July/August 2019

SALES OF INDUSTRIAL automation products in the UK grew by 7.3% last year – the third consecutive year of growth – according to the latest statistics issued by Gambica, the trade association covering the sector. However, despite being boosted by including servodrives for the first time, growth in the sector was slower than the 12.3% that it achieved in 2017. Gambica’s CEO Steve Brambley reports that although a 10% increase in capital expenditure by the food and drink industry helped to drive the growth in the automation sector during 2018, it was not enough to repeat the bumper growth achieved in 2017, which was largely seen as a recovery from pre-referendum uncertainty. The automation product sales are included in Gambica’s annual Index which also indicates the level of business in the two other sectors that the organisation represents – process instrumentation and control, and laboratory technology. It shows the levels of all three sectors individually and combined, using 2012 as a reference point. The combined Gambica Index grew by 2.8% in 2018, continuing to expand, but at a much slower rate than the record 8.5% achieved in 2017. Performance across Gambica’s three sectors and customer segments was varied, with uncertainty leading to reduced investment in some areas. July/August 2019     www.drivesncontrols.com 8 European Machine Vision Forum 5–6 September, 2019 Lyon, France The forum, organised by the European MachineVision Association, is now in its fourth year. It brings together machine vision businesses with researchers in the area. As well as the conference, it includes a poster session and exhibition. www.european-forum-emva.org EMO Hannover 2019 16–21 September, 2019 Hannover, Germany Themassivemetalworking andmachine tools show is expected to drawmore than 2,000 exhibitors and around 130,000 visitors.The theme will be“smart technologies driving tomorrow’s production”and there will be an area dedicated to IoT in production, as well as a special show-within-a-show focusing on the latest developments in Industry 4.0. The umati interface standard for machine tools based on OPC UAwill be presented at EMO 2019.   www.emo-hannover.de EEMODS ‘19 Tokyo, Japan 17-19 September, 2019 The biennial International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Motor Driven Systems will bring together policymakers and energy efficiency experts from industry, research labs, universities and standardisation organisations from around the world to discuss energy efficiency policies and technologies used inmotor-driven systems such as pumps, compressors and fans. It is being organised by the Japan Electrical Manufacturers’Association. https://eemods19.org PPMA Total Show 2019 1–3 October, 2019 NEC, Birmingham, UK The UK’s largest processing and packagingmachinery exhibition returns to the NEC. Withmore than 400 exhibitors and 1,600 brands, the event will showcase the latest products and systems in processing and packaging machinery, robotics and industrial vision systems. The show’s Enterprise Zone will offer visitors a focal point for networking, discovery and live debate. There will be a conference programme across all three days of the show, including keynote presentations by respected industry experts. www.ppmatotalshow.co.uk Demystifying the jargon: How to make the digitalisation transition 20 November, 2019 MTC, Coventry This conference, organised by the publisher of Drives &Controls and Smart Machines and Factories , will provide a practical, jargon-free opportunity to those starting out on the digital transformation process, to experience a complete smart roadmap.  It will highligh the stages in the 4IR journey, covering all aspects of digital transformation across all UKmanufacturing sectors. www.smartconferences.org.uk n NEWS ABB has named Björn Rosengren as its new CEO, succeeding Peter Voser , who stepped into the role on an interim basis when former CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer resigned suddenly in April. Rosengren, who is currently CEO of the global engineering group Sandvik, will join ABB on February 1, 2020, and will succeed Voser on March 1, 2020. Voser will then revert to his previous position as chairman of ABB’s board. Tsubaki has appointed Greg Sharp as country manager of its Power Transmission division in the UK, Ireland and Iceland. Sharp, who has been with Tsubaki since 2005, has worked in both engineering and sales roles. In his new position, he will be responsible for business development, including new sales and growing existing accounts. SteveWoollven has succeeded Andrew Wright as managing director of Reliance Precision. Woollven was previously managing director of the Bradford-based manufacturer, Hindle Group and, before that, was MD of Millers Oils. Wright is accompanying his wife on a sabbatical at a Chinese university. The Blackburn-based industrial automation spare parts and repair supplier Northern Industrial has appointed Mark Platt as its new commercial director. He was previously head of service at Chubb Systems. In his new role, he will be seeking to identify and develop additional revenue streams, and spearheading expansion  into overseas markets – particularly the US and  South America. UK automation product sales grew by 7.3% during 2018 According to Gambica's figures, sales of industrial automation products continued to expand last year, although at a slower rate than in 2017 AFTER AN absence of several years, Drives & Controls will be returning as an exhibitor to the PPMA Total Show which takes place from 1–3 October at the NEC, Birmingham. The show, which claims to be the UK’s most comprehensive production line event, is held once every three years. This year’s show will include 450 exhibitors highlighting their latest innovations in smart manufacturing, as well as processing and packaging equipment. Among the technologies being demonstrated will be artificial intelligence and the integration of vision equipment and robotics into production lines. An Enterprise Zone will offer visitors a free-to-attend, issues- led conference focusing on some of the key issues facing modern manufacturing, including Brexit, serialisation, artificial intelligence, plastics packaging, food waste, as well as sustainability and the circular economy. Case studies and presentations will include examples of best practice manufacturing and excellence in processing and packaging production.  The September issue of Drives & Controls will contain a preview of the PPMA show, advising readers about the latest developments, products and services that they can expect to find at the show.  Drives & Controls returns to PPMA show