October 2024 industry news: acquisitions, new facilities and AI

In this episode of Control Intelligence, managing editor Anna Townshend shares machine builder and system integrator news highlights from the month of October.

Transcript

Acquisition

Machine Solutions has acquired Alpine Laser, expanding its offerings in laser processing technology for medical device manufacturing. Alpine’s expertise in laser processing will accelerate product development for Machine Solutions' clients, strengthening its position in the medical device market. This partnership enhances both companies' ability to deliver tailored engineering solutions and further consolidates Machine Solutions’ leadership in the industry. Alpine Laser is the ninth acquisition since Machine Solutions joined BW Forsyth Partners in 2012.

New facilities

1. Nefab Group's PolyFlex division has opened a new facility in Grand Blanc, Michigan. This 19,000 sq ft new site houses equipment to design, prototype and build tooling for injection-molded products in one location, including CNC machines and 3D printers. The new facility will also collaborate with PolyFlex’s nearby Farmington Hills, Michigan location, which specializes in injection-molded packaging products for the automotive industry. With a significant investment in the latest technology, Nefab can now work with a wider variety of materials, including thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), to deliver rapid prototyping and faster lead times. Darrell Tiedeman, COO at PolyFlex, said “Leveraging the latest technology and boosting our in-house capabilities gives us greater control over costs and timing.” Nefab's closed-loop system for returnable injection-molded and thermoformed packaging is designed to minimize waste and enhance sustainability throughout the packaging lifecycle.

2. Nidec Machine Tool has launched full-scale operations at its new factory in Pinghu, (Pingru), China. The 66,000-square-meter facility will produce hobbing machines, gear-cutting tools and machining centers to meet China’s domestic demand in the automotive, robotics and industrial machinery sectors. The factory’s production capacity is projected to reach 4 million units in its first year, with plans to increase to 8 million units by 2030. The facility also features a showroom to display Nidec’s products. The new factory will serve as a point of contact for the company’s personnel in Japan to procure products from China.

Association news

1. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a warning to operators of industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT) about increasing cyberattacks using simple or unsophisticated methods like default credentials and brute-force techniques. CISA highlighted that these attacks target Internet-accessible OT and ICS devices, which are particularly vulnerable. To combat this, CISA recommends following guidelines from its report, entitled "Defending OT Operations Against Ongoing Pro-Russia Hacktivist Activity.”.

2. According to a report by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the North American robotics market experienced a decline in robot orders during the first half of 2024, compared to the same time period in 2023. Unit orders fell by 7.9% and revenue dropped 6.8%. Automotive manufacturers saw a 14.4% increase in orders but revenues still dropped by 12%. The automotive-components sector saw significant declines in order, down 38.8% with revenues down 27.3%. Some sectors experienced growth like food and consumer goods, with orders rising 85.6%. A3 says this growth reflects the increasing reliance on robotics for efficiency in food processing and packaging, as companies address labor shortages and rising costs. A3 President Jeff Burnstein said, “Rising inflation and borrowing costs have dampened spending on robotics, with many companies opting to delay major investments. Despite these challenges, the push for operational efficiency and workforce augmentation continues to drive demand for robotics in industries such as food and consumer goods and life sciences, among others.”

3. Takayuki Ito, chief technical advisor at Fanuc, has been appointed president of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), succeeding Marina Bill of ABB. With more than 40 years in the robotics industry, Ito aims to continue advancing the global automation landscape, particularly in industrial and service sectors. Jane Heffner of Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) will serve as the new IFR vice president, bringing more than 20 years of experience in robotics, automotive and aerospace industries. Together, they aim to lead IFR’s initiatives in navigating rapid changes in robotics and automation.

Awards

1. Eaton has been awarded the 2024 International Energy Project of the Year by the Association of Energy Engineers for its microgrid project in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The project, developed in collaboration with Enel North America, includes a 5 MW solar photovoltaic system and 1.1 MW battery storage, supplying renewable energy to Eaton’s manufacturing facility and reducing emission by approximately 7,100 metric tons. The infrastructure is also hurricane-proof and can feed energy back to the local grid. Eaton is already planning a second microgrid for another facility in Puerto Rico.

