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manufacturing

Teradyne leads $20 million funding round for MachineMetrics

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MachineMetrics, an industrial data startup that helps improve manufacturing performance through autonomous machining, has raised $20 million in Series B financing.

The company will use the funding to scale its platform globally and democratize access to the machine insights that power manufacturing operations.

Bill Bither, co-founder and CEO of MachineMetrics, says: “Manufacturing is on the brink of a digital renaissance. The intersection of software, big data and physical machinery is the next frontier for manufacturing and a proven solution for overcoming the production and labor shortages we are experiencing right now. [Read more…] about Teradyne leads $20 million funding round for MachineMetrics

Emerson unveils new ‘MTP’ process technology to speed up manufacturing

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Emerson has unveiled the integration of the emerging MTP process automation standard into its control systems, as part of a continued effort to help manufacturers increase speed-to-market and reduce project and operations costs.

Emerson is among the first automation vendors to support the User Association of Automation Technology in Process Industries’ (NAMUR) Module Type Package (MTP) standard for both distributed control systems (DCS) and programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

A key challenge for the process industries, particularly life sciences and chemical, is the time it takes to bring products to market or change operations to accommodate new products. [Read more…] about Emerson unveils new ‘MTP’ process technology to speed up manufacturing

Gideon Brothers raises $31 million Series A funding for its autonomous mobile robots

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Gideon Brothers, a robotics and AI solutions company, today announced it has raised a $31 million Series A investment to accelerate the development and commercialization of its AI and 3D vision-based autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

The company will also expand its manufacturing, sales, marketing, and customer success operations across key markets of the European Union and United States by opening offices in Munich, Germany and Boston, Massachusetts, respectively.

The Series A round was led by Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT), the venture and growth arm of Koch Industries, with participation from DB Schenker, Prologis Ventures, and Rite-Hite. [Read more…] about Gideon Brothers raises $31 million Series A funding for its autonomous mobile robots

SICK and Vention partner to bring enhanced robot guidance systems to manufacturers

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SICK is partnering with Vention, a next-generation manufacturing automation platform.

This partnership combines SICK’s PLB and PLOC2D systems with Vention’s manufacturing automation platform to accelerate the design and deployment of applications custom-built for robot guidance systems.

Vention’s cloud-based platform allows customers to design, automate, and deploy SICK robot guidance systems with 2D and 3D vision solutions for use in automated bin picking applications. [Read more…] about SICK and Vention partner to bring enhanced robot guidance systems to manufacturers

Vention to sell Fanuc collaborative robots online

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Vention, the cloud-based manufacturing automation platform, and Fanuc, a world-leading manufacturer of industrial robots, have agreed a new alliance in the field of collaborative robotics.

Centered around the Fanuc CRX cobot, this collaboration will enable prospective end-users, system integrators, and training centers to design and order complete, end-to-end robot cells directly from the Vention cloud platform. [Read more…] about Vention to sell Fanuc collaborative robots online

Maximising uptime in industrial robotics

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Castrol’s advanced lubricants for robotic applications are designed to reduce industrial robot downtime while having a positive effect on the quality, cost and efficiency of your production process.

Industrial robots have transformed manufacturing companies across every industry, helping to increase quality and efficiency while decrease costs.

However, the threat of unplanned downtime caused by robotic failure remains a challenge for factories looking to enhance levels of automation. A single minute of interruption can cost an automotive manufacturer dearly. [Read more…] about Maximising uptime in industrial robotics

Vention and OnRobot partner to offer ‘one-stop shop’ for cobot applications to manufacturers

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Vention, an online software application that offers manufacturing capabilities, is partnering with OnRobot, which makes tools for collaborative applications.

This partnership combines Vention’s online-first manufacturing automation platform with OnRobot’s library of plug-and-play end-of-arm tools to accelerate the design and deployment of end-to-end cobot applications.

Vention’s MAP provides users with the engineering software and modular hardware they need to design, automate, order, and deploy factory equipment in a single digital environment. [Read more…] about Vention and OnRobot partner to offer ‘one-stop shop’ for cobot applications to manufacturers

Hexagon and Plex Systems partner to offer smart manufacturing solutions

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Hexagon and Plex Systems are partnering to offer smart manufacturing solutions. The companies say the new partnership will provide manufacturers a path to greater automation and Industry 4.0 adoption.

Hexagon, a provider of sensor, software, and autonomous technologies, and Plex Systems, a cloud-delivered smart manufacturing solutions company, describe this as a new “strategic partnership”.

The global partnership will enable Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division and Plex to co-sell Plex MES to Hexagon manufacturing customers, helping them to take control of the plant floor through full visibility and connectivity and realize the promise of Industry 4.0. [Read more…] about Hexagon and Plex Systems partner to offer smart manufacturing solutions

Using robots to address the welder shortage

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Automated welding solutions are used across a range of industries, most commonly observed in the automotive industry where arc welding has been automated since the 1960s as a reliable method of manufacturing that increases accuracy, safety and efficiency.

The primary driver of automated welding solutions has always been a desire for reduced long term costs, increased reliability and productivity.

However, now there is a new driving force as robots are being used as a way of addressing the skills gap in the welding industry. More experienced welders are retiring in large numbers and there aren’t enough certified welders being trained to replace them. [Read more…] about Using robots to address the welder shortage

Carnegie Mellon awarded $150 million to develop robotics research facility

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The Richard King Mellon Foundation has awarded Carnegie Mellon University $150 million to support science and robotics research through the building of a new facility. 

Farnam Jahanian, CMU president, says: “Pittsburgh’s future – and the future of US innovation and global competitiveness – are inextricably linked to scientific and technological advances, and how well organizations, communities, and industries can stay ahead of the rapid pace of change.

“Carnegie Mellon is positioned at the forefront of science and innovation’s great promise, and this visionary grant will fuel the research and activities that will build this exciting future. [Read more…] about Carnegie Mellon awarded $150 million to develop robotics research facility