Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 refers to a new phase in the Industrial Revolution that focuses heavily on interconnectivity, automation, machine learning, and real-time data. Industry 4.0, which encompasses IIoT and smart manufacturing, marries physical production and operations with smart digital technology, machine learning, and big data to create a more holistic and better-connected ecosystem for companies that focus on manufacturing and supply chain management.

Sustainable Business Forum Focus On Lower Carbon Products And Components

GRAND RAPIDS - Michigan Sustainable Business Forum is working to expand opportunities for Michigan businesses and institutions to participate in the development of a circular economy and decarbonize through investments in recycled content and lower carbon products and components. The Forum has convened a multidisciplinary working group of industrial design influencers to forward collaboration between

By |2022-04-29T15:37:09-04:00April 29th, 2022|Carbon Capture, Climate Change, Featured, Industry 4.0|

New Heat Engine With No Moving Parts Could Fully Decarbonize The Power Grid

BOSTON - Engineers at MIT and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have designed a heat engine with no moving parts. Their new demonstrations show that it converts heat to electricity with over 40 percent efficiency — a performance better than that of traditional steam turbines. The heat engine is a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cell, similar to

By |2022-04-16T12:44:31-04:00April 16th, 2022|Featured, Industry 4.0|

Innoflex Solutions Automates Packaging Needs For Food, Beverage, And Cannabis Industries

ANN ARBOR - Robert Champion returns to provide more back story on InnoFlex Solutions that helps automate packaging including eco-friendly packaging for the food and beverage industry. He also offers these services to the cannabis industry. . Better Efficiencies – Better Operations InnoFlex Solutions provides technical consulting services for Food and Beverage Group of Consumer

By |2022-04-16T11:40:02-04:00April 16th, 2022|Industry 4.0, mitechtv|

SME Names Jeannine Kunz Chief Workforce Development Officer

SOUTHFIELD — SME, the professional association committed to advancing manufacturing and developing a skilled workforce, announced the appointment of Jeannine Kunz to the newly created position of Chief Workforce Development Officer. She will report to Robert “Bob” Willig, executive director and CEO of SME. In her new role, Kunz will work with Willig and SME’s

By |2022-04-14T17:14:47-04:00April 12th, 2022|Industry 4.0|

Northwood VP To Serve On Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center Board

MIDLAND – Northwood University is pleased to announce its provost and academic vice president has joined the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center’s board of directors. “Given my prior work in U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and the quality arena, I am thrilled to work the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center in this capacity,” stated Kristin Stehouwer, provost and academic

By |2022-04-04T17:15:51-04:00April 4th, 2022|Industry 4.0, New Products / Contracts|

Workforce Strategies For Manufacturers April 14

GRABD RAPIDS - In the second of three webinars from The Right Place, The Center-West and MiBiz, learn how manufacturers are using a revamped onboarding processes to increase workforce retention. In today’s world employees have a choice, they have more ability to find employment that fits with who they are. As employers, we need to

By |2022-04-03T17:14:23-04:00April 3rd, 2022|Industry 4.0|

How ITC Michigan Is Energizing Michigan’s Economy

ANN ARBOR - Simon Whitelocke, ITC Michigan president, returns to talk about how electricity transmission company is energizing Michigan's economy. Mr. Whitelocke continues his conversation from earlier reports about how electric infrastructure impacts economic growth. This video interview focuses on how in 2021 Michigan added 396 new franchise businesses and expects to add another 139

By |2022-04-01T14:21:39-04:00April 1st, 2022|Industry 4.0, mitechtv|

Integr8 Includes Manufacturing Pitch Competition: Deadline To Apply April 7

TROY - New to Automation Alley's Integr8 in 2022, Michigan businesses with a manufacturing facility in the state and less than 500 employees are encouraged to participate in a pitch competition presented by Automation Alley in partnership with Pure Michigan Business Connect. Applicants must explain how a 3D industrial printer would solve a labor, capacity

By |2022-04-03T14:32:16-04:00March 31st, 2022|Featured, Industry 4.0, mitechtv|

Biden May Use Defense Production Act To Prioritize Mining Of Battery Materials

WASHINGTON DC  - The Biden administration is drafting an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to alleviate shortages of key minerals needed for the technology to store clean energy, according to The Intercept. Using the DPA in this way would bolster the manufacturing capacity of electric vehicle producers. It also indicates the administration is open

By |2022-03-29T11:04:52-04:00March 29th, 2022|Auto Tech, Industry 4.0|