INESC TEC, following the approach to the industrial sector framed within the scope of the TEC4INDUSTRY initiative, participated in the 18^th edition of the International Fair of Machines, Equipment and Services for the Industry (EMAF), which took place between December 1 and 4, at Exponor (Porto).

Under the theme “Transforming the Industry”, this event aimed to discuss and explore solutions to the challenges of Industry 4.0, to promote networking between different actors and the sharing of ideas and businesses – being considered the largest Portuguese event in the industrial sector.

Presentation and demonstration of technologies made in INESC TEC

At the stand, INESC TEC presented and demonstrated a mobile robot, an augmented reality solution, and a drone for logistics operations – within the scope of the projects FASTEN, MirrorLabs and UAV4 -, encompassing technologies aimed at the functional integration between industrial equipment, robots, collaborative, flexible and scalable robotics, as well as inventory operations and stock reconciliation, items search and storage slots.

At the PRODUTECH stand, INESC TEC presented a conveyor belt solution

Additional activities

On December 3, the “Forum PRODUTECH, EIT Manufacturing and annual conference PRODUTECH SIF” took place, an initiative that included several experts from different fields – among them Antoni Pijoan, director of EIT Manufacturing CLC West – and that featured members of INESC TEC – namely Américo Azevedo (coordinator of TEC4INDUSTRY), with the Data-Driven Manufacturing communication, João Vinagre (LIAAD), withing the scope of the Artificial Intelligence Sovereignty project, António Correia Alves (CESE), as coordinator of the PPS4 part of the project PRODUTECH SIF mobilizer, and Ana Barros (CESE), Program Manager of EIT Manufacturing.

Recurring presence

Having already participated in previous editions, INESC TEC continues to reinforce its presence at EMAF, presenting itself as a leading entity in the industrial ecosystem.

“The creation of knowledge towards generating science-based innovation is the fundamental basis of INESC TEC’s mission. In this sense, participating in EMAF allows us to communicate our key competences to companies in different technology-based sectors of activity, thus promoting their differentiation and, consequently, their competitiveness”, explained Américo Azevedo, coordinator of TEC4INDUSTRY.

António Almeida, business developer at the same TEC4, stated that “Industry 4.0 is increasingly characterised by its multidisciplinary nature and technological scope, which allows solving complex problems with a real impact on new, more sustainable and resilient business models. Thus, INESC TEC’s participation in this fair aimed to demonstrate various innovative technologies, from different areas of knowledge – not separately, but in an integrated manner”.

Close to 400 companies and 19.500 visitors attended EMAF, covering various sectors: robotics, machine tools, industrial maintenance, logistics and transportation, instrumentation, automation and control, information technology applied to industry, security, etc.

The researchers mentioned in this news piece are associated with INESC TEC, ISEP/IPP and UP-FEUP.

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