National Programme for Robot Industry in the Pipeline
THE HAGUE, 04/04/14 - Following the example of Germany and Belgium, the Netherlands is also going to set up a national programme for further robot and automation applications in industry, according to a report that will be presented next week at the Hannover Messe (Fair). The Netherlands is partner country for the world’s biggest industry fair in Germany this year. Premier Mark Rutte will open the fair on Sunday evening with Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Smart Industry report is drawn up by the economic affairs ministry in partnership with research institute TNO and employer organisation FME among others. The study, which Het Financieele Dagblad newspaper has managed to get hold of, is intended as a first move for a plan of attack to be drawn up this spring. The compilers of the report are calling for more research towards having machines ‘speak’ with one another. This ‘internet of things’ should, along with new production technologies like 3D-printing, streamline industry ready for the future. More flexibility is a first requirement, according to the report. Consumers demand products that meet their individual wishes. Plants should in future be in a position via the Internet, sensor technology and new calculating methods to rapidly and automatically set themselves up for the making of new products. Machines should also be able to discover and correct mistakes in the production process themselves. Whether the cabinet will earmark money for further robotisation still has to be looked at. Germany has set aside 200 million euros for what the Germans are calling ‘Industry 4.0’. |