There are plenty of scenarios where robotics can be deployed to increase productivity and precision while removing people from the drudgery of repetitive tasks. Cobots take this a step further by being able to work alongside human operators in a truly collaborative way.

Mitsubishi Electric has supported Optimation, a machine builder specialist in the packaging and converting industries, in an automated till roll packing system upgrade project. The improved setup combines a MELSEC iQ-F PLC, MR-J4 servos as well as a GOT2000 series HMI, doubling the speed of operations while maximising availability and durability.

Driven by the demand for digitalisation and automation in the water industry, Royal HaskoningDHV and Mitsubishi Electric Europe are joining forces to develop specialised automation controls. This will facilitate the implementation of smart water solutions, enabling water utilities to optimise the performance and efficiency of their plants.

Mitsubishi Electric has supported Mailroom Machines in the redesign of a Norpak mail wrapping machine to improve the environmental footprint of its activities. The new, versatile setup leverages the innovative FR-A800-R2R inverter with dedicated winding functions, to accommodate the use of sustainable packaging materials while eliminating waste.

As industrial automation systems become increasingly technical and data-driven, the need for automation equipment suppliers and system integrators to work more closely together has increased exponentially. Integrators who have access to technical and commercial support from their product suppliers will in turn deliver a better solution.

With increased competition, often on a global scale, manufacturers need to differentiate themselves by tailoring products more closely to customer demand. This carries with it an implicit reduction in batch sizes and has seen the rise of ‘high-mix, low-volume’ production. Cobots can enable manufacturers to effectively meet individual customer requirements with greater product variety in smaller batches.

With Smart Manufacturing continuing to merge the worlds of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT), the demand for comprehensive security measures to protect OT networks is growing. For a standards-based approach, stakeholders can turn to the IEC 62443 guidelines.

Smart factories are on the increase as the manufacturing industry becomes progressively automated. Tomorrow’s plant engineers must have the knowledge to work with robots, controls, networking and software required to effectively run the Smart Factories of the future. It is precisely this knowledge that Redcar & Cleveland College wanted to share with its students using automation equipment from Mitsubishi Electric.

Mitsubishi Electric has welcomed Total Automated Solutions (TAS) to its Drive Solutions Centre (DSC), a network of leading drives and automation specialists. This strategic agreement will enable TAS to provide an even more comprehensive service offering to its customers, enhancing their competitiveness.

With increased competition, often on a global scale, manufacturers need to differentiate themselves by tailoring products more closely to customer demand. This, of course, carries with it an implicit reduction in batch sizes and has seen the rise of ‘high-mix, low-volume production. Cobots can enable manufacturers to effectively meet individual customer requirements with greater product variety in smaller batches.

Mitsubishi Electric Ireland Automation Partner, Ashdale Engineering, located in Northern Ireland, has designed a highly accurate control system for an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant. The precision process control is achieved using Mitsubishi Electric automation components and is vital to ensuring continued operation of the live AD process, enabling the generation of heat and electricity that the plant operator now plans to sell to the grid.

Mitsubishi Electric’s range of automation products have helped to create the first fully automated Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approved post-processing machine for 3D printed plastic parts. Sheffield-based Additive Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) has teamed up with Mitsubishi Electric to further advance its innovative chemical vapour smoothing machine, PostPro 3D, by developing an integrated automation solution.

Mitsubishi Electric has released a comprehensive OEM developer’s kit aimed at both first-time automation users and experienced engineers. The kit consists of a PLC, HMI and programming software that can be used to develop new machines for a wide range of manufacturing and process industries. 

Mitsubishi Electric’s new MELSERVO MR-J5 series of TSN-compatible servo drives meet today’s exacting requirements for precision, dynamics and multi-axis synchronisation in applications such as; food and beverage, life sciences and printing/converting production. The MR-J5 series also integrates a full suite of safety functions as standard and embedded predictive maintenance functions give users the tools they need to increase machine ...

Mitsubishi Electric and AR Controls have provided a steel sheet press automation solution for Unipres. The upgrade allowed the car part manufacturer to significantly increase the uptime, productivity and energy efficiency of its transfer press, while also empowering operators to have greater insight and control over the production processes.

Mitsubishi Electric has announced a new collaboration with Radiflow, a provider of OT cyber security solutions for industrial automation networks. The collaboration will help businesses leverage industrial automation solutions within a secure framework. Customers also benefit from a single point of contact to create smart manufacturing solutions with secure Operational Technology (OT) networks.

Mitsubishi Electric UK has announced a new network of Drive Solutions Centres (DSCs). Each one sharing technology, experience and ideas to focus on providing a full service offering for the entire lifecycle of larger capacity low voltage and medium voltage variable speed drives.

The new inverter FR-E800 is a highly flexible, compact variable speed drive (VSD) series with multiple built-in networks, including TSN (Time Sensitive Networking) without the need for costly option cards and has been released by Mitsubishi Electric to support the needs of smart factories. 

It has been announced that a joint solution for easy integration of vision technology is now available as SICK has joined Mitsubishi Electric’s e-F@ctory Alliance. Machine builders, systems integrators and end users can now quickly realise inspection, validation, position detection and quality control applications built around SICK cameras and Mitsubishi Electric Devices.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machine Tool, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has developed new models of hobbing and gear shaping machines with highly accurate machining to manufacture precision reduction gears for robots.