Exclusive research on 5G for industrial communication

RESEARCH SHOWS that half of the industry professionals are clearly positive about 5G in manufacturing and see it as a way to obtain universal connectivity.

HMS Networks, a global leader in solutions for industrial communication and IIoT, surveyed 50 international industry professionals to inquire about the positioning of wireless communication in their companies and to see how they are getting ready for the launch of 5G. HMS’ whitepaper titled “5G: Is the Industry ready?” presents the results of this study and provides state-of-the-art insights into the current situation in the manufacturing industry in terms of 5G preparedness.

The whitepaper provides an overview of the industry’s opinions towards 5G technology as an emerging trend and future standard in the manufacturing and industrial automation industry. It also touches on the use of wireless technologies in the industry today and future directions of this technology.

Key findings include:

• More than half (54 percent) of the interviewees indicated using wireless communication solutions for remote monitoring and remote operation of assets. One third of the respondents (34 percent) stated that their companies were using wireless communication for different kinds of IIoT.

• Half of the interviewees (48 percent) were clearly positive about 5G in manufacturing – they mostly appreciated that the technology will replace cables, unreliable Wi-Fi, and the many industrial standards in use today.

• For the majority (58 percent) of the respondents, the reliability and robustness of wireless systems plays a decisive role in whether to adopt 5G or not, and this was voiced equally by representatives of OT and IT. Low latency was mentioned as important by more than a quarter (26 percent) of the interviewees.

“The survey clearly showed that the industry is getting increasingly aware of 5G benefits for industrial communication. What the industry really needs is technical information and practical examples” says Marcela Alzin, Program Manager at HMS Labs at HMS Networks, who conducted the research. “This is why I created a fictional model of a typical OT professional and his attitude towards 5G. This should help to better understand the situation on the market”.

CUT TO SIZE PLASTICS has sharpened its future focus with new branding and information resources – including new company literature and a fresh logo – following on from its recent website and machining centre upgrades introduced to provide better service and support to its customers.

The initiatives are being undertaken as engineering plastics – including tough, light, hygienic, easily handled and low-friction materials – increasingly provide a cost-efficient alternative to metals in expanding machinery and finished component markets, says Cut To Size Managing Director, Laurie Green.

Markets where engineering plastics are expanding in use include architectural and building, food and beverage, forestry and primary industry, manufacturing and process engineering, mining and bulk handling, production automation, high-speed conveying and ultra-tough safety shields, some using the same acrylic and polycarbonate plastics families as jet fighter cockpit canopies.

“We want our customers to know that we’re investing in a range of engineering plastics, fabrication technologies and information services to bring them a more advanced product offering, with faster machining times and outstanding technical support. After all our recent upgrades, it only made sense to upgrade our logo to match the modern Cut To Size Plastics,” said Green, who established the business in 1980.

Cut To Size supplies top quality engineering plastics detailed in its latest brochure (including extensive stocks of Nylon, Oilamid, Delrin, Acetal, Teflon and UHMWPE, HDPE, PVC and Polypropylene) along with in-house expertise, advanced machinery and the latest software to design, cut, rout, bend, laser and machine to exacting engineering specifications for Australasian and international customers.

Cut To Size’s subsidiary company, Hercules Engineering, is also finding expanding markets for its cost-efficient, low-maintenance slipjoints and structural bearings for the infrastructure, construction, fuel, mining and energy industries. These stock and custom products are also summarised in a new brochure outlining their capabilities and customisable products.

“Specifiers today are reaching beyond traditional materials and design solutions to find the lightest, safest and most durable and cost-efficient materials and custom-engineered solutions. Our highly skilled team isn’t just selling off-the-shelf plastic products. Through our experienced and qualified engineers, coupled with the latest GibbsCam and SolidWorks software, we can provide assistance from technical drawing and planning, through to customised products and detailed installation instructions,” said Green, whose recent investment in Morbidelli machining technology complements the company’s comprehensive CNC machining facility at its Yennora HQ, which optimises its ability to produce high-quality product from customer specifications and design briefs for local application or export.

EXPANSION AND INNOVATION

Cut To Size is introducing a wave of new updates and innovations to better serve the Australasian market, including: • New CNC Router: the introduction of a new high-speed, vibration-free Morbidelli Author M100F heavy duty CNC router offers unmatched finishing quality and rapid production turnaround for the company’s Asia-Pacific markets.

• New European range: Cut To Size is expanding its range with the addition of Wefapress’ globally proven Flex Cover ranges of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) that have been chemically modified to make this tough, light material particularly suitable for high-temperature applications. The Wefapress Flex Cover range is typically eight times lighter than comparable steel liners used to curtail friction, wear and material flow challenges in diverse applications requiring no moisture absorption, outstanding chemical resistance and corrosion prevention.

• New website: to help groups such as engineers, architects, operations managers, safety managers and others to decide whether plastics can deliver the benefits they need and to further extend technical support to specifiers who work with high performance and engineering plastics. “Automation and the search for cost-efficiency are driving change in plastics engineering. Increasingly, engineers, architects and machinery fabricators are open to innovation, rather than being rusted on to the past. And new plastics formulations are emerging every year with designed-in attributes that optimise them for particular applications,” says Green, whose company distributes advanced materials of international leaders in plastics technology including Licharz, Gehr and Beck-Wefapress.

“The important thing is to approach engineering plastics with an open mind, knowing that there are some applications for which metals will be superior and others where plastics will have the big advantages,” says Green.