The shortage of labor has become one of the biggest challenges for SMEs in OECD countries. The manufacturing sector is currently experiencing record levels of unfilled vacancies. In light of this development, SMEs are accelerating automation. The IFR has developed an online platform to support them.

Handling and assembly are just as important in an industrial environment as the actual production. We have compiled this market overview to help you maintain an overview.

The heart of metalworking will beat in Stuttgart in 2024 when the industry meets at AMB from September 10 to 14. Following the end of the registration phase in October 2023, the project team will now begin planning the halls.

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Sick and Endress+Hauser want to work more closely together. The two companies are aiming for a strategic partnership for Sick's process automation business field and have signed a joint letter of intent to this end.

Lapp presented the expansion of its Epic Power series at SPS 2023: four new M23 circular connector inserts and three new M23 housings. The special feature: all housings can be combined with any of the four inserts.

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The browser-based Safety Distance Calculator software tool from Pilz enables users to calculate safety distances for all standard safety light grids quickly and easily. The digital calculation tool determines the necessary safety distance based on the values entered.

Jakob Antriebstechnik presents the new SKW-KP safety clutch. It is designed as a flexible and backlash-free overload clutch for direct drives and combines a metal bellows clutch attachment with a safety clutch.

Production reliability through innovative data management: Octoplant software automatically backs up configurations and project statuses for a wide range of automation devices from different types and manufacturers. Constant access to the current set-up and the transparency of all changes prevent production downtimes and increase production efficiency.

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High reliability with minimal latency is just one aspect of the appeal of 5G. In particular, safety transmission via such a mobile network is proving to be a much-discussed topic. The next generation of the standard now promises a major step forward for wireless industrial data exchange. But will the requirements of industrial users actually be met, or is this still wishful thinking?

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Fruitcore Robotics is rolling out a new software update for its Horst industrial robots. The update now enables users to program complex paths intuitively in the graphical user interface of the horstFX control software. The software update has been nominated for the Robotics category.

With Mairoflex iisy, Kuka has launched a modular solution based on the LBR iisy cobot. The Mairoflex iisy enables a cost-effective, simple entry into automation - ideal for small and medium-sized companies. It has been nominated for the robotics category.

Schmalz automates sheet metal handling with the ivOS Sheet Metal Solution Kit. Companies can use it to automate the loading of machines - simply, flexibly and economically. The kit has been nominated for the metalworking category.

Real-time process monitoring directly at the edge: the modular ibaM-DAQ measuring system records and processes signals synchronously and precisely. The edge device has been nominated in the competition for Product of the Year 2024 in the Drive Technology and Automation category.

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The HMIs of the MES9000 series from ADS-TEC Industrial IT are versatile industrial PCs for a modern manufacturing and production environment. The customizable terminals have been nominated in the Product of the Year competition in the category

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SSI Piece Picking is a fully automated robotic solution. It enables fully automated piece picking with functions such as pick & place, object recognition and gripping point determination. It has been nominated in the competition for Product of the Year 2024 in the Robotics category.

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The Supfina Planet BD is a double-face grinding machine for grinding hard-coated brake discs. The product has been nominated in the competition for Product of the Year 2024 in the Metalworking category.

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Fuse Blast from Formlabs is a fully automated solution for cleaning and polishing parts that redefines post-processing for SLS 3D printing. The extension of the SLS ecosystem has been nominated in the Additive Manufacturing category in the Product of the Year competition.

For the additive manufacturing category, Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF), developer of precision micro stereolithography, presents the microArch S240 for test and small series parts in the micro range. Highest resolution, accuracy and precision are among the main features.

Preparations for the next edition of the industrial trade fairs Intec, Z and GrindTec have begun: From March 11 to 14, 2025, the trade fair association will be inviting visitors to the first important industry get-together of the year for the metalworking industry as well as the supplier and tool industry in Europe at Leipziger Messe.

safeVisionary2 is the first 3D time-of-flight camera with Performance Level c safety certification. It enables safe three-dimensional environmental detection and has been nominated in the 2024 Product of the Year competition in the handling, assembly and production logistics category.

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