B&R unlocks key capabilities for the latest manufacturing challenges

B&R’s ‘Think adaptive at SPS 2022’ focuses on giving a competitive advantage to manufacturing systems.

Manufacturing systems need to be more adaptive, open, and sustainable than ever before in times of rapidly shifting consumer behaviour and unpredictable changes in markets and sup-ply chains. At this year’s SPS trade show in Nuremberg (November 8–10), B&R showcased some of the ways it gives machine builders and manufacturers the power to weather these challenges and transform them into a competitive advantage.

In an inviting new booth design (Hall 7, Booth 206), B&R presents the latest advancements in key technologies, including mechatronic product transport, machine-centric robotics, inte-grated machine vision, and simulation, which come together around its core portfolio to open up the capabilities urgently needed to master today’s manufacturing challenges. Known as adaptive manufacturing, these capabilities make it possible to switch effortlessly between different products and packaging to dramatically increase productivity while simultaneously shrinking the footprint of machines and lines.

Advancing adaptivity
“Today’s machines need the power to adapt,” said B&R CEO Jörg Theis. “They need to change effortlessly between batches, get more output from a smaller footprint, and make highly cus-tomised products on demand—even ones that are yet to be invented.” A new generation of ACOPOStrak shuttles that last longer run smoother, and have positioning accuracy down to an impressive 200 m is one of the latest developments that make this possible.

Visitors to the B&R booth can see how integrating delta robots from Codian into the B&R portfolio makes it quicker and more intuitive to implement high-speed pick-and-place applica-tions. Simulation capabilities make it even easier to integrate Codian robots as a natural part of the B&R ecosystem. “The combination of robotics and other key technologies like machine vision and independent product transport gives machines the superpower of adaptability,” says B&R Adaptive Ambassador Nicoletta Ghironi. “In other words: the power to run any batch with the efficiency and profitability of mass production.”

Growing together
Also on display at the B&R booth are a variety of solutions that give teams more flexibility for collaborative and simulation-based development. Developers who use their preferred tools and environments complete higher-quality work faster and more efficiently. Training costs are reduced, and innovation becomes quicker and leaner. “Like our products, our people are most effective when we work together seamlessly and communicate openly,” says B&R CSO Luca Galluzzi. “Our innovative technology comes to life when our people join their strengths and creates real solutions to our customer’s biggest challenges.”

Highlighting innovation through collaboration, B&R announced a joint project with machine vision specialist MVTec and AI processor specialist HAILO to integrate sophisticated deep learning algorithms into B&R cameras. The first result of this collaboration is a new Deep OCR function that combines ground-breaking speed—up to 26 tera-operations per second—with exceptional usability.

Freedom through openness
The adaptive solutions on display at the B&R booth make it possible to produce highly cus-tomised products at smaller, decentralised production sites. Aiding manufacturers’ efforts to re-shore and nearshore production helps reduce the cost and environmental impact of ship-ping while also making supply chains more resilient. Further resilience against supply chain disruptions comes from B&R’s commitment to open connectivity and hardware-agnostic con-trol. From the ability to run B&R control solutions on third-party hardware to a complete ar-ray of Fieldbus connectivity, with more freedom to choose the platforms, technologies, languages, and tools that best suit their needs, B&R customers can easily meet new requirements and deploy cutting-edge IIoT and AI- enhanced solutions with the teams and skills they already have.

For more information, visit
www.br-automation.com.