Interested parties in China, too, can now explore umati more fully and experience the benefits of open, standardized OPC UA-based interfaces live and in person. The joint connectivity initiative of the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) and VDMA (German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association) opened the “Smart IoT in Production” showroom in Pudong near Shanghai, China, in November 2023. The event was attended by Deputy Consul General Lukas Meyer of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Shanghai, Representative Yugang Zhao of the Free Trade Zone Administration and numerous invited guests. Dr. Alexander Broos, Head of Research and Technology at the VDW (German Machine Builders’ Association), Frankfurt am Main, and umati project manager, is delighted with the new possibilities opened up by the showroom: “The future of connectivity is digital – but sometimes a physical platform is needed: a place where people can share ideas and products can be presented. The showroom highlights in tangible form the benefits of umati – in China, one of the most important and largest markets for the industry.”

The showroom is a joint facility of the VDW and the operator of the IMT (International Machine Tool Center) in the Pilot Free Trade Zone, where the VDW already has its local office. In future, companies will be able to present their smart production technology to the public and meet potential customers and partners at these premises covering a total of roughly 500 square meters. Permanent exhibition stands are available and can be hired for this purpose. The first exhibitors include the Chinese subsidiaries of Liebherr-Verzahntechnik from Kempten and the United Grinding Group from Bern, Switzerland. David Feng, Head of the Gear Cutting Machines & Automation Division at Liebherr-Verzahntechnik in China, on being one of the first companies to hire an exhibition stand in the showroom: “The ‘Smart IoT in Production’ showroom in Shanghai offers Chinese industry an application scene with real-time capability. This will help local industrial users to experience first-hand how umati can help them meet the future challenges of smart manufacturing trends.”

umati has a permanent exhibition stand which it uses to present the possibilities of open data networking based on OPC UA. It also serves as a basis for cooperation with Chinese companies and the local connectivity initiative, NC Link. An intelligent caliper from Mahr, Göttingen, and a marking laser from Trumpf, Ditzingen, are being integrated into the umati dashboard in order to provide a live demonstration of networking from China. Georg Fischer Machining Solutions, Schaffhausen, Switzerland, also connected a machine in a live demonstration. Deputy Consul General Lukas Meyer emphasizes the importance of umati: “There is currently a lot of buzz surrounding Industry 4.0, making it now all the more important to ensure full transparency. With its powerful network of partners and its international approach, umati is laying important groundwork here. The ‘Smart IoT in Production’ showroom represents a further important way for the network to raise its profile.”

Broos also emphasizes the global aspect of the showroom in China: “The dashboard is the same as the one used in the rest of the world. This offers further proof that there is no reason for the consistent implementation and use of open data interfaces to stop at national borders. Connectivity is a global issue in mechanical engineering.”  The showroom is open to all companies based in the IMT as well as all umati partners in China. It can also be used as an event location. Anyone interested can find out more at the following address: https://umati.org/dcs/

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Press release (.pdf)

Pictures

Bild 01: Official opening of the “Smart IoT in Production” showroom in Shanghai in November 2023. (Copyright: VDW)