August 2021

es a nerg esource anage ent for Industr eid ller I Soft are su orts ou in integrating t e n S • Configurable solution : es om ct o ers e tr le el solutio wit sc l bilit . • Integrable in I : o ectors or d t e c e wit s stems or wit ot er d t b ses. • Scalable : T e u tit structure c be er widel sc led wit re rd to d t oi ts d simult eous users. • n easure ent tec nolog : me sureme t d co trol tec olo us ble i t e s stem or d t c uisitio . • ISO 50001 certified: erti ied b T d d e suri co ormit or desi im leme ti d t e m i t i i o our e er m eme t s stem. Website: www.weidmuller.co.uk Tel: 0845 094 2007 ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATED MANUFACTURING n appropriate application as a starting point, which is probably not the most complex operation in your manufacturing process. It is often better to start with a simple operation. It is then imperative that you develop a user requirements specification to detail what is needed and the parameters against which the system will need to operate. Finally, it is important to select the most appropriate supplier. These steps can seem daunting to companies that are new to automation, particularly as there are many equipment vendors and system integrators offering to solve their problems. It is often better to engage independent support, to help work through these procurement steps and ensure the right foundations are in place for a successful project. The Manufacturing Technology Centre is uniquely placed to help any business that is considering investment in automation, particularly those who are taking these steps for the first time. Firstly, we have experienced personnel who have both implemented and operated automation systems across a wide range of sectors. This provides a sound basis for selecting the most appropriate applications for those initial projects. We have the expertise and tools to help develop the business case and user requirements specification to provide a sound foundation for a project. We also understand the challenges of identifying the most appropriate suppliers. For SMEs in particular, with more than 250 system integrators to choose from, it is almost impossible to select the most appropriate supplier. We have studied the automation supply chain, and we update this knowledge continuously, to allow us to identify the most appropriate suppliers for specific applications, while also considering other important parameters such as sector experience, project size and supplier location. A key element of the support we offer is that we are truly vendor-agnostic and will propose the suppliers of robots and automation equipment, and also the integrators, that we believe are best suited to the needs of the client. The MTC can offer support for all elements of an automation project and we will not hesitate to recommend preparatory work if we do not believe the client is ready for automation. We can tailor our support to meet the specific needs of the client. This is about minimising risks at the same time as delivering an educational process. Our objective is to develop informed automation clients who can implement future successful projects independent of our support. Now is the time for businesses to consider automation seriously. We have the best conditions for increasing the adoption of robot automation, including the automation technologies and cost-effective finance. The MTC can help you navigate this journey to adopt automation successfully. Working together, we should look forward optimistically to a renaissance of UK manufacturing, driven by robot automation. n The ManufacturingTechnology Centre has the expertise to help new robot adopters to choose the most appropriate technologies and suppliers for their application