The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a key game-changer across many industries. The leading approach to AI is machine learning, in which programs are trained to pick out and respond to patterns in large amounts of data. - By K.A. Gerardino.

The food industry is a big business. However, the lack of staff availability makes it next to impossible to take advantage of the opportunities that exist. There are even companies with orders and potential orders sitting on the table, as well as available factory space for additional lines and/or equipment - By K.A. Gerardino.

How the Internet of Things (IoT) is helping change the consumer, commercial, and industrial world to become more efficient - By Milton D'Silva.

Next to industrial and digital revolutions, 3D printing is another technology changing the world. It is an ultramodern manufacturing technique that can be found almost everywhere and not just as tooling in factory settings. By K.A. Gerardino.

Predictive maintenance increases manufacturing efficiency, saves on maintenance costs, and contributes to a healthy bottom line. By Milton D'Silva.

The soaring demand on productivity is a significant factor for increasing investments in robotization. Many companies now acquire robots to solve problems, assist humans and support production. Moreover, the lack of labour power is currently the biggest motivation for operating robotization in workplaces in order to achieve customer requirements, and reduce the time from order to implementation. But while the adoption of robotization is increasing, most robots remain out of reach for the small and medium-sized (SME) business due to the high cost. Robotization can make our lives simpler and better, but only if they are affordable. By K.A. Gerardino.

The smart factory is still a work in progress, but the building blocks are already in place. A report.

An interview of Dr Stefan Assmann, Business chief digital officer, Industrial Technology business sector, Bosch Connected Industry. By Milton D'Silva.

Europe has taken an early lead when it comes to implementing Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) or Industrie 4.0 as the Germans prefer to call it, with companies having invested in IoT technologies at higher levels than their US counterparts. The latest update to the Worldwide Semiannual Internet of Things Spending Guide from International Data Corporation (IDC) forecasts total spending on IoT solutions in Europe to increase by 19.8% year on year to reach $171 billion in 2019. Of this, the share of discrete manufacturing is $20 billion, which can be attributed to IIoT.

The cool-flow technology is another milestone in the hydraulic expansion technology from SCHUNK: The coolant jet is immediately forwarded through the slim precision toolholder to the tool.