One of the things we’re passionate about at the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) is cutting through the jargon to help manufacturers take that first tentative step into the digital world.

One of the best ways we have found to demonstrate the capabilities of connective technology  was a joint project we ran during MACH 2018 alongside the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Factory 2050.  

The AMRC partnered with the MTA to provide a unique showcase, demonstrating cost effective solutions for the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies into the sort of equipment that many SME manufacturers have. The project saw sensors retrofitted to alegacy milling machine and a lathe enabling them to access a number of low-cost digital technologies. 

This Industry 4.0 data acquisition enables accurate monitoring of the condition of the machine and give production managers valuable information about energy consumption and performance.

One thing we know for sure is that UK manufacturers want to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies and have been looking for examples  of how to do it in ways which don’t cost the earth and which minimise disruption to business as usual. The Legacy Project does just that.

MACH proved to be ideal venue to dismantle the perceptions many SMEs have about    the cost and complexity  of adopting Industry 4.0 technologies. The project was such a success at MACH 2018 that it has toured  the country  making a similar splash at a number of other smaller manufacturing showcases and events. 

Since MACH 2018 both the MTA and AMRC have been approached by  manufacturing business, from SME’s to OEM’s, looking to utilise this technology on some of their older equipment, some of which still caries huge value in the manufacturing process.

Due to the popularity of the project the MTA and AMRC Factory 2050 in Sheffield will be co-hosting an event to give our members and UK manufactures another chance to see the  Project.

The event  is on 10^th October and will take an in-depth look at the Legacy Project with a Q&A session, tours of the Factory 2050 facility and a look ahead to what the AMRC will be showcasing at MACH 2020.

To attend the event, or for further details, please email the MTA events team at [email protected] .