Industry 4.0 – aka the Manufacturing Internet of Things – is a game changer in our never ending quest to improve productivity. Tagged as the fourth industrial revolution, it is the convergence of information and automation technology and its value lies in the resultant cyber-physical production systems that this enables.
The basic tenet is that machines, work pieces and systems will all be connected to create intelligent networks that permeate the entire manufacturing value chain. The physical devices will, in effect, become an integral and active part of the business process as they control themselves autonomously through the device-to-process concept. Consider an aluminium block that carries its entire timeline with it wherever it goes. Not just its past, but its future as well. It already knows what machining is required to turn it into the component it is destined to become. It also knows its eventual delivery address and all the logistical details associated with the transportation to get it there. Intelligent machines that monitor their own operating parameters and schedule maintenance as and when required are another possibility. Apparently, they can even order the spare parts themselves.
This idea of the convergence of IT and automation technology had its genesis back in the mid-’80s when Beckhoff Automation pioneered the ideas of PC-based control. This technology not only provides performance increases in accordance with Moore’s Law, but also exploits the advantages provided by the developing convergence of these two worlds of technology. See this month’s cover story 'Industry 4.0: Ingredients from Beckhoff' for more on how the industrial PC enables the design of high-performance controllers that optimise manufacturing methods through their processing power and inherent IT orientation. Beckhoff believes that these will form a cornerstone of the ‘smart factories’ that lie in our immediate future.
ARP0108 round-table discussion
The arrival of a new edition of ARP0108: Recommended Practice for Explosion Protection apparatus (EPA) is looming ever closer. To keep our readers abreast of the implications, SA Instrumentation and Control got together with a panel of experts to discuss developments. The result is a two-part article:
1. ARP0108: What you need to know. (Published this issue.)
2. ARP0108: What you need to do. (To be published in March.)
The biggest change from the previous version is the increase in IA certificate validity from one to three years for imported EPA equipment. This takes away a lot of operational overhead and significantly reduces the compliance costs for importers. There are also sections that have been added to provide additional clarity; these include FAQs, definitions of words, and phrasing that has been amended to clarify the intent of various clauses of the ARP.
The fascinating debate raged for hours as the experts discussed the need for local certification, the validity of certificates and the roles and responsibilities of industry regulators, suppliers and end-users.
Perhaps the most worrying fact to emerge is the looming recertification gridlock that will result when the current issue of 10-year IA certificates expire. About 2000 of these are due for renewal from the beginning of 2014. Francoius du Toit, participating in the discussion as an ATL (Approved Test Laboratory), says that in most cases recertification will not simply be a matter of re-stamping the existing certificates. Since the typical turnaround time for an ATL is two weeks for such a type approval, there is trouble brewing on the horizon for local manufacturers and importers of Ex equipment. Don’t get caught in the ARP0108 logjam, read 'ARP 0108: What you need to know'.
QR codes this issue
The SAI&C team is running an experiment this issue which we hope will add value for both advertisers and readers in the future. For the first time, we have introduced QR codes to accompany selected editorial. The rationale is to add contextual relevance to our articles through recommended extra reading or relevant videos downloaded to your mobile device. You will of course need a scanning App, but these are available free for both Android and iOS platforms. Try them out on pages 10, 21, 27 and tell us whether you think this convergence between print and online media is instructive.
Steven Meyer
Editor: SA Instrumentation & Control
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