MAGAZINE The official magazine of Automate Canada. Issue 2, Spring 2023 Canada, a Leader in Innovation and Automation Digital Twins Page 11 Big Data Page 13 Predictive Maintenance Page 16The official publication of Automate Canada |www.automatecanada.ca 5 Spring 2023 Published For: Automate Canada Institute for Border Logistics and Security 5844 Malden Road, Unit #140, Mailbox #302 Windsor, Ontario N9J 1S4 Email: info@automatecanada.ca Tel: (519) 818-8866 Published By: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Return all undeliverable addresses to: 309 Youville Street Winnipeg, MB R2H 2S9 Toll-Free: (866) 999-1299 Toll-Free Fax: (866) 244-2544 sales@matrixgroupinc.net www.matrixgroupinc.net President & CEO Jack Andress Operations Manager Shoshana Weinberg sweinberg@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Publisher Jessica Potter jpotter@matrixgroupinc.net Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Editor Alexandra Kozub akozub@matrixgroupinc.net Editor / Social Media Manager Jenna Collignon Finance / Administration Lloyd Weinberg, Nathan Redekop accounting@matrixgroupinc.net Director of Circulation & Distribution Lloyd Weinberg distribution@matrixgroupinc.net Sales Manager - Winnipeg Neil Gottfred Sales Manager - Hamilton Jeff Cash Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Account Executives Colleen Bell, Rob Gibson, Jim Hamilton, Scott Hendren, Frank Kenyeres, Sandra Kirby, Cheryl Klassen, Flora Korkis, Charlie Langsford, Gord Ledingham, Andrew Lee, Brian MacIntyre, Caitlin Nakamura, Jaime Schroeder Layout & Design Kayti McDonald Advertising Design James Robinson © 2023 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. To advertise in the next edition of Automate Canada Magazine, please e-mail sales@matrixgroupinc.net or call (866) 999-1299. contents 10 The Power of Digital Twins: Replicating the Real-world Digitally Will be a Game Changer 13 What’s the Big [Data] Deal? Big Data Can Reveal Big Insights; Is Your Business Realizing the Benefits? 16 A Smart Approach to a Connected Factory: Predictive Maintenance is a Powerful Asset up front 7 Greetings from Chair Shelley Fellows 8 All About Automate Canada 9 Board of Directors 9 Why Should You Join Automate Canada 26 Index to Advertisers features Member Showcases 21 Ro-Matt International Inc. 23 Trillium Machine and Tool Inc. Cover photo courtesy of Ro-Matt International Inc. (www.ro-matt.com)The official publication of Automate Canada |www.automatecanada.ca 7 As Canadians, we’re known for our constant apologies. I feel no need to apologize for the work of Automate Canada – both the industry association and the magazine. I am very proud of the work both are doing to inform manufacturers about advanced manufacturing technologies, to foster adoption of these technologies here in Canada as well as elsewhere, and to promote the tremendous capabilities of our sector. Providing strategic advocacy and targeted actions for a remarkable sector, the Automate Canada industry association was founded to foster a thriving and sustainable Canadian industrial automation sector. In typical Canadian fashion, our industry tends to lead with a modest and understated presentation of our capabilities. Automate Canada – both the industry association and the magazine – aims to change that. We’re firmly convinced that we need to promote the tremendous achievements and advanced technologies developed right here in Canada to the world. Within the pages of this issue, you’ll learn more about the unique products and services offered by Ro-Matt International and Trillium Machine and Tool Inc. Data analytics and technology applications in predictive maintenance and digital twin technologies will be subjects for our deeper dives this month, as will big data. You’ll learn more about the agile and forward-thinking industrial automation companies in Canada from this engaging issue. With expertise from robotics to advanced controls, emerging vision and virtual reality applications, to digital technologies designed specifically for manufacturing, the Canadian industrial automation industry is smart, advanced, and capable. While Automate Canada is the first association established in Canada specifically for the industrial automation sector, our members have a significant and long-standing presence in the industry. Thank you for investing your time in learning more about our resilient, innovative Canadian industrial automation experts and the solutions we can offer for world class manufacturers. Greetings from the Chair of Automate Canada In typical Canadian fashion, our industry tends to lead with a modest and understated presentation of our capabilities. Automate Canada _ both the industry association and the magazine _ aims to change that. UpFront Attention members of Automate Canada, as well as sector experts – we are looking for articles for future issues of the magazine! If you have knowledge and a story to share, please email Editor, Shannon Savory (shannon.savory@matrixgroupinc.net) and copy Automate Canada’s Executive Director, Nicole Vlanich (nicole@automatecanada.ca) with a 100-word abstract and the name / title of the author(s). If your topic is approved, you will be provided with a word count and deadline. Please note that articles cannot be product or company promotional. They can mention products and companies, but articles cannot “sell” their use. Authors’ names will be included on the byline and each article contributed and approved will include space for an author biography and contact information. Write for Automate Canada Magazine – Share Your Expertise! Shelley Fellows Chair, Board of Directors Automate Canada8 Spring 2023 utomate Canada is a Canadian industry association representing Canada’s industrial automation sector, service providers, and suppliers. Founded in 2018 by the Canadian Association of Moldmakers (CAMM) and supported by Invest Windsor-Essex and NRC-IRAP, Automate Canada is an informative community of vibrant industry leaders who are facilitating the development and adoption of technology. Canada has established a reputation as a hub for innovation in manufacturing automation and we are proud to be a part of such an impressive industry. Representing one of Canada’s most essential technology industries, industrial automation contributes an estimated $7 billion to Canada’s economy yearly and creates approximately 40,000 jobs per year. Our industry contributions continue to grow and expand as technology continues