Industry 4.0: what about hydraulics?

Does Industry of the Future or 4.0 mean anything to you?

The media only talk about it. The subjects are multiplying. Case studies are exploding.

This concept, first evoked at the HANNOVER fair in 2011, expresses the idea that companies and factories are able to allocate their resources and means of production more efficiently, in order to be ultra-flexible.

Is this just a trend, or are we in the midst of a new industrial revolution? This would be the 4th.

So let’s take a closer look.

What is Industry 4.0?

Faced with the acceleration of digitalization, robotics, the industrial Internet and automation, industrial companies have been overwhelmed by this technological tsunami.

We have now entered a new phase, a new era.

You’ve probably heard of artificial intelligence or IOT (Internet Of Things).

It’s a fact of life. Machines evolve very quickly to meet new needs and requirements.

This means that manufacturers have to question themselves and look at the future differently. Should they invest in a digital transformation to incorporate new technologies and avoid missing the boat?

It all depends on the sector, but it’s transforming the industry in a profound way. There is an ever-increasing need for performance, process optimization, data enhancement…

But where does man fit in? Let’s not forget the human side, and let’s make training a point of honor. Let’s move forward intelligently towards technical progress.

Our opinion on the 4th industrial revolution!

Here’s how we did it:

• The 1st industrial revolution with the invention of the steam engine
• The 2nd came with the massive production of electricity.
• The 3rd surfaced with the emergence of nuclear power and information technology.
  Now we’re living in the 4th industrial revolution, based on cyber-physical systems.

So what’s in it for us?

Here are the 5 things you need to know:

1. The current speed of change has no historical precedent.
2. New manufacturing technologies are moving towards mass customization.
3. Self-optimization, self-configuration and self-diagnosis will increase reliability and improve overall production quality.
4. Connected machines and systems will require proactive maintenance and near-zero machine downtime.
5. This industrial revolution will require highly skilled workers who need to be trained.

Smart Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things (IoT), massive data storage, cybernetic physics and 3D printing are developments that could redistribute manufacturing zones around the world. If countries and their governments are ready for this new challenge, they could reap major benefits.

Universities and schools will have to train their students in new technologies and equipment.

And what about the hydraulics sector?

As far as we’re concerned, thehydraulics sector isnot yet affected by these changes. It’s not going to happen just yet. We’ll have to wait a few more years.

For example, stepped hydraulic pumps with the option of controlling hydraulic functions via electronics, remote control, wireless sensor or self-diagnosis…

As a specialist in hydraulic training equipment, we will adapt our training programs and equipment to these revolutions. This is the case for the Poclain pump with its “Phases” software installed on our BHT3 hydrostatic transmission test bench, or the CanBUS/proportional hydraulics training courses.

In this context, our SHCO 4.0 bench represents a major breakthrough in the hydraulics training market. The new version 4.0, which incorporates a new generation of digital screen PLCs, gives us at least a 5-year head start in this field.

And the best is yet to come…