Munich. The German Robotics and Automation Industry is working intensively to design products and production to be more sustainable with respect to the environment. Together with VDMA Robotics + Automation and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA), AUTOMATICA has created the new joint initiative "Green Automation". The automation industry is taking its responsibility to environmental policy seriously and is actively collaborating in elaborating the vision of a "green" world. This is not only a question of the environmentally-friendly design of production processes, but also of helping resource-saving technologies overall to become established using the innovative solutions of robotics and automation. The initiative will be presented at AUTOMATICA 2010 for the first time. "Green Automation" will show the contribution of automation technologies to sustainable management of businesses.

AUTOMATICA 2010, International Trade Fair for Automation and Mechatronics, will take place on the grounds of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from 8 to 11 June 2010. The initiative "Green Automation" will be a major topic of the trade fair and support exhibiting companies in marketing products and production processes for improving sustainability in production. The starting point of the initiative "Green Automation" is the increasing significance of energy efficiency and sustainability in production.
Dr Michael Wenzel, Managing Director of Reis Robotics and chairperson of the advertising and press committee of AUTOMATICA, explained: "Growing interest can be seen in the political sphere and society not to live at the cost of future generations and to reduce consumption of resources noticeably and in the long term without having to make sacrifices of our quality of life. This development challenges the investment goods industry – especially robotics and automation – to create the production technology prerequisites for "green" consumer goods. We have already ascertained a corresponding demand on the market, and consequently it's great that the international trade fair AUTOMATICA is going to focus on presenting "green" production technologies in such a way.

Resource-optimal designed automation technology
Environmentally compatible and energy-saving production only becomes possible with automation technology. Examples of resource-optimal designed automation technology include pneumatic components with minimum compressed air use, grippers and tools in lightweight construction engineering, and software for planning energy-optimized lines for robot systems. Many manufacturers have long been offering solutions for resource optimisation, energy efficiency, reduction of pollutant emissions or energy recovery. In this, it is especially important that all factors are considered with respect to resource efficiency during the complete life cycle of a product or a technology.

The industry sees its responsibility in this area. Thilo Brodtmann, Managing Director of VDMA Robotics + Automation explained: "Intelligent handling of resources will increasingly become a factor success for the competitiveness of producing companies. Modern automation technology can do amazing things here. The manufacturers of automation technology create substantial savings potential for their customers and are the enablers of novel solutions with their engineering skills, which make "green" products possible and affordable in the first place. To make the visions reality, widespread use of the technology is required. "Green Automation" will show precisely that - comprehensively and concretely as never before. "

Automation is the prerequisite for "green" products
The demand for energy-saving technology is increasing due to increasing energy prices and resources that are becoming scarcer. Changed economic and legal framework conditions are also driving activity on the market. Modern automation solutions enable widespread use of environmentally compatible products and technologies such as photovoltaics. For example, it has already been possible to reduce the manufacturing costs of solar cells substantially thanks to the use robots, assembly technology and industrial machine vision while increasing quality at the same time. Automation technology is taking photovoltaics closer to its goal of generating electricity at competitive conditions. On the other hand, it is important for the purchasers of assembly technology to acquire production means that use less energy and do not burden the environment in their operations.

The Fraunhofer IPA sees considerable potential in the area of "green automation": "Automation technology is an essential success factor for competitive production of 'green' products such as solar systems, energy storage or electric vehicles," according to Prof. Alexander Verl, head of the Fraunhofer IPA. "But automation technology as resource consumer must also be considered. Substantial potential can be realized there both in components and machines as well as on the supervision level."

AUTOMATICA 2010 makes is possible to experience "Green Automation"
AUTOMATICA is preparing to present this topic systematically with the initiative "Green Automation". For example, there will be a "Green Automation" visitor guide to bring together those interested and suppliers directly and specific to topics. In addition, a special exhibition will present the most successful examples of "green" products. "Green Automation" will be a central aspect of all issues at the AUTOMATICA Forum on all days.
The New Munich Trade Fair Centre is the ideal event site for the topic of sustainability: It is the first trade fair grounds worldwide, which has been distinguished with the certificate "Energy-Efficient Company" by the Technical Standards Board South (TÜV SÜD). With that, the energy experts confirmed that the trade fair company uses state-of-the-art technology and works continually on optimizing energy consumption. The certificate again underlines the pioneering role of Messe München in environmental issues and climate protection. The initiative "Green Automation" is continuing with this leading idea consistently at the trade fair AUTOMATICA 2010.