I recently attended the world’s biggest and most well-known exhibition that encompasses everything in shaping, forming, cutting, bending and fabricating metal – in other words everything in the machining industry and related sectors. It was no surprise to see the excitement and enthusiasm that usually accompanies the EMO exhibition – an international platform that is used by many to showcase their new production technologies, systems and products to help companies maintain their productivity and competitiveness but also to boost their resilience and flexibility while at the same time also allowing them to meet increasing demand more effectively.
One clear topic at the exhibition amongst exhibitors, visitors and organisers is sustainability or as the politicians call it Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the European Commission says: “The SDGs were established in 2015 by the international community as part of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through which countries of the world collectively pledged to eradicate poverty, find sustainable and inclusive development solutions, ensure everyone’s human rights, and generally make sure that no one is left behind by 2030. The EU made a positive and constructive contribution to the development of the 2030 Agenda. We are committed to implementing the SDGs in all our policies and encourage EU countries to do the same. 17 SDGs have been defined, with 169 associated targets, to be reached by 2030. They address the global challenges the world faces and tackle all dimensions of sustainable development, in a balanced and integrated manner.”
The momentum in getting governments and companies to comply with the SDGs in Europe is moving fast. All those that are not involved in the private sector and are tasked to promote and implement the SDGs have a new lease of life. They say they are helping to drive home globally the transformations necessary to deliver on the SDGs, while leaving no one behind. These priorities are interconnected, they say, with the five Ps – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, Partnership.
In Europe if you do not start complying with the SDGs you will be increasingly side-lined and not be considered for future business contracts. As will those companies from outside of Europe that are either doing business or wanting to do business in Europe. Here in South Africa, we have policies in place to facilitate broader participation in the economy but in essence it is an excluding policy that most will say is damaging to the economy. We are going to have to get used to another example to designing a product or system for energy efficiency and not primarily for maximum performance. I wonder what our grandfathers would say?
Automation and digitalisation
The shortage of skilled workers was a further reason why automation was a clear focus at the exhibition. Several hundred robots were counted at EMO. A new aspect is that it is no longer necessary to have programming skills in order to use cobots (collaborative robots) for different applications such as loading and unloading, quality control, painting, washing, as well as connecting to measuring devices. The cobots are equipped with sensors that mimic the human sense of touch. This allows them to compensate for workpiece tolerances or work around obstacles in the workspace. In collaboration with employees, this facilitates enclosure-free operation, for example. This trend also means that robot manufacturers are currently doing good business.
There are now record levels of robot installations, with more than 570 000 new systems being installed worldwide last year, according to forecasts from the International Federation of Robotics.
Digitalisation and automation are continuing to develop at a rapid pace. The overall aim is to ensure reliable manufacturing processes. This increases productivity while also reducing the carbon footprint.
