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Sector spotlight: Record growth of semiconductor market good sign for industrial robot manufacturers

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The global semiconductor market is growing at a phenomenal rate, evidence of which can be seen by anyone who cares to look around them.

Almost everyone on Earth either directly or indirectly uses some sort of device or machine which contains semiconductor technology.

And in some ways, this is just the beginning of the semiconductor revolution.

As Kawasaki Robotics notes on its website: “In the space of a generation, the semiconductor industry has evolved from a niche specialty to a fundamental driver of the global economy.”  [Read more…] about Sector spotlight: Record growth of semiconductor market good sign for industrial robot manufacturers

30 industrial robot manufacturers to watch

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2018 looks all set to be a bumper year for sales of industrial robot arms across all categories – from the large, heavyweight class right down to the small desktop variety. 

With established robot makers expanding their range, and with new startups launching innovative new models, the market is more dynamic than ever.

Oversupply may be a problem going forward, especially as Chinese robot manufacturers step up their production, but even including the new companies entering the market, the number of industry-standard robot makers worldwide is relatively small.  [Read more…] about 30 industrial robot manufacturers to watch

Progress in sensors present a ‘huge opportunity’ to advance automotive market, says Osram Opto Semiconductors

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More reliable sensor technology will increase the speed to market for semi-autonomous vehicles, and provide a more comfortable and safe journey for drivers, says Osram Opto Semiconductors

Today’s automotive market is a showcase of some of the most important next-generation technologies, as vehicle manufacturers are among the first to adopt the latest technology developments, including the use of visible and invisible light for state of the art sensor technology, to create the ultimate driving and passenger experience.

Therefore, the work from leading companies like Osram Opto Semiconductors plays an important role to realise real-life applications for sensors in safety, security and comfort.  [Read more…] about Progress in sensors present a ‘huge opportunity’ to advance automotive market, says Osram Opto Semiconductors

Bend it like Comeco: Nord helps Swedish company to improve rebar bending process

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Looking for ways to improve their machines’ usability and to economize on manufacturing costs, the Swedish company Comeco decided to launch a new line of rebar benders with electric drives instead of hydraulics.

Nord DriveSystems supported the company from the early planning phase through to production, configuring an AC vector drive with an integrated programmable logic controller that controls all machine functions.

The current solution is simpler, more robust, and easier to maintain, says Comeco. In addition to substantial savings for procured parts, the assembly time was halved.  [Read more…] about Bend it like Comeco: Nord helps Swedish company to improve rebar bending process

The big feature: Urban mobility in China – why car sharing is set to take off

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By Klaus Schmitz, Arthur D. Little

China’s dominating chauffer companies, Didi and Uber China, merged in 2016, wrapping up a history of fierce competition for the city-mobility market.

The two are now left with a huge shared customer pool that knows a lot about their choices for mobility.

The new phase being ushered in is car sharing, which is poised for explosive growth across China.

In this article, Klaus Schmitz of consultancy firm Arthur D Little examines the market dynamics and the major hurdles, and makes predictions for the future of the Chinese car-sharing scene.  [Read more…] about The big feature: Urban mobility in China – why car sharing is set to take off

General Electric to shed 12,000 jobs as electric future opens up

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General Electric’s recent decision to reduce its employee numbers by 12,000 globally indicate how important it thinks the trend of electric power will become, or perhaps has already become. 

The significant job losses will come from the GE Power division. GE says the decision is part of its overall restructuring.

The company acknowledges that the growth in renewables is part of the reason for the cost-cutting measures.  [Read more…] about General Electric to shed 12,000 jobs as electric future opens up

Nidec says it’s on target to become ‘number one’ in industrial motors and drive systems

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Nidec Industrial Solutions claims it is on course to become number one in its market segment of industrial motors and drive systems, ahead of companies such as Siemens and General Electric.

In a statement, Nidec says: “As competitors like GE and Siemens announce major cuts and reorganizations of their industrial assets Nidec continues to invest in growth.”

The company further underlines its confidence with the comment: “The road to the top is never easy and if you are a relative newcomer to the industrial sector you have to contend with the force and reputation of some very strong, well-consolidated brands.  [Read more…] about Nidec says it’s on target to become ‘number one’ in industrial motors and drive systems

Technical guide: Fanuc panel keyboard keys overview

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Contributed by MRO Electric, an independent factory automation distributor 

Fanuc Alarm keys: These keys are located on the machine panel that displays alarm intelligence for the machine panel. MRO Electric has several Fanuc part numbers starting with A06B, A20B, and A16B in-stock here. These keys differ from the alarm keys correlated with the control panel.

Fanuc Auto key: This is the key on the CNC machine (including the A16B, A17B & A20B product line) that reshapes the operation mode to automatic. Automatic mode authorizes an operator to contact and execute a part program stored in memory. Automatic mode is called memory mode on some CNC controls at times.

A safety function that determines if the tool has moved beyond its set boundaries. Forbidden zones can be programmed to specify areas where the tool can and cannot enter.  [Read more…] about Technical guide: Fanuc panel keyboard keys overview

SPS at the nexus of IT and OT convergence

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There seems to be more interest in the SPS IPC Drives event this year than there was last year. 

It’s noticeable to us here at the website because we have received many more press releases and articles talking about the event.

But there could also be another reason. It’s very likely that the trend of connecting machinery to the internet and computerising production processes is the real reason behind the growing interest in the event.  [Read more…] about SPS at the nexus of IT and OT convergence

New study: Industrial cameras, technical features, and market

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Each year, in cooperation with the trade journals Vision Systems Design and Inspect, industrial imaging company Framos identifies technical and commercial trends in the industry based on users’ and manufacturers’ views.

For this 10th market study, 90 manufacturers and users from 22 countries responded to questions about the status quo of the imaging market, and its ongoing development.

In the age of automation and the smart factory, classic machine vision is the cornerstone of success for the Imaging industry.

CMOS technology and fast processing are enabling real-time precision, while cognitive vision solutions using artificial intelligence are the bases for further growth.  [Read more…] about New study: Industrial cameras, technical features, and market