by Gary Mintchell | Jun 16, 2023 | Events, Manufacturing IT, News, Podcast, Software
Siemens Digital held its Realize Live conference June 12-15 in Las Vegas. I was there for the Media/Analyst program as well as to explore how the software integration is progressing and coming together.
All in all I am impressed with what Siemens has done since I first talked with an executive from Germany in 2007 about a vision of digital factory and again in 2008 following the company’s acquisition of UGS. That acquisition gave it the tools to pursue that digital vision. In the ensuing decade plus, many more acquisitions have bolstered the role.
The meetings began with Siemens Digital executives proclaiming how Siemens is now not only the leading automation supplier in the world, but it is also the leading industrial software supplier in the world. Now they are aiming at leading industrial cloud provider.
One key word for the week was Xcelerator, its platform and ecosystem for tying the parts together. Another key word, seen all over the exhibit floor, was digital thread. The digital thread connects various modules—since software is increasingly modular as in pick what you need. Xcelerator is that digital thread.
Siemens software is not afraid to try things, see what happens, make changes, and put them out again. Mindsphere is one such initiative. It experience three major revisions. By the 3.0 version it seemed to find its niche. Now it has morphed yet again and reappeared as Insight Hub.
Tony Hemelgarn, CEO, showed industry segment after industry segment where Siemens is the dominant player. They truly are doing something right. He also pointed out that when Siemens talks of moving its software to the cloud, they mean moving their software to the cloud—not just file sharing in the cloud as some competitors do.
Mendez people on the show floor showed me the cool parts of the no-code and low-code applications. It’s a visual programming environment that I liken to NodeRED for context.
Siemens had to talk of AI somewhere. It has found application within TeamCenter along with spoken reports from the field that can flow into quality reports for corrective action.
Rahul Garg, VP Industrial Machinery, talked with me about how Siemens works to make applications simple to use which means that they will be used (I’ve lived that life in factories, I know how important that is). Talking metaverse (without goggles) he pointed to deeper diagnostics and ability to under the surface to find root causes and problems.
You can also watch on YouTube or listen as a podcast.
by Gary Mintchell | Jun 14, 2023 | Events, Manufacturing IT, News, Software
I have recorded thoughts recapping my experience at the Siemens Digital Conference in Las Vegas.
You can watch on YouTube or listen as a podcast.
In short, I’ve watched the evolution ever since a conversation about the vision of digital factory with a Siemens executive in 2006. The journey has been a successful one for the company (and its customers) ever since.
by Gary Mintchell | Jun 9, 2023 | Events, News
After an early spring lull, conference season is here. I leave Monday for Las Vegas and the Siemens Digital conference and the following Sunday for Honeywell User Group. If you are at one of those, give me a shout out and we can meet for coffee or something.
Meanwhile, Inductive Automation Marketing VP, Doug Dudley, has posted information on the company blog about the upcoming Ignition community Conference (ICC).
This year feels like it’s flying by, and every day brings us closer to the Ignition Community Conference (ICC), so we’ll get right to the point: We’ve updated the ICC website for 2023 and you can register right now. In fact, if you register by July 16 you’ll save $250 off the regular ticket price. ICC 2023 takes place on Tuesday, September 26 through Thursday, September 28 at the Harris Center in Folsom, California.
Here are a couple of teasers for the upcoming event.
The Three-Day Schedule is Back! Many of you have asked for it, and we’re excited to say that for the first time since 2019, ICC will be a three-day event.
Although the full ICC schedule isn’t posted yet (it’s coming soon), we can tell you that the first day will include the Discover Gallery, live Exhibitor Demonstrations, the Welcome Reception and Food Truck Dinner, and a few new events (more info about those below). The second and third days will feature general sessions in the main stage, blocks of concurrent sessions from IA and Ignition community experts, the Build-a-Thon competition, meals, and more. Yes, that’s three Ignition-packed days — and it’s a beautiful thing.
A couple of added networking opportunities. One is a touch of the “unconference” I used to pitch for MESA conferences.
