Horizon, a developer of finishing solutions, is scheduled to host a Smart Factory event in October, showcasing fully autonomous production.
Horizon welcomes printers to “experience the future at the Horizon Innovation Park in Japan, where we will elevate factory automation and turn lights-out finishing into a reality.”
The lights-out concept is considered the ultimate goal in print production. Represented by Currie Group in Australia and New Zealand, Horizon characterizes the global skill and labor shortages as 'dire.' They assert that the Horizon Smart Factory 2024 will “push the limits of automation to achieve fully autonomous printing, finishing, packaging, and other logistics using advanced technologies,” which include AGVs and AMRs (automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots), robotics, and AI.
“The Smart Factory event will showcase automated production of stitched and perfect bound books and booklets as well as other products, from offset and digitally printed sheets, from start to finish.” said Alan Tam, category manager - Equipment at Currie Group.
The 'lights-out' area will showcase a variety of Smart Factory technologies, such as workflow software, robotics, AGVs and AMRs, as well as inline digital presses, enabling production to continue even in complete darkness.
Horizon envisions a seamless integration of printers, finishing equipment, and workflow systems to transition from repetitive, labor-intensive tasks to “more fulfilling work, while achieving a good work-life balance.”
Much like the successful Hunkeler InnovationDays in Switzerland, the Horizon Smart Factory will feature a variety of print and associated developers operating production lines with Horizon finishing. Participating companies will include Canon, Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, Ricoh, Riso, Ryobi MHI, and Screen.
To register your interest for the event, which will take place from October 2-4 at the Horizon Innovation Park in Kyoto, please click HERE to contact Currie Group.
