That SCOOPshow - Season 6, Productronica 2021 - Klaus Gross, Fuji Europe

EMS@C-LEVEL · 9 Nov 2021 · 19m

What this episode covers

Klaus Gross, Managing Director of Fuji Europe, discusses the company's performance during the pandemic, noting that government furlough schemes allowed them to retain staff and achieve profitability despite a drop in revenue. He highlights the severe component shortages doubling delivery times but expresses optimism for recovery in early 2022. Gross also introduces Fuji's new '3 zeros' smart factory concept (0 operator, 0 defects, 0 downtime) featuring the NXTRS machine and full automation solutions. Finally, he announces his upcoming retirement after 30 years at Fuji, marking this Productronica appearance as his last.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Manufacturing Executive · 40m

    Building for Long-Term Success w/ Ron Speicher and David Craft

    Ron Speicher and David Craft of Davron Technologies, Inc. (DTI) explain how a small mechanical contractor evolved into a top U.S. industrial oven manufacturer by maintaining in-house operations to ensure supply chain resilience and quality. They discuss the challenges of component shortages during the pandemic, which forced them to pivot scheduling and communicate transparently with customers about extended lead times. The founders emphasize their strategy of hiring people of character, investing in their workforce, and fostering a culture where employees feel valued enough to want to retire at the company.

  • IoT For All Podcast · 25m

    Smart Factories and the Current State of Industry 4.0 | Plataine's Avner Ben-Bassat

    Avner Ben-Bassat, President and CEO of Plataine, discusses the current landscape of Industry 4.0 and the evolution of smart factories. He explains how Plataine uses AI and IoT data from ERP, MES, and machine sensors to provide digital assistance for production scheduling, materials optimization, and tooling maintenance. Ben-Bassat highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated supply chain complexities, forcing manufacturers to move from reactive operations to predictive, self-optimizing systems. He emphasizes the shift from 'proof of concept' to 'proof of value' to demonstrate tangible ROI and throughput improvements to stakeholders.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 39m

    The State of Manufacturing: Resilience in Uncertain Times with Willem Sundblad

    Willem Sundblad, CEO and Co-Founder of Oden Technologies, discusses findings from the 2022 State of Manufacturing report, surveying over 300 manufacturers on resilience, digitization, and sustainability. He explains that companies investing in digital tools and sustainable practices are outperforming competitors, driven by labor shortages and supply chain disruptions that force re-engineering and increased use of recycled materials. Sundblad highlights the importance of empowering frontline staff for faster decision-making and notes that the 'aftershocks' of the pandemic continue to impact labor and supply chain dynamics in 2023.

  • People of Packaging · 29m

    117 - Catching with PMMI's Jorge Izquierdo at Pack Expo East in Philly

    Jorge Izquierdo, Vice President of Market Development at PMMI, discusses industry trends observed at Pack Expo East in Philadelphia, highlighting the shift of supply chain issues to a top priority alongside workforce shortages. He explains how manufacturers are responding with flexible automation, augmented reality for remote operator support, and a move from scheduled to predictive maintenance to maximize uptime. Izquierdo also details PMMI's ongoing efforts to address workforce diversity through the Women in Leadership Network and high school robotics initiatives, while emphasizing packaging's critical role in food safety and vaccine distribution.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 44m

    Leadership Perspectives on Robotics, Highlights from Automate LIVE in Detroit, MI

    Chris Luecke interviews Milton Guerry of Schunk, Mike Cicco of FANUC America, and Søren Peters of HowToRobot at Automate LIVE, discussing the robust state of the robotics industry, the shift toward EV manufacturing, and the role of AI in automation. Mike Cicco highlights FANUC's educational CERT program and the importance of mentorship in retaining talent, while Søren Peters describes HowToRobot as an 'Airbnb for robotics' that connects SMEs with integrators globally. Milton Guerry emphasizes Schunk's focus on end-of-arm tooling and sensing technologies, predicting continued industry strength through incremental innovation and labor solutioning.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by EMS@C-LEVEL. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.