VIRTUAL CONFERENCE 2021: The Future Of Manufacturing

Virtual-Conf
Date: 27.05.22
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions hosted its third successful Virtual Conference in 2021 with the theme “The Future of Manufacturing”, exploring current technical trends and their impact on transformation of manufacturing processes. We take a look at the day's sessions.

IN SHORT

  1. Almost 1,000 participants joined 50 global speakers and panelists in a series of 37 industry focused sessions.
  2. A panel discussion covered the challenges and solutions surrounding the transformation of manufacturing processes following the emergence of Industry 4.5.
  3. Key themes included the evolving materials landscape, maximizing performance, meeting customer needs, creating added value, solving key industry challenges, energy efficiency and sustainable solutions.
Watch the Virtual Conference 2021 Recordings of the event resource downloads, videos and more are available at:

Over 50 industry experts from 20 locations shared their knowledge and expertise during a series of 37 sessions. Guest keynote speakers included:

Malte-Volkwein

Malte Volkwein, Head of the Corporate Strategy and Development Department, Fraunhofer IPA

Fredrik-Ostbye

Fredrik Östbye, Group Vice President, Head of FutureLab, Grundfos

Thomas

Prof. Dr. Thomas Bauernhansl, Director, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation

Tong

Zhao-Toni Tong, Managing Director at Arburg China

Welcome-ses

On December 9, 2021, 50 global speakers and panelists took to the virtual stage to deliver a series of 37 industry focused, in-depth sessions from 20 different locations.

Almost 1,000 participants from across Europe and Asia attended the online event, led by Trelleborg engineers, manufacturing experts and industry specialists. Highlights of the day included the opportunity to take virtual tours of some of Trelleborg’s state-of-the-art manufacturing and R&D facilities in the US, Germany, Malta, and the UK.

Hosted by Sarah Yvonne Elsser, Tech-Moderator at Tech Well Told, and Prof. Dr. Konrad Saur, Vice President – Innovation and Technology at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, the event was live streamed from the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Innovation Center at the global headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.

What segments did we cover and why?


Oliver Chan, BU President for APAC – “The world is changing fast. New technologies have shortened the time to evolve from one generation to the next. So, we see our life and business are really closely linked to this rapid change of technologies, like eMobility, hydrogen vehicles, robotics, nanometer chips, food safety or even higher customer demands and expectations.”
What are your highlights of the day?
“Two things stood out for me. First was the panel discussion where key experts told us about future trends. That was quite amazing! Second were the breakout sessions - we shared so many interesting innovations and Trelleborg capabilities with the community.”
JÜRGEN BOSCH, BU President for Europe
Interview

Advancing the 4th Industrial Revolution

Headlined by a keynote and panel discussion – Advancing the 4th Industrial Revolution – that included four guest speakers, alongside Prof. Dr. Konrad Saur. The discussion
covered the challenges and solutions surrounding the transformation of manufacturing processes following the emergence of Industry 4.5, as priorities shift to sustainability, speed-to-market, and supply chain resilience.

Prof. Dr. Konrad Saur explains – “I believe the traditional way of thinking about business is changing. We heard from the keynote speakers, as well as from our other experts, that the future lies in partnerships, in breakthrough innovations and in sustainability. These call for innovative solutions. We can't simply carry on as we have for the last 200 years.

“There is a super mega trend out there toward individualization along with custom-made solutions and new business models. Radical innovation may lie in the fact that we are no longer selling products, but services.”
 

Key themes

Key themes running through all the presentations included the evolving materials landscape, maximizing performance and meeting customer needs, creating added value for our customers, solving key industry challenges, energy efficiency and sustainable solutions.

“In the future, we see that new technologies will allow greater design freedom, products to reach the market faster and better match production to demand. Overriding everything, of course, is the desire to operate sustainably and explore how advanced processing can make this possible.”
PROF. DR. KONRAD SAUR, Vice President – Innovation & Technology at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions
RD

Manufacturing and R&D capabilities

Several locations provided a behind-the-scenes look at R&D and manufacturing facilities, showcasing how sealing technology and materials are developed and tested to ensure they meet performance requirements.

With increasing demands on seals in many industries, multicomponent technology provides the perfect solution when a single component no longer fits the bill. A virtual tour of the multicomponent development center and manufacturing facility demonstrated first-hand how we test bonding strength and manufacture high quality, high volume multicomponent solutions.

