EuroWire September 2021

Focus On UK Closing the loop between high-level business and low-level process functions

Industry 4.0 efforts are forging ahead and manufacturers across most sectors are realising the importance of digitalising their operations. Increased competition, high raw material costs and changing customer demands have created a situation within the wire and cable industry where manufacturers need to consider smart factory processes. Effective design and quotation software, designed specifically for thewire and cable industry, is one step towards achieving a smart factory. The full benefits on offer from specialist software applications can come from expanding an operation’s “digital footprint”. A manufacturing execution system (MES) presents an opportunity to help manufacturers achieve the next level of product quality and savings in materials, time and cost. The sophisticated system tracks and documents the transformation of raw materials into finished goods, with four distinct categories: order execution, product performance, product quality and material management. CableMES, offered by Cimteq, sits between the business system, ERP, the plant systems, and process control.

With live CableMES projects in Europe and the USA, Cimteq states that it is placed to help manufacturers achieve profitable and competitive operations. Having full control of production orders at their various stages, from raw material to finished goods, is a complex task within wire and cable manufacture. Accurate order execution is essential to ensure orders are fulfilled correctly, with minimum waste and on time. A robust MES will ensure that the system can measure and report on factors that affect the performance of the product. This information can be used in real- time to react to immediate production problems and also for historical analysis for future improvements. A key tool in the measurement of produc- tion performance is overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) – a standard used in manufacturing to measure productivity that identifies the percentage of manufac- turing time that is truly productive. An MES can also measure and report on factors that affect the quality of a product. Since a cable goes through multiple stages of manufacture, it is important to

identify poor quality at an early stage, so that bad products do not keep passing through further processing, adding cost to a product that is already scrap. For material management, an MES will track and manage the movement and consumption of raw materials and sub- assemblies throughout all production processes through to finished goods. Throughout the production sequence, raw materials and sub-assemblies must be available at the correct time and in the correct quantity to enable efficient order execution, to meet the scheduled delivery of the final product, at the correct length, to the customer. Management of raw materials is usually handled by an ERP system, and raw materials will be released to the shop floor to match the requirements of the schedule of production orders in a period. However, on the shop floor it is essential to know the location and quantity of materials at all times; otherwise the efficiency of order execution is at risk. Cimteq Ltd www.cimteq.com offer technically advanced solutions for multiple taping requirements. The range of machines can apply a variety of insulation materials such as Kapton®, glass and mica. The machines are used for manufacturing electrical coils, cable and conductors, and also for reinforced thermoplastic pipe (RTP) for oil and gas pipelines. Mr Glanville commented, “Ridgway has an extremely strong range of taping and winding machinery with customers all over the world. “Ridgway has already proven itself as one of the most innovative and respected cable and conductor covering machinery manufacturers and I look forward to engaging with customers both old and new, introducing them to the new range of compact, high-speed taping machines.”

New sales manager for Ridgway Machines Ridgway Machines has appointed Richard Glanville as sales manager. Mr Glanville, who will be based in Leicester, UK, will have global responsibility for the cable and conductor coverings business. Ridgway’s continued growth and excellent customer service,” said Mr Glanville.

In the last few years, the company has launched a number of advanced taping machines for the electrical and energy industries. Ridgway’s multi-application cable and conductor taping machines

“I am excited to be joining Ridgway at this time and look forward to ensuring

Ridgway Machines Ltd www.ridgwayeng.com

▲ Taping machine and control console

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September 2021