New Delhi, May 01, 2017: OMRON Corporation (HQ: Shimogyo-Ku, Kyoto. President and CEO: Yoshihito Yamada) has announced its plan to successively incorporate artificial intelligence (AI)/ internet of things (IoT) technologies into its factory automation (FA) equipment up to 2020 in a bid to offer solutions to the social issues facing many manufacturing businesses, such as the shortage of skilled engineers and rise of labor costs.

By equipping FA equipment with optimal AI algorithms to replace the knowledge and intuition of skilled engineers with AI, OMRON aims to realize the “manufacturing floors of the future” in which “machines bring out human capabilities and creativity”. OMRON is the only FA equipment manufacturer in the world that has all of the necessary equipment for automating manufacturing sites under one umbrella, including sensors and other input devices, motors and other output devices, safety devices, and robots. So far, OMRON has constantly provided its customers with a variety of benefits made possible by the world’s cutting-edge information technology.

Such initiatives include renovation of programmable logic controller architecture into one that is software-based and suitable for informatization, and proactive use of EtherCAT®, IO-Link, and other open networks. Based on its many years of experience and knowhow in developing FA equipment to help its customers to solve their manufacturing issues, OMRON believes that it is important to implement optimal AI algorithms that are carefully selected for each piece of equipment in order to replace the skills of experienced workers with AI on manufacturing floors.

At present, OMRON is conducting demonstrations at its own and customers’ factories in the Netherlands, China, and Japan to determine how different types of FA equipment can be equipped with AI algorithms and how such equipment can be made IoT-capable.

Following its 2015 statement that it would make all of its 100,000 varieties of FA equipment IoT-capable, OMRON has begun releasing related equipment. Simultaneously it started acquiring knowhow on AI-equipped mobile robots and other industrial robot types, as well as the world’s finest motion control technology, and offering such technologies globally. This April saw the release of a temperature controller featuring AI, the first of its kind in the FA industry. By integrating the world’s most extensive FA equipment line with AI, IoT, robotics, and other state-of-the-art technologies, OMRON is enhancing its products and technologies that help to solve issues on manufacturing floors.

Going forward, in order to make IoT and AI technologies into handy tools on manufacturing floors, OMRON plans to equip sensors, as well as machine automation controllers, with optimal AI algorithms in order to complete its plan to make all of its FA equipment AI-/IoT-capable by 2020. OMRON will remain committed to realizing manufacturing processes that “produce no defects and do not stop”. It will do so by using its original AI-equipped, IoT-capable, devices to monitor the status of equipment and processes and assure product quality in its ongoing effort to resolve the social issues that trouble manufacturing businesses, including the shortage of skilled engineers and the rise of labor costs.

Omron Automation, the world leader in sensing & control technologies, announces the launch of its state-of the art ‘1S Servo technology’ – an innovative solution to  enhance machine productivity with higher accuracy and integrated safety  for  packaging, machine tools, pharmaceutical, automotive and food and beverage sectors in India.

With enriched design to meet the varied machine requirements, ‘1S servo technology’ optimizes the full cycle through seamless installation, commissioning and finally to the maintenance once in production. In addition to the traditional motion solution, the 1S servo offers industry standard 23 bit high resolution absolute encoder. The combination of Omron’s NX701 Sysmac automation platform controller and 1S servo series provides an industry leading 125 µsec system cycles which contribute to the development of ultra-high accurate machines. It comes with a battery – free absolute encoder as a standard which helps to reduce the mounting space and time thus increasing productivity. Another key feature of the 1S is the FailSafe over EtherCat capability.

‘1S Servo technology’ works on Omron’s flagship integrated automation platform – Sysmac and is also integrated with Omron’s Automation Software ‘Sysmac Studio’. This allows the machine design time to be reduced by up to 50%.

Explaining more about the launch, Mr. Sameer Gandhi, MD, Omron Automation, India says, “Faced with increasingly diversified consumer needs, it is crucial to stay ahead of the innovation curve. Thus, there is a constant need to bring in innovation to manufacturing sites through automation with integrated, intelligent and interactive concepts for increased productivity; 1S Servo is one-of-its-kind to address the need most efficiently. We are enthusiastic with the launch as it is a step ahead in strengthening our automation offering particularly towards the packaging sector which is one of the important segments in the manufacturing domain in India. The technology has the potential of delivering impressive results to help manufacturers scale up the value chain in terms of higher productivity and increased machine output results.”

More technical insights:

• The ‘1S Servo technology’is built with compact servo drive with same height throughout the whole power range to reduce the cabinet size for easy installation
• Screw-less I/Os offers simplified installation and reduced maintenance.
• The simplified machine design with compact motor size provides seamless output.

A world leader in industrial automation, Omron showcases its innovative solutions at Automation-2015 going on at Mumbai from 24^th to 27^th August 2015.

In a bid to put forth the ‘Total Omron Strength’, the booth displays all key exhibits of Omron being utilised across many industries in India to expand human possibilities and create a better society. This includes Industrial Automation, Electronic & Mechanical Components and Automotive Electronic Components.

The Industrial Automation corner showcases Omron’s prowess in helping the manufacturers develop better machines by contributing towards myriad important aspects such as quality, productivity, efficiency, accuracy, safety , energy saving, durability, to name just a few. It is an elaborative display of demos & solutions focusing on application, panel building, engineering services, vision & safety being utilised in automotive, FnB, Pharma and Packaging industries.  Ranging from the demos of Bottling Machine and Scara Robot to Panel Building, Lean Stream Xtream, FnB, Vision & Safety panels and NJ Demo kit, the display reiterates Omron’s strengths of being the complete solution provider for its customers in factory & industrial automation domain.

Commenting on Omron’s participation at the Automation 2015, Mr. Sameer Gandhi, Managing Director, Omron Automation India, said, “Automation 2015 is an ideal platform to showcase our solutions for India. It helps us to reach out to the right audience and to fortify our positioning as a single source integrated automation solutions provider capable of meeting the most demanding manufacturing challenges.”

The Electronic and Mechanical components section elucidates the role of Relays and Sensors in designing reliable, energy efficient and smart equipment such as Relay Board, Smart meters, Solar Inverters, Test Equipment and bringing in  hi-technology features such as tamper detection, accident prevention, etc. The demonstration of Omron’s Human Vision Component –capable of recognising face, age and controlling gestures – is receiving a great response from visitors further highlighting Omron’s sensing & control technology based forte in creating harmony between humans and machines.

Omron’s Automotive Electronic Components section showcases solutions like Immobilizer Antenna, Receiver, Transmitter and Body control module, to make automobiles safer and better.

Since 2002, Automation Expo has grown in leaps in bounds giving a perfect platform to latest advancements in technologies in the field of industrial automation. This year, in its 10^th edition, the exhibition’s theme is “The Next Big Automotive Innovation, Automated Industries, Automated Markets” which matches well with Omron’s core business objectives in India.