A shared language connects. This also applies to machines in the industrial IoT (Internet of Things). The easier the sharing of information, the more efficient the work. VDW has therefore developed umati (universal machine tool interface) together with TRUMPF and 16 other project partners. A universal interface that securely, seamlessly and effortlessly integrates machine tools and equipment into customer-specific and user-specific IT ecosystems. It is a standard for users in Germany and all over the world, opening up new opportunities for the Industry 4.0 era.
Smart Factory – What is it?
A Smart Factory is a production environment in which people, machines, automation and software work together in perfect harmony. The notion of the ideal Industry 4.0 production landscape presents a major challenge to many sheet metal processing companies. Before a highly efficient, flexible and transparent shop floor that satisfies even the strictest of requirements can be achieved, one thing usually comes first: the clean up. Because "chaos" cannot be digitalized. We help you bring order to your production processes and take the next logical step in the technological evolution: consistent networking of the material flow, information flow, automation and process optimization.
What is Industry 4.0?
Industry 4.0 refers to the Fourth Industrial Revolution – also known as the "digital transformation". Its aim is optimal positioning of industrial production for the future.
What is a Smart Factory?
A Smart Factory is a production environment in which people, machines, automation and software work together perfectly.
Our path to the Smart Factory
We offer a modular solution for your Smart Factory. Sheet metal processors can use this concept to equip their production facilities to meet rapidly changing market and customer requirements.
What is Industry 4.0?
Digital networking is at the heart of Industry 4.0, offering enormous potential to increase flexibility and productivity through manufacturing technology computerization and digital business platform development. It links different components within and beyond a production facility. The factory of the future sustainably optimizes processes and drastically shortens processes.
What is a Smart Factory?
What specific advantages does a Smart Factory have? Smart networking makes production transparent. Sheet metal processors then always know what is happening and can plan better. Indirect processes are optimized. Digital factory operators have faster and more flexible production and their processes become more manageable. A crucial advantage – especially for smaller lot sizes. The basis of the Smart Factory's communications is IoT (Internet of Things). Everything communicates with everything else in the "IoT". The product communicates the information required for production to the Smart Factory.
Our path to the Smart Factory
Smart Factory customers get tailor-made solutions in three steps according to their specific needs: from a simple start or step-by-step adaptation through to fully networked systems. Regardless of the situation, the goal on the path to a completely networked Smart Factory is clear: to bring greater transparency, flexibility and, most importantly, economy to the entire process.
The potential of Industry 4.0: how do machines in the Smart Factory communicate with each other?
Smart processes – Smart Factory
Starting out
No two production systems are ever the same. Your introduction to the Smart Factory therefore needs to be tailor-made. Lay the foundations for your Smart Factory using machines equipped for connectivity as standard. Our experienced Smart Factory experts work with you to develop the optimum procedure for your needs. The main objective is to create transparency in production and identify possible optimizations.
Step-by-step adaptation
Getting everything under control makes taking the step into automated production worthwhile. Turn your production into a Smart Factory by using automated machines and autonomous manufacturing cells embedded within a production system that increases automation and boosts productivity. Employees can then focus on their core tasks, which boosts motivation and increases the quality of parts. Automated production saves space and allows for better utilization of machines.
Fully networked
The end result is an integrated production system from order to delivery. With a complete system, highly efficient production will always be possible in your Smart Factory. modular solutions from TRUMPF support you and help to give your processes greater transparency, flexibility and, most importantly, profitability. Our experienced Smart Factory experts work with you to develop the optimal Industry 4.0 package for your requirements.
What our consultants say
Challenges within the Smart Factory
With orders getting smaller, increasing product variety and rising complexity on the shop floor - as a sheet metal processor, you need a partner at your side who knows all the critical points in the various processes. We provide transparency and material flow in your production – even for a lot size of 1 - until your production works the way you want it to.
Your problems – Our solutions
Increased output without an increased workload.
Always looking for something? Find everything you need with live locating.
Stuck on an urgent order? Adapt your production plan at lightning speed.
Lost track of things? Bring order to the chaos.
Everything under control? Any time, anywhere.
Come and visit us!
The TRUMPF Smart Factories
No two productions are the same, no two development trajectories are alike. Not even the markets are identical in which our customers are active. This is why we make the factory of the future come alive, right where our customers are: whether in Europe, America or Asia – we demonstrate how a networked production actually works in real life in our Smart Factories on three continents. In TRUMPF's Smart Factories, the interaction of staff, machines, automation and software has already been perfected and these elements are fully networked. But regardless of whether our visitors are just starting out, want to expand step by step or would like to become fully networked, we meet them where they are today. Our Smart Factory Consultants analyze the process chains of each customer and on this basis, optimize all sequences on the shop floor. In line with the motto: our customers' success is a success for TRUMPF as well.
Our Smart Factory sites
Chicago, USA
The Chicago site is a natural fit for the Smart Factory. Around 40 percent of the sheet metal processing industry in the USA is located in the states directly surrounding it. Our US-American customers experience there how the Smart Factory provides support, from sorting to fully autonomous production. One highlight is the integrated cutting and bending cells. A so-called skywalk also makes it possible to get a better understanding of the production systems with their flow of material and information as an entire system.
Find out moreDitzingen, Germany
30 networked machines across different process steps, 5,000 m² hall space with manual and automated material flows – there is a lot in store for visitors at our Smart Factory in Ditzingen at the TRUMPF headquarters. You can see for yourself how our Smart Factory experts customize solutions for the entire metal process chain. You can also experience the interplay of fully intelligent machines from third-party providers and automated guide vehicle systems in our Smart Factory.
Find out moreTaicang, China
Chinese customers can witness the production world of the future for themselves at our production site in Taicang. From laser cutting, bending and punching to laser welding – we make the whole process chain come alive and demonstrate to visitors the different customized solutions we can offer for networking. A fully automated production line as well as the TruTops Fab production management system were introduced in Taicang in 2017. The intelligent digital upgrade propelled the production there to the next level, providing transparency on the shop floor.
Find out moreVisit us here!
Our customers' Smart Factory success stories
Smart Factory Consulting – let us advise you!
We will accompany you on your path into the connected future What potential does networking have for you? What does your path to networked production look like? Regardless of whether you want to just make a start, make step-by-step adaptations or fully network throughout, our consultants will help you find the ideal solution for any situation.
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