Robotics & Automation News

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manufacturing

ForwardX Robotics raises $31 million in Series C funding round

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ForwardX Robotics, a Beijing-based developer of autonomous mobile robots for warehousing and manufacturing environments, has completed its initial Series C1 funding round, raising $31 million.

The initial round was led by Taikang Life Insurance, with Qualcomm Ventures and Starlight Capital also contributing to the round.

Only seven months after the close of its $63 million Series B round, the latest round of funding brings ForwardX to approximately $100 million in total investment since its founding in 2016. [Read more…] about ForwardX Robotics raises $31 million in Series C funding round

Sydney’s ‘factory of the future’ open and ready to drive statewide innovation

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A $25 million facility has today been launched to drive innovation and foster industrial output in the heart of Sydney’s Tech Central. The facility is a foundational node for complementary facilities that support the NSW Government’s projects at Western Sydney Aerotropolis and Western Sydney parklands.

Located in the Engineering precinct of the University of Sydney’s Darlington campus, the Sydney Manufacturing Hub is a new manufacturing-focused research facility that will work alongside industry to deliver cutting-edge R&D in additive manufacturing and materials processing.

It is geared to enable concept-to-production demonstration capabilities, including advanced pre- and post-processing of materials for faculty, students, small and medium-sized companies, and, if needed, larger companies to experience and leverage metal 3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing) and advanced manufacturing – often for the first time. [Read more…] about Sydney’s ‘factory of the future’ open and ready to drive statewide innovation

Stanley Engineered Fastening achieves automated quality inspection with Universal Robots

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Universal Robots, the world’s leading collaborative robot provider, says Stanley Engineered Fastening has successfully introduced robotic quality inspection using its collaborative robots.

15 UR3e cobots act as key components in its brand-new cells for Breakstem autonomous manufacture which have reduced product costs by approximately 10 percent and shortened lead times by up to 70 percent.

They are producing approximately 350 million fasteners per annum from across the company’s product range. [Read more…] about Stanley Engineered Fastening achieves automated quality inspection with Universal Robots

ABB and Zume to accelerate transition away from single use plastics

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ABB Robotics has signed an agreement to collaborate with California-based Zume, a global provider of innovative, compostable packaging.

ABB will supply robotic cells that will enable Zume’s production of sustainable packaging on a global scale, helping to reduce reliance on single-use plastics.

ABB will integrate and install more than 1,000 molded fiber manufacturing cells (MFC) – including up to 2,000 robots at Zume customer’s sites worldwide over the next five years. [Read more…] about ABB and Zume to accelerate transition away from single use plastics

Omron invests in collaborative robot company Techman Robot

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Industrial giant Omron has reached an agreement for a capital investment in Techman Robot, believed to be the world’s second-largest collaborative robot brand.

Omron will hold a stake of approximately 10 percent in Techman. The investment is expected to be completed by December 2021.

In 2018, Omron entered into a strategic alliance with Techman to meet the increasing automation needs generated by labour shortages. [Read more…] about Omron invests in collaborative robot company Techman Robot

Manufacturing operations management: A high-value starting point for digital transformation

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The hunger for transformation among industry players is at an all-time high. But at the same time, organizations want lower risk options to digitalize the shop floor.

To reduce the number of isolated, inflexible solutions, manufacturers will want to seek a connected, scalable and sustainable platform approach that enables them to simultaneously maintain high levels of throughput, quality and customer service – while creating opportunities for sustainable innovation.

This is where a Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) solution comes into play. The experts at 3DS Delmia, part of the Dassault Systèmes Group, take a closer look at MOM and how it can be so impactful for your business. [Read more…] about Manufacturing operations management: A high-value starting point for digital transformation

Enabling manufacturing innovation with the virtual twin experience

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Manufacturers in just about every industry are already embracing the reality of Industry 4.0 – that the digital transformation of factories is necessary, replacing manual processes with automated systems in cyber-physical smart factories.

This is crucial to manufacturers as challenges caused by global disruptions can make it even more challenging for them to ramp up production to satisfy ever-volatile market demands.

There are many subtle differences in the obstacles faced by manufacturers in different industries, but there are also a few key challenges that all manufacturers have in common. Having a limited number of assembly lines makes it difficult for manufacturers to keep up with the rising demand for customised products as well as the accelerating rate of innovation (and by extension, obsolescence) in new products.

Many manufacturers still lack the visibility required to respond to supply and demand volatility in an agile manner. At the same time, it can be challenging to be mindful of the growing list of certifications required and regulations that manufacturers need to comply with – in addition to the growing pressure for manufacturers to shift towards more sustainable practices. [Read more…] about Enabling manufacturing innovation with the virtual twin experience

Universal Robots’ latest results are ‘a strong indication of growth to come’, says president

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Collaborative industrial robot maker Universal Robots’ latest results are “a strong indication” of future growth, says its president, Kim Poylsen.

Universal Robots, which has just released its Q3 results for 2021, has reported record quarterly revenue of $78 million, up 46 percent on last year’s Q3 revenue and 31 percent up from its pre-pandemic Q3 revenue of 2019.

Since creating the world’s first commercially viable collaborative robot in 2008, the Danish company has gone on to sell over 50,000 of its ‘cobots’ for use across a range of industrial uses, primarily in the manufacturing sector. [Read more…] about Universal Robots’ latest results are ‘a strong indication of growth to come’, says president

SME and CESMII partner to accelerate smart manufacturing adoption

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SME, a non-profit professional association dedicated to advancing manufacturing, and CESMII – The Smart Manufacturing Institute, are partnering to drive smart manufacturing further and faster by aligning their resources and educating the industry, helping companies boost productivity, build a strong talent pipeline, and reduce manufacturers’ carbon footprint.

Robert Willig, CEO, SME, says: “The past decade has revealed an unprecedented flattening and even decline in our manufacturing productivity by (per average) worker.

“Together, CESMII and SME will optimize our strengths and resources to accelerate the transformation and democratization of the smart manufacturing ecosystem and jumpstart productivity.” [Read more…] about SME and CESMII partner to accelerate smart manufacturing adoption

AGV vs AMR: What are the differences and which one do you need in your facility

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Today’s manufacturing and logistics industry is facing significant challenges to upgrade and optimize business processes to meet the demands of a modern economy.

Advances in technology make it possible to create more efficient and productive systems through automation and digitization.

Global industrial automation is worth approximately $200 billion – and according to the latest market research study by ResearchAndMarkets.com, AGV and AMR Market is expected to reach $13.2 Billion by 2026 with a growth rate of around 35%. [Read more…] about AGV vs AMR: What are the differences and which one do you need in your facility