Robotics & Automation News

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New research: Massive rise in warehouse robots predicted

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A recent report from ABI Research estimates that shipments of global commercial and collaborative robots in e-commerce fulfilment will reach 443,000 units in 2026, 20 times more than current shipments in 2018.

This includes squat mobile platforms in goods-to-person systems, autonomous mobile robots with manipulators, last mile delivery robots, and collaborative robots.

Two major types of customers in e-commerce fulfilment are the major-e-retailers and third-party logistics service providers who engage in the contract logistics business. Currently, warehousing, order processing, and last mile delivery are all extremely labour intensive.

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Omron introduces the NX1-Series controller

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Omron Corporation announced the global release in April of its new NX1-Series Machine Automation Controller.

It will also release the NX-HAD4xx High-speed Analog Input Unit (*1) and NX-SL5xxx Safety CPU Unit (*2) that can be used with the NX1 Series, helping address manufacturing innovation challenges including the strengthening of quality control and flexible safety measures.

Manufacturers are now driving visualization of machine and process status, predictive maintenance to prevent downtime, and other information utilization approaches to further improve productivity.

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Delta demonstrates smart manufacturing capabilities at Hannover

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Delta, a provider of industrial automation solutions, unveiled its integrated smart factory and energy management solutions at Hannover Messe 2018.

Delta’s High-Flexibility Multi-Tasking Smart Production Line features integration of our digital manufacturing monitoring platforms, IIoT technologies, three robot workstations and a smart conveyor to let visitors perform on-site order processing and real-time monitoring of the customized production process.

In addition, the new 3D Vision Inspection System enhances logistics efficiency through precise package shape and dimension identification.

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Comau presents its vision of the future at automotive summit

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Comau presented its vision of the future at the 4th Automotive Advanced Manufacturing Technology Summit in Guangzhou, China this month. The summit brought together more than 1,000 professionals from the automotive industry.

“It’s an honour to present our vision of digital transformation and smart manufacturing,” said Mauro Anselmetto, CEO of Comau China and ASEAN.

“Digitalization is transforming the industry in amazing ways. Comau approaches Industry 4.0 with easy to use solutions, value-added manufacturing solutions, and human-robot collaboration. HUMANufacturing, as we call it, is our way to Industry 4.0.

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Orange Business Services and Siemens partner on IoT solutions

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Orange Business Services and Siemens have joined forces to drive the adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the industrial sector by simplifying integration and promoting IoT innovation.

The initial focus will be to develop solutions around asset tracking and asset monitoring to optimize the supply chain and improve efficiencies, as well as to develop digitally enhanced products and create new business models.

The partnership will help businesses connect their machines and physical infrastructure to the digital world, allowing them to translate the wealth of data they produce into business results. Advanced analytics and digital services will help them increase productivity and efficiency across their business.

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Robots boost profitability at machining company

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A multi-axis machining firm is leveraging the benefits of Universal Robots supplied by Raruk Automation to load and unload its machine tools.

A mix of seven UR5 and UR10 robots have helped Rousant Sherwood maximise the productivity of its workforce by automating repetitive tasks and allowed the company to bid for contracts which would have otherwise been unprofitable.

Rousant Sherwood Manufacturing (RSM) is a family-owned company based at Henley-on-Thames, UK, which has been specialising in the subcontract manufacture of complex machined components for over 40 years. [Read more…] about Robots boost profitability at machining company

Ensign-Bickford acquires Avior Control Technologies

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Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc. (EBI) has acquired Avior Control Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Longmont, Colorado.

Avior Controls was founded in 2010 by Scott Starin with the charter to provide the highest performance, highest reliability motion-control components, coupled with world-class service and support.

Avior is engaged in the design and manufacture of custom, highly reliable, and space-rated motors, gearboxes, dampers, transducers, and actuators for the space, aerospace, and down-hole industries.

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Audi opts for FRS Robotics quality control on car doors

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FRS Robotics has introduced a new adaptive robot cell that automates the highly sensitive ultrasonic inspection of fold glue joints of Audi vehicle doors.

Vehicle door types consist of metal sheet inner and outer parts which are glued, plied and welded along the door edges. Ultrasonic inspection is performed manually to verify correct glue bonding.

Audi asked FRS Robotics to automate the highly sensitive ultrasonic quality control of the doors’ fold glue joints.

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Toshiba and Nebbiolo sign an industrial IoT partnership deal

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Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation (Toshiba) and Nebbiolo Technologies Inc. (Nebbiolo) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to deploy industrial IoT solutions using fog computing technology.

As strategic partners, a complete suite of infrastructure products will be developed, driving new business supporting industrial IoT architecture and specifications.

The partnership establishes a large-scale initiative in the factory IoT domain to address modernizing the ageing fleet of hardware and software currently deployed on industrial automation floors using a virtualized fog platform.

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Universal Robots brings cobots to NPE2018 plastics show

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Universal Robots (UR) will make its debut at the NPE2018 in Orlando, USA, May 7-11, showing the new Kanga Poucher from RND Automation & Engineering.

Kanga is a vertical form/fill/seal pouching system that forms four-sided pouches for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and durable goods industries.

The system integrates with a UR cobot loading products into the pouches before the fourth, “top” seal is made after the product is indexed through the sealing gasket.

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