Productivity Master by Festo creates a fully digitized production line

Thanks to software, everything fits perfectly, from the mechanical and electric systems to the intelligence. The Productivity Master is a modular demonstration system for personalized USB memory sticks from Festo.

Festo’s latest technological showcase, the Productivity Master, seamlessly connects all handling hardware and software to create a digitized production line that anyone can monitor from anywhere. It’s hands-off from the vendor’s perspective. No human interaction with customers is necessary; only intervention to maintain the system is required.

Productivity Master makes it possible – and cost-effective ­– to offer customers customized or personalized products, created by a fully automated process from ordering to shipping.

For enhanced process reliability

With this system, digital manufacturing can revolutionize the full value experience for customers. The Productivity Master allows consumers to select and size products online, view their pricing and delivery in real times, and track the products throughout the supply chain. This perfects the balancing act between making custom products and mass production.

All components, axis mechanics, and software are planned as a complete system. All parts fit together optimally, which shortens the engineering time to develop such a system and enhanced process reliability. Using Festo digital engineering tools, with digital twins included, the first production line was designed in record time, with designers and developers working collaboratively around the world. The online Festo Handling Guide allowed selection and dimension of various gantries in only three steps, while the Festo Automation Suite software enabled fast, easy programming, configuration, and commissioning in a shared digital environment.

Physical work is conducted by Festo components; production starts with the customer entering a QR code, which SBSI sensors read. Then EXCT gantries do pick-and-place with their CMMT-AS servo drives and EMMT-AS servo motors. ERMH electric rotary drives carry out rotation functions, and the personalization of the USB stick finishes the process. This involved holding the work piece, turning and positioning the cap, and using EPCO cylinders and ERMO rotary drives to press-fit delicate parts.

Festo creates a seamless data stream from individual sensors to remote IO, servo drives, controllers, and the cloud by leveraging industry-standard networks like EtherCAT, OPC-UA, IO Link, and MQTT. The manufacturer’s Industry 4.0 gateway connects the machine securely to the cloud, allowing users to retrieve diagnostic and production information.

To learn more, contact Festo.

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