Our mission is to become an INR 1700 crore company by 2027

By OEM Update Editorial February 9, 2023 4:07 pm IST

We will invest in R&D for the Indian market to provide more locally manufactured products that meet global quality standards.

Incorporating Industry 4.0 and 5.0 into cable manufacturing
Industry 4.0 and digitalisation have increased the load on machine networks, requiring the network technology to be powerful, have maximum reliability and have permanent network stability. Considering the increasing size and complexity of machine networks, the correct design and real-time monitoring of the network and the downstream evaluation of diagnostic data have become critical areas of focus for LAPP. Manufacturers, including LAPP, are channelling efforts towards integrating Industry 4.0 concepts, such as smart supply chains, into their operations and developing high-speed connectivity solutions. We are also targeting to pilot smart factories in different locations of LAPP. This will further improve the speed and quality of the products manufactured, which will be designed to tackle the evolving industry-specific challenges.

New trends and challenges in cable and connection technology
Automation is a key trend that has taken over industrial processes, especially manufacturing. This has led to a new challenge for the cable and connection technology industry. Now, cables must be extremely flexible, compact and customised as per customer requirements. Cable manufacturers need to evolve and address these new challenges constantly. In terms of automation applications, given below are some key factors that have a major impact on the system functions:
• Torsion resistant and small bending radius- Customised cables must be designed especially for functions that involve repetitive motions to withstand torsion. Flexibility and small bending radii are two of the most critical demands from cables in the era of Industry 4.0. They have to be designed to occupy as minimal space as possible, especially in the case of robotic applications.
• Flexible braiding- The screening braid plays a vital role in determining the cable’s flexibility. It blocks out interference from other cables, e.g., motors or live cables. Most of the screening braid must be covered in a way that there should be no gaps that appear even when the cable is bent. The braiding angle is the decisive factor here: the shallower it is, the more turns can be made in the wires in the braided shield per metre of cable.
• Slim and Lightweight- Cables have to be lightweight and slim in their construction so that they occupy minimal space and do not limit the repetitive movements of the machine.
• Suited for robotic functions-With the growing need for enterprises to increase their production volume, the robotics sector has come into focus, seeing rapid advancements quickly. Robotics is preferred, especially in tasks requiring high precision and accuracy levels. These movements usually involve heavy loads, extreme bending, rotary motions and high speeds. To avoid unplanned downtimes and halt production processes, every component of such systems must function continuously. Therefore, these systems utilise hybrid cables with the highest durability, stability, and flexibility.
• EMC / Loss-less transmissionCables must tackle another important challenge: reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI). Data networks and signal cables generally have additional copper/aluminium screening to minimise electromagnetic interference (EMI). one of the key industry focuses is to address the demand for cables that have high volume loss-less data transmission for high volume loss-less data transmission cables. The additional copper/ aluminium screening provides complex hybrid cables that will offer less transmission, the durability of more than two million bending cycles, robot-compliant flexibility, and high torsion.
• High data load transmission-With the ‘smart factory revolution and the increase in automated systems, the cable industry has battled a constant challenge- providing high data transmission rates in the harshest industrial environments. With the arrival of wireless technology, the speed required for data transmission will only keep increasing.
• Chemical resistance-To ensure long life and minimum maintenance against constant exposure to chemicals, they need to be designed to withstand corrosion, chemical reactions, strong chemical surfaces, and alkaline formation.

Innovative trends impacting AI and robotics performance

Artificial intelligence, automation and robotics have generated demand for agile, minimal cables that are also compact and lightweight, with the ability to transfer data swiftly. Robotics especially has been increasing in popularity due to its crucial role in complex production processes. Considering the different motion sequences of every robot, the industry requires versatile cable systems with the highest levels of flexibility, bending radius, stability, and durability. They should be robust and have the ability to withstand friction, tension, volume and have high resistance to chemicals and oils.

Modern and developed cable management systems will also be required for smooth functioning and operations. Today, to meet the industry standards, a robot data cable needs to withstand five million vertical torsion cycles of ±180° per meter, as well as five million cycles in the horizontal cable chain at accelerations of up to 10 m/s² and speeds of 3 m/s over a travel distance of five meters, plus a million bending cycles in the alternating bending test at a bending radius of seven times the outer diameter. Nowadays, factory buildings contain various robot and drive systems that transfer a workpiece from one step to another and ensure that it is processed precisely. A stable and reliable response time without high latency is essential for controlling the measurement system, sensor, or grippers on the last axis, the so called end-of-arm tools, as well as for synchronisation and communication between the robots. The end of-arm tool is usually connected using cable-based data communication such as digital I/O, I/O link, or Industrial Ethernet (PROFINET®).

Aim to set industry benchmarks with cutting-edge innovations.
We have embarked on a mission to become an INR 1700 crore company by 2027. Our growth strategy will be supported by two major pillars- business growth and understanding customer requirements. We will target specific customer groups and explore the opportunities offered by joint ventures. Speaking of our targets for 2023, we will continue to set industry benchmarks with our cutting-edge innovations and dedication to quality and unparalleled service. A major business focus would be to increase retail presence and the number of service points and warehouses across India. Harnessing solutions for the e-mobility sector will also be a key focus in the coming year. ÖLFLEX® CONNECT and Industrial Communication will remain major business priorities in LAPP’s journey as a one-stop solutions provider for all cable and connectivity requirements. We will invest heavily in R&D for the Indian market to provide more locally manufactured products that meet global quality standards.