Electrical Contractor Magazine – Smart Factories – Rick Laezman
From watches to phones, homes and buildings, smart technology has seemingly transformed every aspect of modern life. It should come as no surprise, then, that factories are getting smarter, too.
According to a report form market research firm Markets and Markets, the smart factories market is poised for growth.
“Smart Factory Market With COVID-19 Impact by Component, Solution, Industry, and Region—Global Forecast to 2026” estimates the overall size of the global smart factory market. For further analysis, it also breaks the market into segments such as oil and gas, automotive, energy and power, pharmaceuticals and others.
According to the study, demand is rising in these industries for digital technologies such as the internet of things and artificial intelligence. Increased awareness and emphasis on energy efficiency, resource optimization and cost reduction in the production process are also driving demand for smart technology.
For example, industrial robots are becoming more commonplace in factories around the world. Industrial robots perform tasks such as electronic and mechanical assembly, product testing and materials handling.
The study examines the role of force sensors and how they have helped expand the use of robots and such processes as part insertion; buffing, polishing, and deburring; collecting data for testing and statistical process control; and many other functions.
In addition to robots, many factory environments are also deploying wireless networks coupled with remote or “distributed” autonomous devices outfitted with sensors. These so-called wireless sensor networks (WSN) help factories monitor physical or environmental conditions. WSNs are used in industries such as oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and water/wastewater treatment.
The study projects that the increasing popularity of industrial robots and WSNs will help drive growth in the smart factories market over the next several years. The global market is projected to reach $134.9 billion by 2026.
Truxell Electric offers full service electrical contracting including but not limited to: Lighting Design, Retrofit, LED upgrades, generator systems, and more.
Located in Livonia, Michigan. Visit our Contact Us page to get in touch!