With the ongoing intelligent transformation of the manufacturing sector, emerging technologies are maturing rapidly. Accompanied by heightened policy backing for industrial Internet and intelligent manufacturing, and factors such as the diminishing demographic dividend and escalating labor costs, industrial automation is witnessing a surge in developmental prospects. Accordingly, the market scale is expanding rapidly. As per the "In-depth Survey on China's Industrial Automation Industry and Investment and Financing Strategy 2024-2029" released by the China Zhongshang Industry Research Institute (CHNCI), China's industrial automation market is poised to reach 261.1 billion yuan in 2022, reflecting a 3.2% year-on-year increase. Analysts from CHNCI forecast that by 2024, the industrial automation market in China will ascend to 301.1 billion yuan.
The surge in automation applications across various sectors—manufacturing, energy, transportation, medical, and more—has made heightened automated control necessary. This, in turn, fuels demand for a spectrum of equipment, including industrial computers, programmable logic controllers, distributed control systems, human-machine interfaces, sensors, actuators, and associated industrial control software and hardware solutions. Also, industrial control technology needs continual iterative updates to engineer more dependable, efficient, and intelligent products and services capable of meeting the escalating demands of increasingly complex processes and enhancing production efficiency. For insights into recent advancements in industrial control-related technologies, come to productronica China 2024, scheduled to unfold at the Shanghai New International Expo Center from March 20-22, 2024.
Industrial Computers, PLCs, IPCs: Who will Pioneer the Future Manufacturing Industry?
Within the industrial automation control framework, the control layer stands as a pivotal component, directly engaged in real-time control and adjustment of production processes. It oversees various physical parameters (such as temperature, pressure, flow, speed, position, etc.) in real-time and fine-tune them in accordance with preset control strategies to ensure optimal operational conditions, thereby enhancing product quality, production efficiency, and curbing energy consumption and production costs. In conclusion, high-performance equipment at the control layer guarantees the productivity and quality of the entire process.
Industrial automation, aiming to enhance production efficiency and quality, hinges not only on orderly process control at the control layer but also on precise motion control and positioning. Servo systems, through the seamless integration of precise sensors, advanced control theories, and high-performance hardware and software technologies, deliver exceedingly precise control and positioning of moving parts. In high-end applications like precision machine tools, robots, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, servo systems are indispensable components.
Precision, Swiftness, and Efficiency in Motion Control
Direct-drive methods, which directly propel the load to enhance system accuracy, response speed, and efficiency, are increasingly adopted. This approach obviates the need for intermediate components such as gears, belts, and ball screws prevalent in traditional transmission systems, thereby reducing cumulative errors in transmission parts and facilitating more precise motion control. This development is especially suited for situations requiring millimeter or even micron-level positioning accuracy, fueling the demand for direct-drive motors and prompting manufacturers to focus on innovative solutions.
As the primary avenue for realizing intelligent manufacturing in the current phase, industrial automation technology is evolving towards intelligence, networking, and integration. China's industrial automation control equipment market commands a substantial share globally. The conventional industrial transformation and process mechanization, coupled with enterprise informatization, all demand extensive employment of industrial automation systems, indicating broad market prospects for industrial control automation equipment.
Serving as a significant gathering for the electronics manufacturing and intelligent assembly automation industry, productronica China 2024 will convene at the Shanghai New International Expo Center from March 20-22, 2024. The event will draw prominent domestic and international exhibitors in Hall E2, including, but not limited to, Kuroda Seiko, Sanyo Electric, Beckhoff, Delta, PMI, Golytec, Taiwan Lapping, MOONS, Ticbel, E·MC, Nabeya Bi-tech, Dynamikwell, Leadshine, Yanxiang, TOYO, Qunke, Gaochuan, and ITG Linear. These exhibitors will showcase electronics industry's innovative smart manufacturing solutions tailored for application industries across the entire industry chain.
