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Dr. Ansgar Kriwet,
Member of the Management Board, Sales
Dear reader,
Flexibility – this term applies to all aspects of life and business,
as indicated by more than 14 million search results in Google; it is
also a common theme throughout this magazine. The cover image
shows how flexibility in the animal kingdom is an advantage
during the growth phase. Examples like this are a source of inspir-
ation for scientists. They learn from them and then apply this
knowledge to technical disciplines. Architects are also inspired by
nature when they want to create flexible objects and the materials
to support them. Take bamboo, for example, which is extremely
flexible yet incredibly strong, as you will see on page 6.
As for flexibility and automation, the Bionic Learning Network
has used nature to develop a number of objects that have found
their way into the world of automation, such as the adaptive
gripper system based on the movement of a fish’s tail. Instead
of the apple adapting to the gripper, the gripper adapts to the
apple. The research that is being carried out into the supercon-
ductor-magnet combination focuses on the world of automation.
Developments such as the SupraShaker can be tilted in any
direction and, despite its shaking motion, prevents vibration from
being transferred to the entire system. Flexibility is equally im-
portant in industry. Flexible and modular automation concepts
from Festo help to enhance competitiveness. Flexibility makes
it possible to have batch sizes as small as one with virtually no
retooling times.
The changes brought about by digitalisation are an important
issue for companies as well as for automation. It is making us
faster and more flexible and demands new solutions if we are to
remain successful in the market. One such solution is the Festo
Motion Terminal VTEM. With this latest development from Festo,
the hardware remains the same, only the software changes –
just like in the smartphones that we all use every day. 10 Festo
motion apps replace over 50 individual components. It can even
liven up a trip to the cinema. How? Find out more in this issue.
Ansgar Kriwet