Control.com: Feeling The Supply Chain Mojo at MODEX 2024
Atlanta was buzzing with technology, demonstrations, and innovative supply chain solutions from over 1000 individual exhibitors at MODEX 2024, March 11-14 at the GA World Congress Center.
The Control Automation team rounded off Q1 of 2024 with a visit to one of the largest trade shows for supply chain and logistics technology in the world. MODEX 2024 was held at the World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, and we were honored to meet with industry leaders making waves across all fields of robotics, conveyance, sensing, and control.
Beckhoff
Automation companies pave the way for all kinds of industries through the integration of products that sense, move, and process items and orders throughout the supply chain. Beckhoff demonstrated vision solutions and electric motion in the form of linear drive mechanisms and the XPlanar, all integrated into standard control system devices.
Beckhoff’s electric linear motion technology. Image used courtesy of Jesse Powell, Control.com
FANUC
FANUC Robotics, one of the proven leaders in both industrial and collaborative robotics, also designs CNC controllers. So naturally, a critical element is the workflow combination between product manufacturing and robotic logistics and warehousing.
To support this integration, FANUC showcased a 7-servo axis and cobot collaborative ASRS, or ‘automated storage and retrieval system’ supported by a PLC/CNC controller, the Power Motion i-MODEL A Plus (PMi-A Plus), where products are completely guided through manufacturing to storage and retrieval, ready for end-of-line packaging.
Video used courtesy of Jesse Powell, Control.com
Olis Robotics
Knowing how to install and program a robot is certainly a major part of the automation challenge. But then what? What happens after the robot is running successfully?
Monitoring a robot for faults, errors, collisions, or simply the production status is an ongoing task. Olis Robotics, in partnership with Kawasaki Robotics and CRG Automation, demonstrated a monitoring tool that provides a live visual overview of the process, but also allows the ability to remotely jog the robot and perform some basic control functions to escape from fault conditions and provide an instant, safe environment to return production to normal from any location, at any time.
Video used courtesy of Jesse Powell, Control.com
ForwardX
Mobile robot fleets are rapidly becoming a core backbone of product flow, both in production and supply chain, but also in storage and warehousing.
ForwardX’s fleet of mobile cart carriers, tugs, and forklifts was on full display at the show to highlight the many uses of AMRs throughout the manufacturing process. From moving the products in an assembly-line format, to case storage and retrieval, and even moving carts of tools between workstations, mobile technology is becoming a more flexible and capable industry with each progressing trade show.
ROEQ
While some companies focus on the design of the mobile robots, other companies prioritize the attachments and accessories that give functionality to the mobile base units.
ROEQ (named for the company’s product focus: robotic equipment) has just such a priority, with a range of pallet lifters, top rollers, and wheeled carts all on display outfitted onto Omron AMR platforms. ROEQ equipment can also be applied to other platforms, with convenient options for MiR and Continental Mobile Robots to ensure a wide range of suitable choices across many fleets.
Kyle Hable, Group Product Manager for OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies, INC., (left) and Carsten Sørensen, Director of Sales at ROEQ (right). Image used courtesy of ROEQ
OTTO Motors
In a trade show that demonstrates the latest in supply chain resources, it should be very little surprise that many AMR companies brought forward top-tier impressive demonstrations.
OTTO Motors, now represented under the umbrella of Rockwell Automation, provides both the AMR platforms but also an impressive fleet manager. This software is absolutely essential for any company investing in more than one AMR. It provides the capacity to assign tasks to certain robots most efficiently, allow adequate time for charging, and ensure motion paths that are clear of obstacles and congestion to allow the smoothest possible transmission of products through the entire workflow!
Check out more images of the show, all courtesy of Jesse Powell from the Control.com team!
Pickle Robot Co
Boston Dynamics
Telemecanique
Agility Robotics
Banner Engineering
Leuze
SICK
Pickle Robot Co
Banner Engineering
BlueSword
SEW Eurodrive
Telemecanique
