Mazak Corp. displays MTConnect and Smartbox at Discover 2015 event.
The annual Mazak Discover event hosts over 3,000 people to show them the latest in automation and machining.
ENGINEERING.com appeared at the event to speak with Mazak president Brian Papke about the company’s recent team up with Cisco, MTConnect and SmartBox to automate Mazak customers’ operations.
Watch the video above, or read the Q&A below for interview highlights.
Jim Anderton (JA): Here at Discover 2015, we’ve seen technology of all sorts, from the smallest cutting tools to giant machine tools, but it seems that connectivity and productivity are the innovations most talked about this time. Why is that?
Brian Papke (BP): I think it’s because if we look at the whole world and what’s happening, we’re seeing so many things that are changing the whole landscape of technology. I mean things like the unmanned car, things like Uber, what Tesla has been doing, things that are changing the whole landscape of technology.
We’re doing the same thing in our factory. We’ve taken this MTConnect technology and we’ve applied it to all the machines in our factories. We’ve added it to 65 machines, our painting systems through test stands and we’re getting a tremendous benefit from that in terms of utilization of the equipment.
As we look farther ahead, we’re working with Cisco to create something called SmartBox, which provides the ability to implement the Internet of Things (IoT), where we can use more sensor technology, do more analytics and have the cyber security to do that safely with our customers and with our factories.
We thought this technology was going to be somewhat unique to show at this event so we really pushed that ahead. We’re not talking about a dream; we’re talking about something we’re doing at Mazak today.
JA: Manufacturing professionals are sometimes reluctant to let IT people come into their manufacturing plants and tell them how to run their operation. Is there an advantage in having a system that comes with your brand, which essentially comes from a machine tool manufacturer rather than a computer manufacturer?
BP: Yes, and one of the things that we’ve found with the name Cisco, they’re so well recognized in terms of Internet technology and among IT guys, they’re recognized for high level cyber security. Our IT team were very much involved in this and are very comfortable with our manufacturing people in terms of implementing this technology. We haven’t seen any reluctance at all going ahead with this.
To learn more about the Mazak/Cisco deal, read on with ENGINEERING.com here.
