Where Innovation Meets Imagination
As the global manufacturing industry enters its fourth revolution, innovations such as robotics, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are set to take over. (1)
The number of active industrial robots worldwide is increasing by approximately 14% year on year, and automation continues to create new types of robots with improved utility and function. [Read more…] about The Role of Robotics and Automation in Industry 4.0
Robots have been used in automotive assembly lines for over 50 years. And now, automakers are using robotics in even more processes.
Why robots? They are efficient and dependable in production lines. They also bring supply chain automation to the automotive industry and make it one of the largest users of robots. [Read more…] about Robot Applications in Auto Manufacturing
Ultium Cells, a joint venture of LG Energy Solution and General Motors, is planning to make a “more than $2.3 billion investment” to build its second battery cell manufacturing plant in the United States. The facility will be located in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Ultium Cells will build the new plant on land leased from GM. The new battery cell plant will create 1,300 new jobs. Construction on the approximately 2.8 million-square-foot facility will begin immediately, and the plant is scheduled to open in late 2023. Once operational, the facility will supply battery cells to GM’s Spring Hill assembly plant.
Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO, says: “The addition of our second all-new Ultium battery cell plant in the US with our joint venture partner LG Energy Solution is another major step in our transition to an all-electric future. [Read more…] about GM and LG invest $2.3 billion in second battery manufacturing plant in US
Fanuc America and Doosan Machine Tools America have formed a partnership to better prepare future machine operators.
The Fanuc Certified CNC Training Program now offers manufacturing skills development using Doosan machine tools.
The new offering adds to the depth and breadth of Fanuc’s CNC training tools as well as allows operators a hands-on experience with Doosan’s high performance CNC machines, which have been used in manufacturing for over 40 years. [Read more…] about Fanuc forms alliance with Doosan on workforce development
Rootstock Software, a leading provider of cloud Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions built on the Salesforce platform, has appointed two executives to continue bolstering customer success.
The appointments include Zach Feige to Vice President of Professional Services and Scott Johnson to Senior Vice President of Customer Operations. Both Feige and Johnson will report to CRO David Stephans.
Stephans says: “We’ve always had a strong customer-centric culture. [Read more…] about Rootstock Software appoints two executives to foster and accelerate customer success with its Cloud ERP
New Scale Robotics is now a Certified System Integrator (CSI) for Universal Robots. This enables New Scale to sell and deploy UR collaborative robots with its Q-Span Workstation Kits for small part measurement.
The Q-Span Workstation Kit is a UR+ Certified Application Kit, designed and manufactured by New Scale Robotics to work with the Universal Robots e-Series collaborative robots (cobots).
It automates the tedious process of manually measuring small parts for quality control and recording the data for statistical analysis. [Read more…] about New Scale Robotics gains Certified System Integrator status from Universal Robots
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) is to meet with officials in the administration of newly elected president of the United States, Joe Biden, to discuss the ongoing global shortage in chips, which is affecting many areas of manufacturing and the wider economy.
The SIA released a statement from its president and CEO, John Neuffer, welcoming the upcoming meeting at the White House between Biden Administration officials and leaders from the semiconductor industry and other sectors to discuss the global chip shortage, President Biden’s infrastructure plan, and other issues related to the semiconductor supply chain.
In the statement, Neuffer says: “We welcome this high-level engagement between the White House and industry leaders and see it as an important opportunity for a discussion on the need to fund investments in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research to help ensure the long-term strength and resilience of America’s semiconductor supply chain.” [Read more…] about Semiconductor Industry Association to discuss global chip shortage with US government
John Deere is leveraging Intel’s artificial intelligence technology to help solve a costly, age-old problem in the manufacturing welding process.
Deere is piloting a solution that uses computer vision to automatically spot common defects in the automated welding process in its manufacturing facilities.
Andy Benko, quality director, John Deere construction and forestry division, says: “Welding is a complicated process. This AI solution has the potential to help us produce our high-quality machines more efficiently than before. [Read more…] about John Deere pilots new robotic welding solution
GE Digital has unveiled enhancements to its Cimplicity and Tracker software that “provide critical decision support for operators to make them more efficient”, says the company.
Cimplicity is GE’s name for its human-machine interface and supervisory control and data acquisition (HMI/SCADA) solution, which provides client-server visualization to monitor and control operations.
Tracker, part of GE Digital’s Proficy Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) offering, automates routing and sequencing to accelerate time to market, reduce warranty and recall exposure, and support Lean operations and building right the first time. [Read more…] about GE Digital upgrades its industrial control offerings for ‘modern’ workers
FORT Robotics, a technology company creating safety-and-security solutions for autonomous machines, has closed on $13 million in funding led by Prime Movers Lab, an investor in breakthrough scientific startups.
With the new investment, FORT will more than double the size of its workforce and expand its product offerings in key markets.
Samuel Reeves, founder and CEO, says: “We’re excited to partner with our new investors to help position FORT at the forefront of this rapidly evolving space. [Read more…] about FORT Robotics raises $13 million in funding
