Two experts for the SME sector: KUKA and T-Systems sign partnership for Industrie 4.0

KUKA and T-Systems make companies fit for digitalization. To this end, the automation specialist and the IT service provider have now agreed on a partnership. They are putting together a solution package for digitized production.

30 July 2020

The corona pandemic is driving digitisation in all industries. German SMEs are also increasingly focusing on automation and digitization. KUKA and T-Systems offer digital solution packages to small and medium-sized companies. This means that companies in the manufacturing industry can benefit immediately from digitization. Michael Otto, Chief Sales Officer at KUKA Robotics, Frank Strecker, SVP Public Cloud Managed Services at T-Systems and Thomas Weber, VP Platform as a Service at T-Systems, signed a joint agreement in Augsburg today.

Michael Otto and Frank Strecker signed a joint agreement in Augsburg today

Joint service package for the manufacturing industry

Robots and software from KUKA offer many possibilities. From small production cells to entire lines in almost all industries, many tasks can be reliably automated with the support of robots. Matching software brings additional benefits. "Our digital services make robots intelligent. Customers can benefit from data acquisition and processing. The information can be analyzed and processed to avoid or minimize unplanned downtime. In this way, the availability of the systems can be maximized. In addition, manufacturing processes and production times are optimized and costs for servicing and maintenance are reduced," says Michael Otto.

Digitization at bundle price

Integrating robots into the IT infrastructure and connecting digital services at the same time is challenging for many customers. Small companies and medium-sized businesses often lack resources and know-how. T-Systems solves this problem with its "Edge" portfolio. The company offers all IT services from a single source. These include servers, integration, maintenance and support, and security. In this way, robots, IT hardware and IT services merge into a single unit. This can be easily integrated and used efficiently.

Michael Otto, Chief Sales Officer at KUKA Robotics

Choosing the best of both worlds

"In order to significantly increase the overall plant efficiency of the automation solution at the customer's site, powerful IT at the edge is required," explains Frank Strecker. "For many customers, however, infrastructure and digital services are not the focus of their activities. T-Systems is now closing this gap with powerful edge IT, managed services and data security." In concrete terms, this means for the customers: KUKA and T-Systems are supplying the robots and a complete digital package for the manufacturing operation.

Frank Strecker, SVP Public Cloud Managed Services at T-Systems

This consists of modular hardware, flexibly selectable digital and managed services. This supports IT departments. And ensures a fast return on investment. All data is processed in the customer's local IT infrastructure. Cloud connections are also possible on request. "With the Edge Services, together with KUKA, we ensure secure and precisely tailored automation solutions that exactly meet the needs of our customers," says Frank Strecker.

From left to right: Robert Kamischke, Julian Strauß, Michael Otto, Thomas Weber, Frank Strecker, Benjamin Todt, Jörg Winter

Perfect for beginners, changeovers and upcomers

Companies can thus use automation solutions at costs that can be planned exactly. Edge solutions from T-Systems are also ideal for companies that already use robots. Project-based or even product-related, manufacturing can be automated and digitized in whole or in part. The partnership is also open to system integrators. They can integrate their own services on the Edge servers. This reduces costs for maintenance and management.