VDW and VDMA’s Smart IoT Showroom Debuts in Shanghai

Frankfurt am Main, Germany – VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) and VDMA (German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association), in a joint connectivity initiative, opened the ‘Smart IoT in Production’ showroom in Pudong, near Shanghai, China. Hence, interested parties in China can now explore umati more fully and experience the benefits of open, standardized OPC UA-based interfaces both live and in person.

The event was attended by Deputy Consul General Lukas Meyer of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Shanghai, Representative Yugang Zhao of the Free Trade Zone Administration and numerous invited guests. Dr Alexander Broos, Head of Research and Technology, VDW (German Machine Builders’ Association), Frankfurt am Main, and umati project manager, is delighted with the new possibilities opened up by the showroom: “The future of connectivity is digital – but sometimes a physical platform is needed: a place where people can share ideas and products can be presented. The showroom highlights in tangible form the benefits of umati – in China, one of the most important and largest markets for the industry.”

The showroom is a joint facility of the VDW and the operator of the IMT (International Machine Tool Center) in the Pilot Free Trade Zone, where the VDW already has its local office. In future, companies will be able to present their smart production technology to the public and meet potential customers and partners at these premises covering a total of roughly 500 sq mt. Permanent exhibition stands are available and can be hired for this purpose. The first exhibitors include the Chinese subsidiaries of Liebherr-Verzahntechnik from Kempten and the United Grinding Group from Bern, Switzerland.

David Feng, Head - Gear Cutting Machines & Automation Division, Liebherr-Verzahntechnik (China), on being one of the first companies to hire an exhibition stand in the showroom: “The ‘Smart IoT in Production’ showroom in Shanghai offers Chinese industry an application scene with real-time capability. This will help local industrial users to experience first-hand how umati can help them meet the future challenges of smart manufacturing trends.”

umati has a permanent exhibition stand which it uses to present the possibilities of open data networking based on OPC UA. It also serves as a basis for cooperation with Chinese companies and the local connectivity initiative, NC Link. An intelligent caliper from Mahr, Göttingen, and a marking laser from Trumpf, Ditzingen, are being integrated into the umati dashboard in order to provide a live demonstration of networking from China. Georg Fischer Machining Solutions, Schaffhausen, Switzerland, also connected a machine in a live demonstration.

Deputy Consul General Lukas Meyer emphasizes the importance of umati: “There is currently a lot of buzz surrounding Industry 4.0, making it now all the more important to ensure full transparency. With its powerful network of partners and its international approach, umati is laying important groundwork here. The ‘Smart IoT in Production’ showroom represents a further important way for the network to raise its profile.”

Broos also emphasizes the global aspect of the showroom in China: “The dashboard is the same as the one used in the rest of the world. This offers further proof that there is no reason for the consistent implementation and use of open data interfaces to stop at national borders. Connectivity is a global issue in mechanical engineering.”

Image Source: VDW