Demand for advanced manufacturing and automation surges with rise of Industry 4.0, says report

According to a report from Frost & Sullivan, as traditional, fossil fuel-based methods of manufacturing give way to digitized factory floors and communication systems, the advanced manufacturing and automation space is witnessing frenzied R&D activity. The disruption caused by Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things has prompted manufacturers across industries to adopt advanced automation solutions like robotics and metal 3-D printing to help speed production and lower manufacturing costs.

“Top Technologies in Advanced Manufacturing and Automation, 2017” is part of Frost & Sullivan's TechVision (Advanced Manufacturing Automation) Growth Partnership Service program. The study covers the technologies of robotic exoskeletons, metal 3-D printing, CIM, nano 3-D printing, collaborative industrial robots, friction stir welding/solid-state joining, magnetic levitation, composite 3-D printing, roll-to-roll manufacturing, and agile robots. These are expected to have the highest near- to medium-term impact in a variety of market segments, including automotive, consumer electronics, aerospace, and transportation.

"Developments in 3-D printing materials, metal inks, printing techniques and equipment design are driving the global uptake of metal 3-D printing," said Frost & Sullivan TechVision Research Analyst Ranjana Lakshmi Venkatesh Kumar. "R&D can enhance metal 3-D printers' ability to print high-strength, lightweight prototypes and parts at low costs, making these printers highly relevant in the aerospace and automotive sectors."

Robotics also has experienced multiple advancements over the past year. While there is a large market for many forms of robots, collaborative robots have the highest impact. Various manufacturers are investing in the technology to create an automated and safe human-machine interaction facility.

Other important applications of robotics in advanced automation are robotic exoskeleton and agile robots. While the former is a wearable robotic device that can increase the strength and mobility of the wearer, the latter are smart robots that offer superior agility, efficiency, and uptime. Overall, with greater government support and deeper convergence, advanced manufacturing and automation solutions could well be the engines of Industry 4.0, says Frost & Sullivan.