Robotics & Automation News

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Plus Automation wins its first robotics-as-a-service contract

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Logistics and supply chain technology startup Plus Automation has won its first robotics-as-a-service contract with Jun Co, a Japanese company with diversified interests including fashion, food and fitness products. 

The company was jointly established in June 2019 and is 60 per cent owned by Mitsui, a Japanese conglomerate, and GLP Japan, said to be the largest Japanese logistics company but also has real estate and other interests.

The contract between Plus and Jun consists of a standard annual subscription together with the option to add robots when cargo volumes increase, making it “a highly convenient service package”, says Plus. [Read more…] about Plus Automation wins its first robotics-as-a-service contract

GROUND unveils new autonomous mobile robot for warehouses

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GROUND has unveiled a new autonomous collaborative robot that will start selling in Japan at the end of 2019.

The autonomous mobile robot was exhibited at the Daiwa House Group booth at the “1st Kansai Logistics Exhibition” held at INTEX Osaka recently.

GROUND is jointly researching and developing the machine jointly with China’s leading robot company HIT Robot Group. [Read more…] about GROUND unveils new autonomous mobile robot for warehouses

Hanwha to supply $300 million of aircraft engine components to GE

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Hanwha Aerospace has signed a $300 million contract to supply cutting-edge aircraft engine components to General Electric, the US conglomerate and one of the leading aircraft engine manufacturers in the world and a top supplier for Boeing.

Hanwha Aerospace will supply GE with 46 types of engine components for GE’s GE9X and LEAP engine.

The GE9X is GE’s most advanced engine and expected to enter commercial production in 2020 while the LEAP is the world’s best-selling aircraft engine. [Read more…] about Hanwha to supply $300 million of aircraft engine components to GE

AutoStore wins prestigious prize at the European Business Awards

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Norwegian robotics company AutoStore won Business of the Year with Turnover of €150 million or higher at the European Business Awards presented earlier this week in Warsaw, Poland. 

The Awards are one of the most established business competitions, which recognises Europe’s leading companies each year.

Headquartered in Nedre Vats in Rogaland, AutoStore is one of the world leaders in high-density storage with an existing award-winning robotic cube-based, storage and retrieval system that has transformed the logistics and delivery process for businesses across the globe. [Read more…] about AutoStore wins prestigious prize at the European Business Awards

Blue Ocean Robotics raises $12 million to develop service robotics market

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Blue Ocean Robotics, said to be the “world’s first” robot venture factory, has raised almost $12 million to develop its position in the service robotics market.

Blue Ocean Robotics is entering new robot markets with service robots for the healthcare, hospitality, construction and agriculture industries.

The new investment is described as a recognition of the strength of Blue Ocean Robotics’ business model and success. [Read more…] about Blue Ocean Robotics raises $12 million to develop service robotics market

Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry, says DHL

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DHL, the world’s largest logistics company, has highlighted technologies such as robotics and digitalisation in a new strategy, which it unveiled at its Bering Technology Campus – or “Smart Warehouse” – in the Netherlands.

“Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry”, says DHL, and these technologies are central to the company’s Strategy 2025, launched by Oscar de Bok, CEO DHL Supply Chain last week amid ever-greater challenges facing the logistics industry.

DHL Supply Chain already runs one of its Smart Warehouses and serves customers across Europe with “highly automated and digitalized” contract logistics solutions. [Read more…] about Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry, says DHL

ABB collaborative robot to provide faster lab analysis for Semcon

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Product development company Semcon says it is providing faster analysis of samples for an international laboratory company thanks to a collaborative robot from ABB.

The company says it set out with the objective of creating a faster, safer process and of freeing up time for laboratory personnel so that they can focus on more advanced tasks.

Laboratory work often involves a number of monotonous and repetitive elements that can be streamlined by means of automation. [Read more…] about ABB collaborative robot to provide faster lab analysis for Semcon

Advanced Navigation raises $13 million to ‘transform’ robotics and self-driving cars

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Robotics and artificial intelligence sensor developer Advanced Navigation has raised $13 million in a Series A funding.

The investment round was led by Main Sequence Ventures’ CSIRO Innovation Fund, alongside US venture firms Brick & Mortar Ventures and In-Q-Tel.

The round will fund a significant global expansion for Advanced Navigation and accelerate research and development programs for what the company describes as “transformative new robotics, navigation and sensor technologies”. [Read more…] about Advanced Navigation raises $13 million to ‘transform’ robotics and self-driving cars

Geek+ smart warehouses break Single’s Day record with 8 million orders delivered in 72 hours

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Geek+ says it implemented and completed large-scale scheduling of more than 4,000 robots in its smart warehouses during this year’s 11.11 Singles’ Day shopping festival.

China’s largest smart warehouse network processed a record 8 million orders in 72 hours.

Geek+ says “the successful deployment is a fantastic validation of the strength of the robotics-as-a-service business model” and the flexibility and efficiency of smart warehouses during periods of peak orders, including the ultimate challenge of the world’s largest shopping festival. [Read more…] about Geek+ smart warehouses break Single’s Day record with 8 million orders delivered in 72 hours

Invertek Drives boosts product testing with collaborative robots

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Invertek Drives, a designer and manufacturer of variable frequency drives (VFDs), has incorporated two Universal Robots UR5 collaborative robots into the testing phase of its production line.

Earlier this year, Invertek Drives opened the doors to its new 5,500 square metre global manufacturing and distribution facility in Welshpool, UK, enabling production of up to 400,000 VFDs a year.

Its VFDs are used to control electric motors in a variety of industrial, commercial and energy-saving applications, exporting to more than 80 countries. [Read more…] about Invertek Drives boosts product testing with collaborative robots