FUTURE-PROOFING PLASTICS INVESTMENT: ON THE PATH TO ELECTRIFIED 4.0

摘要

Whether you call it 'smart manufacturing', 'Industry 4.0' or the 'Internet of Things', the topic is instigating plenty of strategic conversations across the injection moulding supply chain. Some believe that the vision could be realised in less than a decade. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag's Nigel Flowers examines what the plastics industry is doing to plan for this sea of change, how the company is already setting customers on the path to Industry 4.0, and what they need to do to future proof investments in machinery being made today Injection moulding is very much an industry driven by costs. Across all sectors of industry, the focus has long been on high value manufacturing and optimising production processes. In part this has been to combat imports from low wage economies, but also to give moulders an increased competitive edge in domestic markets. Now, some sectors are experiencing greater levels of customisation, which is resulting in shorter batch runs. Overall, moulders are demanding greater production flexibility, increased profitability, reduced waste and optimal energy use.