Fifth generation smart factory brings efficiency boost

TIM San Marino and Robopac have signed a cooperation agreement to develop new production technologies using fifth generation (5G) networks.

The aim of the partnership, San Marino 5G Project, is to analyse and evaluate the potential of 5G networks by identifying ‘use cases’ related to the development of innovative services and solutions for Industry 4.0, which will be made possible by the high performance of 5G mobile networks, in terms of capacity and low latency.

Real time communication between people, robots, production processes and systems can maximise activities and make industrial activity more efficient and profitable. It is said the factory of the future will become ‘smart’ and consist of flexible production islands, with robotised workstations as standard.

5G will drive smart factories, with levels of service and performance that are ideal for the development of robotics and self-drive vehicles. Advanced sensors and the development of Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, together with cloud-based solutions and big data analysis, will ensure greater efficiency of production processes and create a competitive advantage for companies.

“There has been talk of Industry 4.0 for several years and with the introduction of fifth generation mobile networks, this new industrial revolution will take even better shape, radically transforming production activities,” says Cesare Pisani, CEO of TIM San Marino.

Robopac CEO Enrico Aureli adds: “The chance to test these new technologies is a unique opportunity for Robopac. We can optimise the production process and identify the new horizons we can reach with 5G technology. The simultaneous use of sophisticated sensors and high capacity communication networks, like 4G and 5G, and the transfer of data to cloud systems for constant monitoring, will represent a new ecosystem with which to review the whole production chain.”