirch/ Hannover, April 2018 – Under the motto “Driving your industry 4ward”, SICK is presenting its own smart factory – that produces batch size 1 and serial products on the same line – at the Hannover Messe. This flexibility in production and logistics has been made possible by sensor intelligence: programmable and self-learning cameras, reliable safety sensors for human-robot collaboration, and complete solutions for navigating autonomous guided vehicles. All these devices are connected with one another via a cloud, implementing Industry 4.0 along the entire value-creation process.
Decentralized intelligence in the sensors (edge computing) forms the basis for flexible control of production processes in the smart factory. Additional cloud intelligence in the form of data analyses and applications (apps) allow the use of self-learning mechanisms in the sensors, increasing their adaptability to production-related changes.
Logistical processes in the smart factory are just as flexible. As much as possible of the supply chain is taken over by driverless transport systems whose autonomous navigation (by means of track guidance sensors, as well as grid and contour localization) is also shown live, together with collision prevention solutions. The data from all the sensors in the smart factory are evaluated on a large display, giving visitors a constant overview of logistical and production processes, as well as key performance indicators.
The SICK AppSpace, software for creating and administrating customized application solutions, can also be seen live in use. In collaboration with Robert Bosch GmbH, we show how programmable cameras from SICK take over application-specific quality control tasks in a tooling machine with the aid of AppSpace, and transfer the data directly to a management cloud to ensure continuous process quality.
SICK’s main stand is located in Hall 9, F18. The company is also exhibiting at CeMAT, the world’s leading trade fair for intralogistics and supply chain management, which is taking place at the same time. SICK is exhibiting system solutions for efficient storage and conveyor systems at the Logistics 4.0 hub in Hall 24, D18. These include pallet identification and bulk reading of RFID tags, package dimensioning and quality assurance, as well as the acquisition of master data.
SICK is one of the world’s leading producers of sensors and sensor solutions for industrial applications. The company, founded in 1946 by Dr. Erwin Sick and based in Waldkirch-im-Breisgau near Freiburg, is a technology and market leader with a global presence – with more than 50 subsidiaries and associated companies, as well as numerous sales offices. SICK achieved Group sales of about EUR 1.5 bn. in the 2017 fiscal year with almost 9,000 employees worldwide.
Further information on SICK is available at http://www.sick.com or by phone at +49 (0)7681 202-4345.