Here is Germany Industry 4.0 – New Technology

The German government is investing more than two billion dollars on prestige project Industry 4.0. But what is it really? Ny Teknik Marie Alpman sorts out concept.

What is the background

Germany is dependent on its manufacturing industry. Industry 4.0 is an important project for the future of the country will not lose its world-leading position as workshop nation. “This is urgent,” said, for example, Germany’s leader Angela Merkel at the opening of this year’s industry trade show in Hannover, which had 4.0 Industrial theme.

Why 4.0?

It stands for the fourth industrial revolution. After the steam engine, electricity and electronics, so goes the industry into a new era where everything in the chain is clever and connected.

Is not it the same thing as the Internet of Things – another trendy concept

Well, one can say that the Industry 4.0 is the industry’s version of the internet of things. The goal is self-organizing factories where every product carries information about how and to whom it will be produced. Since all production equipment also is online, the product can communicate with the machines and talk about what steps it needs to go through.

What’s the difficulty?

Finding common communication standards is a barrier. Security is another critical factor. It also requires new planning and control systems.

Is it only Germany who believe in smart factories?

No, there is an international trend. In March this year, for example, formed a number of large American companies a new consortium for an industrial Internet – Industrial Internet Consortium. The concept was originally developed within the industrial group General Electric who is also a co-founder along with American companies AT & amp; T, Cisco, IBM, and Intel. South Korea is a country that is investing heavily in developing its manufacturing base.

Why so much focus on Manufacturing

United States and many other countries have seen manufacturing jobs move out. Besides that there are fewer jobs, there is a risk that even research and development eroded. Meanwhile, manufacturing increasingly sophisticated and automated. This makes the United States and many other countries want to reverse the trend and increase production at home.

What do we here in Sweden?

Even here at home are discussed re-industrialization. New investments in production, for example, the new SIA Production 2030 KTH Södertälje get a new campus for education and research with a focus on manufacturing and logistics.