Smart revamps at the heart of the Future Steel Forum
Russula presented its automation know-how and latest smart technology developments at the Future Steel Forum in Warsaw, Poland, this past June.
Industry experts, academia and the top equipment suppliers all presented their perspectives on Industry 4.0 and the future steel factory. Cyber-security, big data and the creation of digital twins, were all topics that prompted lively discussions.
While many of the presentations focused on the future impact of smart manufacturing, the Russula Sales Director, Daniel Sanchez, gave a refreshing presentation grounded in the reality of automation in steel plants today. When he reflected on the large number of legacy automation equipment that is still working in our steel factories, his point was well received among the steel producers.
When we talk about Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, big data and other innovative features we have to think first about creating the right foundations, upgrading or retrofitting the existing equipment before the plant can take full advantage of what information driven manufacturing has to offer.
Russula has always been on the forefront of system integration; selecting the best combination of hardware and software available on the market. Daniel demonstrated many of the latest smart technology developments that the company has successfully implemented in many steel plants. Condition monitoring, a new generation of field sensors, robotics on the mill floor, mobile handheld devices, virtualization, remote support and smart management tools are all recent technologies that represent the digital penetration of Industry 4.0 in the steel industry, the new competitive advantage of today’s steel producers.
