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Dr. Ansgar Kriwet,
Member of the Management Board, Sales
Dear reader,
Communication is a fundamental part of what it is to be human.
Anyone who has been cut off from communication, even if just
for a few minutes, knows how important it can be. The sharing
of knowledge sets developments in motion; without it, progress
would take place at a snail’s pace. It’s also why we have trends
in automation – as a communication link between you and Festo.
In this issue we report, among other things, on a revolutionary
change underway in communication: Industry 4.0. A paradigm
shift is taking place here, with humans and machines as well
as things communicating with each other, and organising them-
selves while being controlled by people.
A good example of this are the BionicANTs, which work together
as a team of self-organising individual components to solve com-
plex tasks in networked systems (page 8). The eMotionButterflies
are also providing initial answers about what Industry 4.0 might
look like: the ultralight artificial butterflies coordinate their
positions in space to avoid collisions (page 12).
Key precursors to this communication between things were
functions like condition monitoring, preventive maintenance, diag-
nostics and total productive maintenance (TPM). And they will
continue to play a vital role: the MSE6-E2M is a globally unique
energy efficiency module which is significantly reducing the
amount of compressed air Unilever uses in the production of its
ice cream thanks to intelligent information processing (page 34).
There is one factor in all of this that is constant as well as essen-
tial and invaluable: personal contact. This is demonstrated by
a pioneering solution in a large pharmaceutical company which
substantially increased the functionality and flexibility of the
plants. Close coordination and good communication speeded up
the project and produced a better result (page 38).
I therefore hope that you will keep in touch with me and the team
here at Festo and that we will continue to communicate. If you’re
looking for a solution for your automation task, just ask us.
We’re always there for you.
Enjoy your read – I hope it makes you want to get in touch!
Ansgar Kriwet
Communication
promotes productivity