Re: Why is the Automation market declining?
Sep 13, 2000 11:42 am, by Matthew da Silva
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I didn't read the article because it has a leading title, but I'll respond to Marco Silvestri's intelligent comments. In the semiconductor markets also automation is growing (which is the opposite of declining ;) I agree that primary processing of fuels should be close to the source. It's happening in the refining industry where you have floating refineries and storage vessels. Such vessels are the prototypes for off-world (cf Armageddon, Alien etc.) processing of raw materials which will happen in the future. Steel is different because the product is subject to much more manufacturing after the refining process. Alumina, however, _IS_ refined close to its source because the yield per pound is so low. Robotics are also booming, and automation for non-traditional markets such as food processing and handling, are also not declining AFAIK. In countries such as italy and Spain I think that you'll find a lot of growth in food processing. In fact, a company in the Basque part of northern Spain has developed its own smart valve positioner. There's also a new valve positioner been developed by Gemu (mainly sanitary control valves for semiconductor and pharmaceuticals). Another small company in Denmark -- traditionally important for oil production, the same town is also home to a Bettis positioner factory -- has introduced its own design valve positioner. Finally, Neles just bought StoneL valve switch maker; it's clear where they are aiming. With so many new products for automation of processing operations, I see potential for a lot of growth. Maybe those companies are simply aiming at the wrong industries, and expect profits in identical places and identical volumes as during the 70s and 80s when computers were a novelty. Best, Matthew Yamatake Tokyo http://www.yamatake.co.jp
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• Re: Why is the Automation market declining?
  Sep 18, 2000 12:59 pm, by Grenville Spearpoint, Nestle South Africa
  Jim, While it may not give industrial automation a significant lift there is scope for expansion in the food industry. The confectionery industry is a good example. Not too long ago there was a occupation known as 'Sweet Makers' whose members had to serve an apprenticeship. IMO this industry lacks a number of transducers that if available would make a valuable contribution to the expansion of automation. Chocolate goes through a process of tempering not unlike the steel industry. This is a critical factor in it's production. It's been awhile since I was involved in the industry but I doubt if a transducer exists that provides on-line measurement of chocolate temper. It is probably still done manually on the bench. There also a high probability that flavours still cannot be measured automatically. Manned tasting panels are likely to be the order of the day. There are a number of similar tasks in the food industry that would benefit from the development of appropriate transducers. You may also be surprised by the lack of automation expertise in some companies that are well established names in the supply of production machinery to the confectionery industry. Some of them make excellent plant from a mechanical point of view but automation of their plant is shockingly bad. Regards Grenville Spearpoint miware@cis.co.za
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• Re: Why is the Automation market declining? - Food technology
  Oct 31, 2000 10:03 am, by David K.
  Grenville Spearpoint, It is interesting as a Nestle resource that you find such a lack of technology because in counterpoint I have done a couple of projects for Nestle utilizing high level motion control and process control in England and Russia, where Nestle was in fact capitalizing on latest technologies. I do notice that the installed base of technology seems to flow slowly from corporate headquarters areas to plants in other countries, sometimes even other areas of a country. It seems that as these companies seek to build plants in other countries to save expense they also do not promote the highest tech solution for the plant. Is this due to a shortage of local expertise or further cost cutting measures I wonder.....
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• Re: Why is the Automation market declining? - Food technology
  Nov 7, 2000 8:17 am, by Pierre Desrochers
  Just a little addition to this... I've been working in the past for a company which was built by a German conglomerat. It was built entirely with relays and controler (TTL transistors and analogic boards). When I ask one of the early engineer on why there was no PLCs and PCs, I was told that. 1. This plant was a copy of 7 others they add in Europe and they use all their spare parts to build it since the others were revamped to newer technology 2. They believed they could not find lower level technical personnel in North America which were up to the challenge of troubleshooting such beast ... (this was mid-80s) I've heard number 1 reason many other times after this occasion ... in different plants... My 2 cents Pierre integral@videotron.ca
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• Re: Why is the Automation market declining?
  Sep 19, 2000 12:56 pm, by Jim Pinto
  Grenville Spearpoint comments : >>While it may not give industrial automation a significant lift there is scope for expansion in the food industry. Jim Pinto agrees : Yes, there are segments of IA that are doing fine, and where there is room for innovation. Food is an example - of an industry that is always "local". There is a significant amount of innovation and productivity improvement that is possible. Go find the green-fields! Cheers: jim ----------/ Jim Pinto email : jim@jimpinto.com web: www.JimPinto.com San Diego, CA., USA ----------/
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