Press Releases

15 September 2017

Automation and Industry 4.0: culture and technology at the service of people

The ingredients of MECSPE 2018 to lead companies into the future

Human technology at the service of the people, that focuses on individuals and is able to pick up on their wishes and needs. According to the recent Accenture Technology Vision 2017 study on the relationship between technology and people, this seems to be the new digital experience frontier. The study identified in this close relationship and in the creation of technology designed to adapt to the behaviour of individuals the main emerging trends that will have the biggest impact on the market and the world over the next three years.

A transformation that goes hand in hand with the process underway, called Industry 4.0, and for which the next edition of MECSPE – the manufacturing 4.0 event promoted by Senaf (Parma Exhibition Centre, from 22-24 March 2018) – will be an important reference point to understand its progress through the promotion of digital culture and the skills required to approach new technological tools.

Taking into account people’s specific behaviour allows us to improve not just our relationship with employees, but also the quality of their work and productivity – says Senaf Director, Emilio BianchiThe focus on human resources is a fundamental prerequisite that, along with the thorough knowledge of technology and the informed use of new tools, has become one of the essential points to define a company in the era of Industry 4.0. The scenario emerging from the Observatory of Milan’s Polytechnic shows positive signals in this regard, with a level of awareness about the topic among entrepreneurs up from 62% to 92% in a year and a market that in our country is already worth 1.7bn euros. We are confident Italy is rising to the challenge at play for its economic future, though keeping on heading in this direction and seizing all potential opportunities requires expertise and skills, which can only be acquired by studying and constantly keeping up to date”

To contribute to the definition of a competitive map for the manufacturing system of Italian SMEs, all the special initiatives of the next edition of MECSPE will focus on enhancing the flexibility, efficiency and containment of consumption in factories now and in future through the distinctive elements of the fourth industrial revolution, like additive manufacturing, collaborative robotics and the innovations of the man-machine interface, the Internet of Things, industrial internet and cloud manufacturing. The topic of the “Digital factory 4.0” will be covered again in the trade event in an entire hall (Hall 4), where visitors will be able to see for themselves the progress of new “manufacturing made in Italy” and admire how the integration of enabling technologies leads to increasingly advanced and interconnected manufacturing. Moreover, as materials and the relative technologies are an increasingly crucial aspect in defining processes, we created the “New room of non-ferrous materials and alloys” (aluminium, titanium, magnesium, composites and technologies). This is a new area that, through demos and theme-based conferences, will offer visitors interesting technological transfer ideas and new design and manufacturing solutions for light products.

Automation will instead be at centre stage in Hall 5 of Parma’s Exhibition Centre with as much as five synergic rooms:

  • Digital Factory, devoted to smart factory topics: from IT to industrial sensors, from Cloud Manufacturing to automatic identification Technology (RFID – NFC Near Field Communication), and Software and machines employing wireless communication via the Internet of Things (IoT);
  • Motek Italy, which will showcase innovations in the fields of automation, robotics, assembly, mounting and handling;
  • Power Drive, featuring systems and components for mechanical, hydraulic-pneumatic power transmission, compressed air and mechatronics, but also maintenance and motion control
  • Electronic subsupply, dedicated to outsourced electronics manufacturing;
  • Logistics, with a focus on handling and industrial material handling, with a view to lean manufacturing and supply chain management.

Special initiatives, once again associated with automation and robotic technologies, include the confirmation of the Robotic Innovation Award, the main showcase to display the technological and manufacturing ability of sector operators and the high degree of expertise and innovation of integrators of Italian systems.

Moreover, the visitor experience will continuein the System Integrator Square, where all manufacturers present will be able to offer their system integrators the opportunity to participate in a privileged platform where they can be players at multiple levels, creating business and technology transfer occasions, allowing industrial operators to share their ideas and experiences,and showcasing applications in various fields.

Finally, the Innovations Quadrilateral will feature numerous workshops dedicated to the most challenging and up-to-date topics for the power transmission sector, with a demonstrative space where visitors will be able to discover innovation in pneumatic, oil hydraulic applications, oil pneumatic and electromechanical integrations.

But MECSPE reaches beyond Parma. The story of an Italian alternative to the industry 4.0 model will continue with 3 new stops to get closer to the “MECSPE laboratories – DIGITAL FACTORY, the Italian way to industry 4.0”, a tour of conferences to clarify and guide companies along the route towards digitalization launched by the National Industry 4.0 Plan. Scheduled talks will focus on “Plastics and Automotive” (Modena, 9 October), “Aluminium, Titanium, Magnesium and Motorsport” (Brescia, 13 November), “Composite Materials and Aerospace” (Naples, 5 February) and will involve talks between entrepreneurs and associations, with the presentation of economic scenarios, interpretation models of the phenomenon and outstanding innovation cases.

The numbers of MECSPE 2017

45,817 visitors, 105,000 sqm of exhibiting area, 2,051 exhibitors, 10 squares of excellence, 58 demonstrative units and working isles, 7 thematic districts, 11 thematic shows, 75 technical conventions organized by businesses, universities and associations.

The shows of MECSPE

Macchine e Utensili – Machines Tools and Equipment; Fabbrica Digitale – Information Technologies for a Smart Factory Management; Motek Italy – Factory Automation; Power Drive – Systems, Components, Mechatronics; Control Italy – Metrology and Quality Control; Logistica – Systems for Logistics Management, Machines and Equipment; Subfornitura Meccanica – Third parties processing; Subfornitura Elettronica – Design, Electronics; Manufacturing, Components, Accessories; Eurostampi, Macchine e subfornitura plastica – Moulds and Moulding, Plastic Materials and Rubber Processing; Additive Manufacturing – Rapid Prototiping and 3D Printing; Trattamenti Superficiali – Machines and Plants for Surface Treatment and Finishing


For more information
MY PR
Paola Gianderico
mob: +39 331-7623732
tel: +39 02-54123452
fax: +39 02-54090230
e-mail: paola.gianderico@mypr.it
www.mypr.it