If you’ve ever wished that you could have a discussion with fellow Ignition enthusiasts about your own chosen topic, then Table Talks are for you. Inspired by discussions that we’ve seen at other conferences, Table Talks are attendee-generated discussion groups. Attendees will have the ability to see the time, topic, and table where a discussion is happening so they can join in, or they’ll even be able to start their own. With Table Talks scheduled through most of day one, they’ll be a great way for attendees to do some networking and have some lively discussions with other Ignition community members. Information about how to participate in Table Talk topics is on the way soon.
Another networking opportunity.
The Tech Lounge is another new feature this year. Located on the mezzanine on the second floor of the Harris Center, the Tech Lounge is a space for attendees to meet, chat, and charge their phones. The Lounge will be one of the main places where IA staff will hang out, so it’s a great place for attendees to connect with IA team members.
by Gary Mintchell | Jun 7, 2023 | Events, News, Technology, Workforce
Welcome to the era of spatial computing, where digital content blends seamlessly with your physical space. So you can do the things you love in ways never before possible. This blurb came from Apple PR’s write up of the new Vision Pro—the long-awaited AR/VR headset.
Apple made no mention of the “M” word. Here is what they called it. “Welcome to the era of spatial computing, where digital content blends seamlessly with your physical space. So you can do the things you love in ways never before possible.”
It is a headset. Even though they say that you used to look at the glass on Apple products and this one you look through the glass—that is not what it is. You actually do not see through the glass like you do with the Microsoft HoloLens. There are many cameras and a couple of them send the outside world to the screens (look like eyeglass lenses) in the headset. This is a typical case of great Apple hardware engineering and design.
Still…
What is problem being solved?
Apple didn’t really answer that. What they did was through out a great piece of hardware, an operating system (VisionOS), and a bunch of ideas. Developers will figure out what problems they’d like to solve with this product.
I’m still thinking, but from an industrial/manufacturing point-of-view I don’t see any new applications. Simulation with digital twin for training. Perhaps remote maintenance and troubleshooting. Simulation along with design in order to see the product being designed and perhaps determine interferences and other gotcha’s at an early stage in design.
I have worn HoloLens as an operator interface device. I doubt that this would ever be a viable alternative.
Some people, such as MG Siegler (see link below) see this as a device to consume media. Much is made of the great display capabilities to replace your computer monitors. But I ask…
Do you want your screen attached to your face?
The promo emphasized collaboration with cool “real” avatars of people in the meeting and ability (?) to see people and presentation. I’m not turned on by that.
They also showed 3D visualization and photography. Is that really useful? Maybe to the dad shooting 3D images of his kids—but I always wonder how much you miss out being present in the moment rather than videoing events. And how often will you actually go back and watch?
Ideas? Send me a note. Right now, will I rush out and spend $3,500 to buy one? I think that if I have that much money laying around to burn, I’ll take a vacation to Europe or South America.
Vision Pro links.
M.G. Siegler, 500ish Blog—Apple’s history, Compute, Collaborate (iPhone, iPad), Consume (Vision Pro)
Another Podcast, Benedict Evans and Toni Cowan-Brown.
Accidental Tech Podcast, John Siracusa, Marco Arment, Casey Liss.
And, most thoroughly, a long report of personal experience with the Vision Pro from John Gruber at Daring Fireball.
Other thoughts on the “metaverse” in general I’ve posted over the past year:
My podcast.
Metaverse Solutions, interview with GridRaster
Open Metaverse Foundation
Initial Thoughts on Industrial Metaverse
by Gary Mintchell | Jan 19, 2023 | Automation, Commentary, Events, News
We have two movements on the automation trade show front that are interesting. IMTS, the International Manufacturing Technology Show and formerly the International Machine Tool Show, is a huge event held in September every other year. Some time ago, organizers added an automation segment partnering with the company behind Hannover Messe.
This automation show was given a few aisles in the East Hall. The first year is was only a couple of aisles, but even this year there were not that many exhibitors. They were mostly German automation suppliers.
The Hannover Messe group pulled out of IMTS after the last event. It has announced the formation of a new annual show that will be held in Indianapolis in October. IMTS, meanwhile, has filled the open automation slot with a joint venture of AMT and Mesago Messe Frankfurt.
The new Hannover Messe event.