The conference also gave customers the chance to see firsthand how our advanced composite products are produced, with technical experts answering questions like ‘What makes advanced composites unique?’; ‘What benefits do they offer?’ and ‘When does it make sense to consider advanced composites for equipment or an application?’

RD1

Neal Borg, Product Manager at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in Malta, offers an inside look into multicomponent manufacturing technology.

RD2

Reid Hislop, Product Manager at the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions facility in Albany, US, explains how to empower the world with advanced composites.

“There is a drive for Micromolding, and multicomponent has not escaped this. We have special tools and machines to be ableto make microparts for multicomponents as we understand the importance of this trend.“Whatever your material combination, Trelleborg will have a solution. We have sites around the world to support your individualapplication requirements.”
NEAL BORG, Product Manager
“Electrification is a change. And change means chances. The future is now, and we are all part of it.”
AXEL WEIMANN, Director Global Segment Automotive, Trucks & Transportation

Segment Focus

Automotive
Automotive, Trucks & Transportation

eMobility is the biggest revolution in the automotive industry in recent decades.
Manufacturers and their component suppliers rely on innovative and robust sealing technology to meet their demanding high-volume requirements.


Talks focused on:


  • The future is now – eMobility
  • Evolving material landscape – why new compounds are necessary
  • Multicomponent technology – adding value for customers
  • Optimizing the performance of high-speed e-Axles
  • Enjoy the silence – eliminating vibration
Fluid-power
Fluid Power

At the forefront of sealing technology, innovations, such as Lubrication Management maximize the lifetime of hydraulic systems and of fluid power components, ensuring reliable, long-lasting operation.

Talks focused on:


  • Meeting customer needs in the fluid power industry
  • The Orkot® Slydring® family – a solution for every system
  • Nexus 2.0. – the new line of face seals
  • Maximizing the performance of hydraulic systems
Semicon
Semicon

Rapidly evolving technology, promising huge growth, drives semiconductor manufacturers’ innovation. Specially engineered sealing materials help reduce total cost of ownership and accelerate time to market.

Talks focused on:


  • Serving the semiconductor industry as a solutions provider
  • Isolast® PureFab™ FFKM for advanced semiconductor processes
  • Advanced manufacturing capabilities to meet customer needs
Robotic
Drives and Motion

Automation and sustainability are propelling innovation in drives and motion control technology. State-of-the-art sealing solutions are custom-designed to meet the requirements of cutting-edge applications.

Talks focused on:


  • Global but local – solutions for the robotics industry
  • Radial oil seals in focus
  • Sealing innovations for robotic equipment
  • Maximizing the performance of hydraulic systems
Factory
Food & Beverage Processing

Optimizing production, enhancing efficiency, and meeting the highest quality and food safety requirements are critical. High-performance sealing materials keep even the most challenging applications running.

Talks focused on:


  • Trelleborg's commitment to food & beverage processing
  • Food contact regulations – how to ensure compliance
  • FoodPro® materials ensure safe sealing in food processing
  • CO2 capture – cheers to a sustainable beer

Sustainability

An important theme at the Virtual Conference was 'Protecting the Essential' through sustainability improvements, which are key to our future. Trelleborg's sustainability work focuses on areas that create long-term value for our customers, improve product performance and support the creation of a circular economy.

Talks included:


  • Sustainable material and product solutions: How the flow of materials can be improved along the production chain, and how we can move toward a circular economy.
  • Sealing challenges of the future: Hydrogen is key in the global efforts to reduce emissions. Sealing the smallest gas molecule of the universe is challenging, but not impossible.
  • Environmentally friendly & energy efficient applications: How we help our customers become more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
  • Reducing the challenge of friction with innovative surface treatments: We analyze different root causes and compare options to minimize friction and reduce energy usage.
Find out more about our vision to be carbon neutral by 2035 in Trelleborg Group's latest Sustainability Report. Download the report:
“Whatever we do in our manufacturing facilities and whatever we buy will not cause additional greenhouse gas emissions. That's what wemean by net zero.”
PROF. DR. KONRAD SAUR
Screen-shot
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

At the Virtual Conference visitors could interact via polls or use the chat function on the new online event platform.

34% of respondents said that adoption of digital solutions in manufacturing processes is a key challenge in transforming their processes.

65% of respondents agreed that sustainability should be considered in the future of manufacturing.
24% of respondents said that sustainable solutions and zero emissions are key priorities for the future.