Flexible Transport System to future-proof industry
24 May 2018
Bosch Rexroth has launched its latest innovation at Hannover Messe: the flexible transport system (FTS) – part of its ‘Factory of the Future’.
The FTS is a response to the massive, rapid market growth in energy storage and printed electronics – and the equally huge pressures of time, quality and cost. It distils Bosch Rexroth’s engineering know-how, automation experience and problem-solving abilities into a single solution that makes production of flexible batteries, displays and electronics fast, accurate and future-proof.
Designed to increase productivity through greater standardisation, and to quickly adapt to changing requirements or batch sizes, the FTS is a scalable system that conveys products weighing from 1g to 2,000kg independently of one another, on workpiece carriers with maximum acceleration. Switch points allow processes to be run in parallel to increase productivity.
An example of this in practice: increasing battery production by almost 200 percent without any impact on time to market. The FTS version suitable for vacuum applications can be also used for production of the latest display types, such as OLED, or as an efficient, high-performance solution with clean room capability for semiconductor production.
The FTS is one part of a wider system of easily integrated solutions through which Bosch Rexroth has set out its ambition to future-proof the manufacturing industry. It is complemented by its precision motion control (MPC) system, which increases both accuracy and speed in hybrid and printed electronics production, delivering maximum performance in roll-to-roll processes and motion tasks in the sub-micro to nanometer range.
The MPC features open hardware and software for trouble-free integration, and pre-programmed functions to speed engineering, as well as enabling users to explore simulation, virtual commissioning and big data analysis. This, together with the FTS and industry-leading web handling control algorithms, means the company now offers a complete suite of fully connected, IoT-ready solutions fit for the age of Industry 4.0.
Speaking about the launch, Paul Streatfield, Product Manager at Bosch Rexroth, said: “Hannover Messe gave us the perfect platform to launch our flexible transport system in tandem with our wider suite of solutions. Looking to the future, we’re focusing on flexible machine concepts that support the continuous development of new technologies, and that open up the full potential of productivity in manufacturing. The FTS is one essential part of this, and we’re excited about where we can take this concept alongside our customers.”
Featured at Hannover Messe – the highlight of the industrial automation calendar – Bosch Rexroth’s ‘Factory of the Future’ campaign is a declaration of intent to equip the world’s manufacturing facilities with the intelligent technologies and efficient solutions to thrive in a connected future. More details can be found at www.boschrexroth.com
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