The Internet of Things is likely to boost the world’s industrial production by 20 per cent over the next three years, so that it will grow to nearly US$124 billion.
Since the introduction of the Machinery Directive, there has been steady progress and ongoing development among EU member states. Nevertheless, the industrial market for the Internet of Things is still being used extremely differently within the individual segments of the packaging industry.
WHAT IS AN IOT-CAPABLE PRODUCT?
Products in the industrial market for the Internet of Things distinguish themselves by a range of electronic components, such as transmitters, memories and processors. The use of these new technologies will increase the safety, productivity and sustainability of industrial processes. At the same time, machines and humans will become connected.
EU REGULATIONS FOR HIGHER SAFETY STANDARDS
The necessary legal regulations are already in place. The EU Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) was approved in June 2006, and after a transitional period came into force in December 2009. The regulation specifies that manufacturers must equip their machinery with the necessary safety features.
SMART MANUFACTURING MACHINES
In 2016 German manufacturers alone exported packaging machines worth nearly EUR 5.4 billion. The increase over the previous year was around three per cent, a development that was mainly caused by demand from emerging and developing markets. The machines themselves are getting increasingly smarter. It is now possible to make changes during production. The bottom line is less servicing, fewer downtimes, better safety, increased flexibility and improved networking between the operator, the manufacturer and the end user.
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