Industrial Transformation USA in 2023. The organizers of Hannover Messe USA have announced the event will be rebranded as Industrial Transformation USA and held annually, beginning in October, 2023 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
“Our exhibiting companies have been telling us they want to get in front of their customers more frequently (annually) for a number of years,” said Ed Nichols, CEO of Industrial Transformation USA. “Our focus groups at HANNOVER MESSE USA 2022 demonstrate that our attendees, primarily OT, also want to meet more frequently and bring more members of their team.”
Industrial Transformation USA joins the Industrial Transformation brands currently serving Mexico and Asia-Pacific. Industrial Transformation USA will be built from the Operational Technology (OT) user perspective, engaging a Board of industry professionals that will guide the development of the events format and content.
Filling the opening at IMTS are AMT and Mesago, Messe Frankfurt
Two of the global manufacturing industry’s premier organizations, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and Mesago, a subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt Group, announced a collaboration to create the Automation Sector at IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show in 2024, and SPS – Smart Production Solutions in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2025.
The Automation Sector at IMTS and SPS – Smart Production Solutions in Atlanta will be held in alternate years, and both events will be supported by Gardner Business Media (GBM), the leading publisher for manufacturing in North America.
IMTS 2024 runs Sept. 9-14 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.
SPS – Smart Production Solutions will be held Sept. 23-25, 2025, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The inaugural event will host exhibits from simple sensors to intelligent solutions, from what is feasible today to the vision of a fully digitalized industrial world.
The Atlanta event is an expansion of the SPS – Smart Production Solutions trade show held annually in Nuremberg, Germany. It is Europe’s leading trade fair for digital industrial solutions. SPS 2022 attracted 44,000 visitors and featured about 1.2 million square feet of gross exhibition space and 1,000 exhibitors involved in advanced automation solutions.
Mesago Messe Frankfurt also produces SPS fairs in China, Italy, and the Middle East, as well as events focusing on electronic assemblies, intelligent motion, and additive manufacturing.
by Gary Mintchell | Dec 27, 2022 | Commentary, Events, Manufacturing IT, News, Operations Management
Knud Lasse Lueth, founder and leader of the firm IOT Analytics in Germany, wrote a comprehensive report on trends picked up at the SPS fair in Nuremberg in November. Note: I have an affiliation with the analyst firm as an advisor. I recommend visiting the web site to check out the full report.
Smart Production Solutions (or SPS), one of the leading industrial automation fairs, was back in action earlier this month. The event that took place from 8 November –10 November 2022 in Nürnberg, Germany, showcased once again the latest industrial automation developments. Despite a smaller crowd (44,000 visitors—roughly 30% less than pre-pandemic), the fairgrounds were buzzing and filled with senior executives from many leading industrial automation companies, software providers, and related companies. The conference remains a key show for industrial automation hardware and (increasingly) software. It is perhaps the most important fair for some European (especially German) industrial automation companies, such as Siemens, Beckhoff, or Phoenix Contact.
IoT Analytics had a team of three analysts on the ground. They visited approximately 75 booths and conducted over 50 individual interviews to get a handle on the latest industrial automation trends with a special focus on IT/OT convergence.
The main reason we are seeing interest and movement toward the convergence of IT and OT in the manufacturing space is because of IT technologies’ promise to significantly improve manufacturing. The market dynamics of an increasingly competitive world have “forced” OT, a traditionally less hi-tech sector, to consider these IT technologies. As a first step, IT/OT convergence can happen by creating the necessary (secure) interfaces between IT and OT systems.
10 IT/OT convergence trends visible at SPS 2022
1. IT-based containerization technology at the edge
2. Integration of IT and OT tools
3. Cloud-native (IT) tools for improved manufacturing operations
4. IT programming tools and languages for controllers
5. Virtual PLCs—containerized controllers
6. Digital twins to virtualize physical assets
7. Low-code tools
8. MQTT protocol connecting OT and IT
9. IT cybersecurity models for OT
10. IT approach for industrial software quality control
On another note: The team would like to give a shoutout to Schneider Electric for being one of the few companies at the fair that embraced sustainability by leading with a carbon-neutral booth completely made from recyclable materials (such as walls made of reusable wooden pallets).
