At the invitation of the Italian Trade Agency and UCIMU – Sistemi per produrre (Italy’s machine tool, robots, automation systems and ancillary products (NC, tools, components, accessories) manufacturers' association), I joined six representatives of Canadian manufacturing companies on a visit to Lamiera in May. Lamiera is Italy’s metal forming tradeshow, which was being held for the first time in Milan (it was previously held in Bologna).
The show included 480 exhibitors, a substantial increase of 25 per cent from last year’s show.
The Canadian manufacturers I had a chance to speak to were primarily keen on finding automation systems and software that could help them further increase production speeds and improve the flow of information throughout their facilities. Everyone wants a smarter manufacturing floor; it’s a matter of finding the right technology to fit that need.
It was fitting, then, that the focus of most booths at the show was on Industry 4.0. This isn’t particularly surprising, considering the push for greater machine and information connectivity among all aspects of the shop and supply chain has been a hot-button topic in Europe for several years now.
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