to advance. Automate Canada leads, advocates, and showcases the Canadian automation industry strengths and capabilities. We assist and promote our members and engage in activities that support business success and innovation expertise. We invest in market and industry research to identify emerging trends and issues within our industry and assist our members with any challenges. We have fostered relationships with trade commissioners, government officials, and international companies to ensure our place as a voice for our members and industry. Our strategic pillars provide a roadmap to represent our industry locally, nationally, and globally and structures our focus when advocating to government and developing new programs. Our pillars and roadmap also ensure that we are addressing the needs of our member companies. One of our pillars is Skill and Talent Development within which we work to address skilled labour shortages and provide our members with the knowledge to transition to Industry 4.0 practices and digital transformations. Our efforts are geared towards methods of developing a talent pipeline of skilled and ready personnel interested in advanced manufacturing. We work with partners, such as We Build a Dream and the YMCA, to attract under-represented groups to our industry and to All About Automate Canada UpFront develop programs to encourage their involvement. We create and provide access to learning and training programs for our members and promote upskilling and reskilling opportunities to ensure our members and their employees are ready to adopt new technologies. Automate Canada also embraces equality, diversity, and inclusion practices and provides information for our members to adopt these practices. We work with federal and provincial governments to advocate for the importance of skill development in our industry. We develop youth- focused initiatives and work with secondary and post- secondary institutions on curriculum development to ensure the training being provided is keeping up with innovation and preparing youth to enter the workforce, while cultivating an interest in advanced manufacturing. Another one of our strategic pillars is Branding and Collaboration. Within this pillar we develop partnerships to promote ‘Made in Canada’products as good value with high quality. We work with our partners to ensure Canadian industrial automation maintains their reputation as innovative and reliable while promoting our members to increase global relationships and foster business opportunities. Our strategic pillar, Technology and Innovation, aims to support our members in their transition to Industry 4.0 practices and digital transformations. We promote a culture of innovation and ensure our members have access to funding information, resources, and tools to facilitate their transition. We promote and participate in research and development projects, as well as emerging technologies. We work with our members while developing new technologies and IPs, while performing research and development activities or commercialization plans. We continue to add programs and services for our members including discount and affinity programs, training and development opportunities, and marketing and promotion support. We have a full calendar of upcoming events, including networking opportunities, trade shows, and learning and training events. We will continue to develop creative and innovative ways to benefit our members. Please contact info@automatecanada.ca if you have any questions.The official publication of Automate Canada |www.automatecanada.ca 9 The official publication of Automate Canada |www.automatecanada.ca 9 Canada has an established global reputation as a hub for innovation in manufacturing automation. Automate Canada leads and advocates for the Canadian automation industry, assisting and promoting our members. Automate Canadais a national association representing companies involved in the industrial automation industry as well as service and supplier companies which provide specialized technologies to our industry. Our mandate is to: •Promote and develop the global exposure of the Canadian industrial automation industry. •Be the voice of our industry to all levels of government. Automate Canada will focus on trade discussions regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) / the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), Canada-Mercosur, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), as well as on intellectual property, research and development, and commercialization issues. •Encourage the development and adoption of technology in the manufacturing sector as a whole, as well as in the industrial automation industry, Shelley Fellows Chair, Board of Directors Steven Del Duca Vice Chair Jonathon Azzopardi Chair of CAMM Cheng Ye Director of Innovation Larry Koscielsk FIRST Liaison Peter Frise Director of Government Relations Jason Grech Director of Finance / Treasurer Shawn Horton Director at Large Kathleen Cvitkovic Director of Marketing Dave Fortin Director of Talent Dino Oliva Director at Large Steve Powney Director at Large Nicole Vlanich Executive Director 519-818-8866 / nicole@automatecanada.ca and in partnership with post-secondary educational institutions. •Develop the next generation of highly skilled personnel through youth-focused initiatives. •Assist small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the industrial automation industry to grow their businesses locally andglobally. •Be committed to working with other organizations and associations to build global relationships. •Assist members to identify opportunities for export. •Invest in market research and industry research in order to identify emerging issues and trends affecting our industry and to target growing markets. •Support Canadian SMEs in their path to prosperity, increased competitiveness, and improved capacity domestically as well as in the international marketplace. •Showcase our industry’s capabilities and strengths on a domestic and global stage through a range of direct activities and materials, like printed and digital directories, online presence, trade shows, B2B meetings, and site visits. LEARN MORE AND JOIN ONLINE! WWW.AUTOMATECANADA. CA/JOIN Boardof Directors Connect With Automate Canada! www.automatecanada.ca info@automatecanada.ca www.facebook.com/AutomateCan https://twitter.com/AutomateCanada www.linkedin.com/company/automate-canada Why Should You Join Automate Canada?Next >