Cabinet-free automation for OEMs

See Beckhoff at MachineBuilding.Live, 4 October 2023, on stand 43

Stephen Hayes, managing director of automation technology expert Beckhoff UK, explains how the latest technologies can reduce project costs for machine builders and OEMs.

Automation systems are widely known to provide boosts to productivity and cost-effectiveness for industry. These benefits typically increase with more complex and sophisticated systems, which allow the user to achieve more. However, for machine builders and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the increased complexity of automation can result in more time-consuming and expensive projects, presenting greater challenges to being cost competitive and profitable.

Return on investment (ROI) is a constant concern for industrial businesses, owing in part to the cost for manufacturers of procuring new equipment and systems. One of the areas where ROI is particularly important is in regards to automation systems and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies. With newer technologies, there is a greater focus not only on total cost of ownership (TCO) for the system itself, but also the returns it brings in production benefits.

Machine builders and OEMs play a vital role in helping industry to achieve these production benefits by designing and creating increasingly sophisticated automated equipment. However, the more complex a system is, the more complicated the design and development stage is. If a machine has multiple moving parts or numerous sections that require motion control, it leads to complex wiring and bulkier overall design footprints. The complexity of the wiring and cabling in turn adds to the development time, in turn increasing project costs.

The trouble for OEMs is that price point can be a deciding factor for customers. As automation technology has developed, more businesses have begun creating new systems, meaning OEMs and machine builders must routinely compete with lower-cost entrants into the market. Remaining viable in such a market requires competitive pricing for advanced automated systems, while staying profitable.

Project costs for OEMs and machine builders are further compounded by shipping, installation and integration times. The bigger footprint of more complex systems means increased shipping costs. Similarly, the greater number of cable runs required to provide power and communication to motion components adds to on-site installation time. From Beckhoff’s experience, many machine builders find this as one of the biggest sources of cost in an automation project.

It is with these challenges in mind that Beckhoff launched its ‘Automation Without Cabinets’ range of products. This range helps OEMs and machine builders to lower system complexity, reduce shipping costs and shorten installation times to reduce overall project costs, making ROI attainable for customer and OEM alike.

Machines built with the Automation Without Cabinets concept in mind can involve fewer components than other designs, by incorporating products like the AMP8000 compact distributed servosystem. These are comprised of a servomotor with a built-on, rear-mounted servo drive. This rear-mounting means the overall servosystem has the same mounting dimensions as a standard servomotor, while also providing performance benefits such as unobstructed heat dissipation and little to no motor derating, compared to a top-mounted design.

The overall machine can occupy a smaller footprint, which reduces shipping expenses and means simpler assembly, disassembly and reassembly during testing and transporting.

Complementary to this is the reduced number of cables. This is because the backbone of Automation Without Cabinets is products that are compatible with EtherCAT P cable technology, which provides ultra-fast EtherCAT communications and 24 V power in one standard four-wire ethernet cable. This means we can help address one of the most time and cost consuming processes for machine builders and OEMs.

The commissioning and site installation stages can often be some of the most expensive parts of a project, especially when integrating more complex systems into production facilities. Reducing the number of cables makes this process simpler and faster for OEMs, reducing labour costs and strengthening the ROI on a commissioning or installation project, helping OEMs remain competitive and profitable in an ever-changing automation market.

Beckhoff

The Boathouse
Henley-On-Thames
RG9 1AZ
UNITED KINGDOM

+44 (0)1491 410539

sales@beckhoff.co.uk

www.beckhoff.co.uk

More products
4 minutes ago
Wave of new product development investment is coming, and Igus ready to support
Survey results from a big PwC / Make UK survey shows that new product introduction is the biggest area for planned investment among manufacturers. This reflects robust Igus enquiries, says managing director Matthew Aldridge, and Igus is primed to support this new product bonanza.
19 hours ago
Selective robot integration adds value in pharmaceutical manufacturing
With a rapidly growing demand for the technology, the number of industrial automation vendors offering TSN-compatible devices continues to grow, reports CLPA.
23 hours ago
Mouser Electronics wins gold in 2023 TDK European Distribution Awards
Mouser Electronics has won gold in the e-Catalogue Distributor category as part of the TDK European Distribution Award 2023.
1 day ago
International online event from Eplan addresses best practice
What challenges are machine builders and switchgear system manufacturers facing in today’s global markets? How can the right course be set for efficient engineering at an early stage in the game? This year’s Eplan L!ve 2023 event on 21 June 2023 is providing distilled answers.
4 days ago
Cranfield University team up with the RBTX UK team
In this video you can see how Cranfield University and the Igus RBTX team came together, with a snapshot into the recent event that took place.
4 days ago
Lenze opens door to digitalisation at ITMA
Lenze is using ITMA as a platform to showcase how textile machine providers can exploit the opportunities of digitalisation and be ready for future challenges with today’s solutions.
5 days ago
New Norgren website offers extended self-serve functionality
Norgren has launched its enhanced global website, offering customers improved functionality that includes the ability to select, order and track products on a ‘self-serve’ basis.
6 days ago
Spelsberg UK announces nationwide roadshow and open day
Spelsberg UK is excited to announce its “Spelsberg on the Road” roadshow. A state-of-the-art tour bus, equipped with a working showroom, will visit numerous locations across the country beginning late May.
1 week ago
Single controller for robot and machine axes optimises productivity
Installing a robotic pick-and-place and integrated conveyor solution has increased productivity for a pharmaceutical manufacturer while maintaining regulatory compliance. Combining a vision system optimised for accuracy that assures end-to-end traceability, a single controller from Trio manages both the robot and conveyor axes, increasing reliability for the end user.
1 week ago
Schaeffler rewards suppliers for outstanding performance
Schaeffler presented 19 of its suppliers with the Schaeffler Supplier Award at the Supplier Day in Herzogenaurach, Germany, in honour of their exceptional performance.

Login / Sign up