Marko Sydänlammi is the Global Product Line Manager for Flatness Systems at ABB Measurement & Analytics. With over 33 years of experience across product management, operations, engineering and sales, he has worked extensively in the battery, metals, paper and converting industries. At ABB, he oversees the end-to-end growth and development of flatness systems, focusing on portfolio management, footprint analysis, and business strategy. Marko holds a Master of Science in Mechanics and Computer Science from Linköping University, Sweden. In an interview for e-Magazine The World of ALuminium Flat Rolled Products, Marko Sydänlammi talks about innovative solutions to measure flatness, thickness and tension that hold the key to enhance accuracy, reliability and longevity in the FRP sector.

AL Circle: In the context of increased digitalisation, how does ABB’s integration of IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) and edge computing technologies improve real-time decision-making and reduce waste in aluminium flat-rolled production? What impact do these innovations have on operational efficiency?

Marko Sydanlammi: Our products help our customers optimise quality, productivity, and yield by measuring and controlling them accurately throughout their processes. For us, IIoT opens new opportunities for condition monitoring of equipment and processes. We have customers who use our sensors to detect anomalies in their production, as well as their overall mill behaviour and mill output. If the sensors detect that the characteristics of the mill change, we can help operators identify and rectify issues and suggest solutions for using our equipment to automatically respond to and handle those changes. Controlled PostRolling Flatness is another example where our technologies minimise post-processing and eliminate the need for, e.g. tension levelling.

AL Circle: The aluminium industry faces a growing skills gap, with experienced operators retiring faster than they are being replaced. How is ABB leveraging automation and AI-driven technologies to support producers in addressing this challenge? What role does digitalisation play in creating a more autonomous and efficient production environment?

Marko Sydanlammi: As ABB’s force measurement business, we offer automatic solutions for flatness measurement and control and condition monitoring, which reduce the need for skilled operators and skilled service personnel. A lot of intelligence is built into the products that enable them to automatically respond to changing conditions. This helps to reduce the need for highly trained operators by removing the need for manual adjustments to machine settings and equipment, such as the mechanical and thermal actuators that control the flatness process. The ABB solutions enable accurate preventive maintenance with minimum production disturbances.

To explore the full interview and gain deeper insights into the global aluminium market and how ABB is contributing to its growth, click here.