Hybrid computing systems in Industry 4.0

Contrary to popular belief, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not going to replace people, but should rather be seen as an ally, given that it’s more geared towards optimizing business processes, such as task automation processes. The most widespread AI is currently based on learning from questions and suggestions made to humans to deal with the challenges presented by the different processes. Full automation is only possible in very simple processes, generally with little added value.

Lantek’s MES solution for sheet metal manufacturers is designed to help companies get on the path to digitization. This software helps managers to maintain control of their manufacturing operations, delivering high quality products on time at a profit. The system additionally makes it possible to use data from the workshop to make decisions about investment, customers, markets, pricing and reorganisation and will lead to in depth partnership working with customers and suppliers.

An increase in the competitive pressure of the digital environment is forcing us to look for more time and cost effective means and greater productivity, requiring greater efforts in R&D to find innovative solutions in the metal and sheet metal industry. And in this search for better performance, two traditionally antagonistic technologies have joined forces to bring an optimized cutting solution to the market. We are talking about combining a water jet cutting machine (based on mechanical cutting through abrasion) and plasma cutting (thermal cutting using high temperatures that melt or vaporize the material).