3 Important Hi-Tech Advances in the Industrial World

1. 3D Printing

3D Printing has been around for a lot longer than some people realise. Known as “additive manufacturing” it’s mainly a process known as “cold spraying”. This process blasts particles through a nozzle at high speeds, binding them together to form different shapes. Since the 1980s 3D printing has been used by a lot of the big players in manufacturing. However, recent innovations in the technology have brought the price down, bringing many more companies and industries into the playing field.

Since this change, 3D printing has helped revolutionise how some industries output goods and improved the speed and ease at which they can do it. Although it’s still in its infancy there are many important implications that will change industries as we move forward.

2. Combustion Imaging Cameras

Boilers are a key piece of machinery in the manufacturing industry. Boilers function by transforming heat (derived from oil, gas or coil) into steam; the steam is then used to power equipment in the factory.

Unfortunately, boilers are prone to problems. Explosions commonly occur when boilers malfunction unexpectedly and the consequences of a boiler combustion can be catastrophic. Regular inspections can help determine whether a problem is likely to occur, but inspecting a boiler is difficult. The boiler has to be stopped completely during the inspection to ensure the safety of the inspector is maintained, but this means that the data obtained is not completely accurate. In recent years, combustion imaging cameras from andor.com have been introduced which enable companies to inspect their boilers regularly without having to stop production.

The cameras are designed to withstand extreme temperatures and identify problems such as leaks, pressure inadequacies, and temperature disparities within the boiler system. Because the cameras can be used to inspect the boilers whilst they are turned on, the information they garner is more accurate than that obtained during standard boiler inspections. If a problem is detected, industry workers can deal with it promptly and safely; combustion imaging cameras are therefore likely to become an important part of maintaining boilers.

3. Autonomous Robots

Many jobs in the manufacturing industry are dangerous; no matter how many precautions are put into place, working with power tools and high-end machinery is always going to be hazardous. Every year, thousands of workers are injured – and some killed – as a result of accidents involving machinery in the workplace. In most cases, the accident was a freak of nature, the result of an issue that could not have been predicted or dealt with in advance. Autonomous robots, however, are set to make working in factories safer. The dangerous jobs that are currently confined to human staff (such as fixing broken machinery or operating machinery in close proximity to working machine parts) could be taken over by robots.