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04-february-2021

Metalfabrication Industry: 2 big changes we can expect in 2021

Industry, Metalwork

When we all expected to see a light at the end of the tunnel, the cases of COVID-19 started to get worse. So what can we expect from this new year? How will the Metalworking Industry react?

Besides being a year of great challenges worldwide, 2020 was also a year of great and deep changes in the industrial paradigm. The periods of mandatory confinement and the need to create social distance, have resulted in a great impulse for digital transformation in several companies and industries.

However, what’s the impact of these changes for 2021?
 

1. REORGANIZATION OF PRODUCTION CHAINS

Taking into account the (still) unknown development of this pandemic and already preparing for a long-term recovery, many companies have already started to rethink their production methods. The focus is making their production chains more effective and accurate, countering the impediments imposed by COVID-19.

The density of workers "on the factory floor", typical in this kind of industry, means that companies have to create conditions of distance to protect their employees and their business. This need, combined with the funds that are being allocated by the different governments, can be the ultimate “push” for several companies to start betting on the automation of their productive process.

Therefore, is expected that “new users” will start looking for robotic solutions that are turnkey, easy to install, program and use. This need may create a window of opportunity to bet on the development of collaborative robots and its applications.

Almost like anticipating this change of paradigm, Motofil has been working over the years with several companies looking for solutions to improve their work and production conditions. If you don't know where to start, get in touch with us.

 

2. REINFORCE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF DIGITAL CONTACT TOOLS FOR SALES

If in 2020, meetings via Skype or Zoom were part of the contingency plan of many companies, in 2021, this form of contact will be part of our day-to-day.

The “obligation” to use this type of contact tools has forced many companies to invest in more efficient network infrastructure in order to become more digital. Faced with the advantages of this type of tools (less travel costs, less travel time...) it is expected that this practice will continue for awhile.

Also, in 2020, we saw all the tradeshows being canceled one by one and 2021 does not present major improvements in this area. With a still uncontrolled pandemic worldwide, many of the tradeshows announced for the first semester of the month start to be postponed. It still remains a small hope that the scenario will be different on the second half of 2021. Without tradeshows or any kind of travalling on there agenda, the sales team will have to redirect their efforts for a more digital strategy.

In an attempt to counter the effects of the pandemic, many tradeshow promoters have been betting on virtual meetings and webinars in order to bring companies and potential customers closer together. They have also offered platforms for companies to enhance their products throughout the year. Despite all the efforts to digitize industrial fairs, the vast majority believe that, especially for the B2B industry, there will always be a need for a face-to-face interaction between the company and the buyer, therefore, as soon as possible, major events in the metalworking industry will be back, maintaining their number of visitors.

 

Motofil, like many other companies, used this challenging times to review it’s standard range of robotic and cutting products (we may have some news later this year!) to make sure that the solutions we provide are suitable to help the companies to face this new challenges. Besides that, we continue working in projects for the Industry 4.0. One of the projects is implementing FANUC’s MT LINKi to our solutions, so the operator can access the machine remotely.

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