Tawesco in Kopřivnice is testing Smart Factory. It is based on T-Mobile's 5G network.
A pilot project called Smart Factory – the intelligent factory of the future – has been launched at the Kopřivnice plant of Tawesco, part of the Promet Group engineering group. Its data backbone is a private 5G network built in cooperation with T-Mobile.
The network already connects the first dozens of devices – from mobile devices, production machines, and equipment to handling technology. In the future, the entire plant may be connected to the network, which will enable the introduction of autonomous systems and significantly streamline operations management.
The private network based on Ericsson technology covers an area of approximately 5,000 m². It was created in cooperation with T-Mobile. Tawesco is one of the first industrial companies in the Czech Republic to embark on a project of this type. It is one of the key suppliers to leading European car manufacturers, agricultural machinery manufacturers, and forestry and handling equipment manufacturers, supplying them with pressing tools, moldings, and weldments. Thanks to its size, complexity, and technological openness, it is an ideal environment for developing the concept of the smart factory of the future.
"At this stage, it is a proof of concept, which will allow us to verify the applicability of the technical solution in a real production environment. The intention is to extend it to the entire plant and to other companies in the Promet Group. Let's imagine the 5G network as the nervous system of a living organism. It perceives stimuli from individual components and at the same time enables their coordinated control," explains Radim Matera, member of the Promet Group's board of directors responsible for innovation.
Private 5G networks play a key role in similar projects, enabling the secure and seamless interconnection of various technologies and devices across the entire production and logistics operation. They are absolutely essential for the introduction of autonomous devices, which, thanks to a stable and fast connection, can function effectively even in the demanding conditions of industrial production. "The private 5G network in Stand-Alone mode that we have deployed at Tawescu ensures not only fast response times but also a high level of security. This project clearly shows that modern technology and innovation have a firm place in Czech industry," says Luboš Lukasík, Director of the Corporate Customer Division at T-Mobile.
"We have already connected several dozen machines and mobile devices to the network, and we are currently testing handling equipment and the possibilities of connecting AGV vehicles. We will gradually expand the number of individual devices and, in particular, develop an application superstructure that can connect and control machines in real time based on AI. The goal is to create a living digital ecosystem that will enable, for example, fully autonomous control of forklifts or cranes in the future," says Jaroslav Smrž, IT Director of the Promet Group.
"The future of industrial production is a symbiotic ecosystem of people and technology. Not only us, but the entire Czech industry must follow this path in order to remain competitive in the face of global pressure. Modern technology will enable us to produce faster, more efficiently, and also in a more environmentally friendly manner. I am glad that our colleagues at Tawesco have enthusiastically embarked on this fascinating and challenging journey of transformation. They are thus becoming a model for other companies in the Promet Group in the field of innovation," adds Radim Matera.
For more information, please contact:
Pavel Barvík
Marketing and Communications Director, Promet Group
Tel. +420 602 266 815
e-mail: pavel.barvik@prometgroup.eu