2. ABB Robotics is partnering with U.S. startup Molg to create robotic micro-factories to recycle discarded electronic equipment or e-waste from data centers. Molg’s robotic micro-factory can autonomously assemble and disassemble complex electronic products including laptop PCs, servers and industrial electronics. Molg was recognized as a winner in ABB’s 2023 Startup Challenge for its innovative approach to circularity. Their partnership focuses on automating the disassembly of data center equipment to recover valuable components, including rare earth elements. With data centers contributing to the 2.6 million tonnes of annual e-waste, this solution is targeted at large data center operators and IT asset disposition companies.

3. Mouser Electronics announced the winners of its 2024 Best-in-Class Award, honoring key professionals from partner companies. Winners of the Mouser Best-in-Class Award are selected using five main criteria: strategically partnering with the Mouser team; promoting product lines and working together on new product launches; finding creative solutions to grow market share mutually for both companies; maximizing Mouser's unique value proposition within their own businesses; and championing Mouser within their organizations. Winner included Anthony Bruggeman, Harwin; Ivy Spidale, onsemi; James Alt, Kingston; Kathy Elsesser, Keysight; Lora McIlheran, 3M; Mary Benetti-Condon, Bel; Michon Holt, Kyocera AVX; Mike McNab, Lattice; Mike Sewart, Molex; and Sabine Colen, Analog Devices.

Vendor news

1. Estonia officially became CERN’s 24th member state in a ceremony at the organization’s headquarters, home to the large hadron collider, the world’s largest machine. The event was attended by Estonian President Alar Karis and other dignitaries. Estonia’s accession to CERN marks a significant milestone in the country’s commitment to scientific collaboration and basic research. Estonia will now participate in particle physics research and innovation at CERN, contributing to the development of cutting-edge technology and training the next generation of scientists.

2. Hannover Messe 2025 will focus on the latest in IIoT and AI, with exhibitors like AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud, PTC, Hexagon and SAP, which will showcase digital ecosystems that enable collaboration and data-sharing across industries. Key topics include AI, machine learning, big data and cloud computing, which are essential for monitoring production processes and detecting anomalies. Digital twins will be featured prominently, offering real-time, virtual models to simulate and optimize production systems, boosting efficiency and sustainability. Additionally, the Industrial Security Circus exhibit will address cybersecurity, highlighting the tools needed to protect against cyber threats in the digitalized manufacturing landscape.

Partnerships

1. PTC has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to enhance its Onshape cloud-based computer-aided design (CAD) and product data management system. To help engineers and designers create products faster and more efficiently, the collaboration will focus on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline the design process, with the upcoming Onshape AI Advisor offering real-time assistance during product development, by cataloguing the resource library of text-based documentation and videos and answering questions or making recommendations during the design process. While designing, users will be able to type a question in simple, conversational language and the Onshape AI Advisor will respond with an answer or recommendation based on the resource library and provide links to additional information. The Onshape AI Advisor will run on Amazon Bedrock and is expected to be released by the end of 2024.

2. Honeywell and Google Cloud have formed a partnership to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) agents into industrial operations. This collaboration will leverage Google Cloud’s Gemini AI platform and Honeywell Forge’s industrial data to drive autonomous operations, providing actionable insights for increased efficiency and safety. Solutions built through this partnership will be available in 2025. Built on Google Cloud's Vertex AI Search and tailored to engineers’ specific needs, an AI-powered agent will help automate tasks and reduce project design cycles. In the future, Honeywell will explore using Google’s Gemini Nano model to enhance Honeywell edge AI devices.

3. Seeq and Aveva have partnered to enhance industrial analytics and data management for process industries, including chemical, energy, metals and mining, and utilities. Through native integration, Seeq’s AI-powered analytics can now access data via Aveva’s Connect platform, helping organizations unlock insights and improve operational outcomes across the value chain. This combination of data management services, industrial analytics, AI and enterprise monitoring is designed to enable monitoring across plants, energy data exchange along the value chain, streamlined R&D collaboration and emissions data transparency.

4. Precision metrology distributor MSI Viking and metrology instrument provider Mahr have expanded their partnership to include advanced production metrology systems, such as contour, roughness and form instruments, and advanced optical metrology solutions. This collaboration will enable MSI Viking to offer a wider range of precision measurement systems across the southeastern and midwestern U.S. regions. Both companies need enhanced customer support to meet the growing demand for high-precision metrology systems, and together they can better deliver comprehensive, high-quality solutions backed by strong post-sale service and technical support.