Like in the years before the WEKA Media Group organized an Automation Summit 4.0 during the SPS/IPC/Drives fair in Nuremberg, Germany. To cater to the continued interest in topics concerning Industrie 4.0, four sessions were offered on the first two exhibition days: Edge Computing, TSN and OPC UA, IoT Platforms and Smart Sensors. These subjects represented the “hot topics” of the exhibition and all sessions included presentations by well-known companies and industry experts. All participants got a very comprehensive overview of the session topics and could raise questions and discuss with the presenters.
Edge Computing session
The Edge Computing session was opened by TTTech on the upsides of Edge- and Cloud-Computing for data-processing, data-analytics and automation control, followed by presentations of Siemens, Resolto, Omron Europe, HMS Industrial Networks, SSV Software Systems and mm1 Consulting & Management.
TSN and OPC UA session
The TSN and OPC UA session was opened by Heiner Munz of KUKA, giving an overview on the role and contributions of various institutions and organizations in Industrie 4.0. Further presentations were held by ascolab/OPC Foundation, VDMA (the German association of machine builders, engaged in OPC Companion Specifications for different types of production machines), PLCopen, B+R, Assystem and R3.
IoT Platform session
The IoT Platform session was opened with a presentation about the impact of platform- economics, followed by presentations of VDMA, Adamos, PTC, Microsoft, Siemens Mindsphere and Capgemini.
Smart Sensors session
Last but not least the Smart Sensor session was opened by the Fraunhofer EMFT institute providing an overview of innovations and research highlights in sensors, followed by presentations of STMicroelectronics, Infineon Technologies, Pepperl+Fuchs, Fraunhofer LBF institute, ifm electronic and the IO-Link-Association/Balluff.
The organization of the Automation Summit 4.0 has been excellent, and the duration of the sessions allowed visitors to also see the exhibition in the afternoon on the same day.