Vertical: Manufacturing
Application: Industry 4.0
Ecosystem: Ericsson
Private Network: 5G
Swedish industrial machine maker Atlas Copco has reopened its UK facility as a smart factory and innovation center. The company has partnered with fellow Swedish tech giant Ericsson to deploy a private 5G network, creating a showcase and training hub for its advanced tooling, assembly systems, and machine vision solutions.
The Wolverhampton facility, located in the Midlands, has undergone a substantial six-figure investment to re-engineer the existing factory building. This transformation aligns with Atlas Copco’s position as a prominent advocate for private 5G among industrial machine vendors, recognizing the technology’s potential to revolutionize manufacturing processes.
The newly inaugurated center at the i54 business park features a replica factory production environment, enabling Atlas Copco to demonstrate its extensive portfolio of cutting-edge solutions. These include 5G-enabled tool control software, inspection and error-proofing systems, and state-of-the-art 3D laser technology. By leveraging Ericsson’s private 5G setup, Atlas Copco combines human-centric skills with a customized, secure, and real-time wireless solution to drive efficiency and flexibility in manufacturing.
“Atlas Copco’s new Smart Factory Innovation Centre will help manufacturing businesses – from the West Midlands and much further afield – to gain a competitive edge by improving efficiencies and strengthening their sustainability levels,” said Stephen Simkins, the Leader of City of Wolverhampton Council.
Local government officials have praised Atlas Copco’s initiative, recognizing its potential to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of manufacturing businesses in the region and beyond. Councilor Stephen Simkins, leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, highlighted the facility’s role in reinforcing the West Midlands’ world-class strengths in the manufacturing sector.
“The Atlas Copco Group continues to innovate and break new ground as a worldwide strategic partner to manufacturers, and this major investment in our Midlands operations will further strengthen our commitment and ability to deliver real-time production efficiencies. Our Smart Factory Innovation Centre reflects Atlas Copco’s vision and mission to create a smart manufacturing ecosystem that allows our customers to digitalize production processes and achieve sustainability goals, by harnessing real-time data insights from industry-leading smart tools, vision systems and software,” said James McAllister, General Manager at Atlas Copco Tools and Industrial Assembly Solutions.
The smart factory innovation center not only serves as a hub for demonstrating Atlas Copco’s advanced solutions but also plays a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of Industry 4.0 technicians through the company’s graduate scheme. By investing in both technology and talent, Atlas Copco is actively contributing to the growth and development of the UK’s manufacturing industry.
