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manufacturing

4 Tips to Enhancing Productivity in Manufacturing

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The manufacturing industry is critical to the global economy. Imagine a world where no one produces flat screen TVs, automobiles, or ballpoint pens.

It’s so hard to overlook the fact that everything that we have ever bought at the mall and used at the office are made at factories producing such goods everyday.

You know this if you are the owner and manager of a manufacturing facility. You need to ensure that the supply chain is fed and consumers get the items they need or want. [Read more…] about 4 Tips to Enhancing Productivity in Manufacturing

Foxconn moving operations out of China

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Foxconn, one of the most well known Chinese manufacturing companies as a result of its status as main supplier for Apple, is moving significant parts of its operations outside of China.

The company, which according to TechSpot reported almost $800 million net profit for the quarter ending in June, has already moved an additional 5 percent of its operations to countries other than China, bring it up to 30 percent, compared with 25 percent last year.

China is still overwhelmingly the main base for Foxconn’s manufacturing operations, representing some 70 percent of its production capacity, but the company is scouting many locations abroad. [Read more…] about Foxconn moving operations out of China

Sesto Robotics launches new autonomous mobile robot

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Sesto Robotics has launched a new autonomous mobile robot designed to automate material handling processes in manufacturing, commercial and healthcare industries.

The Sesto Magnus is a a bi-directional, compact autonomous mobile robot able to carry loads up to 300 kg, and the company claims it has the “highest payload rating in the compact class”.

Specially built for tight navigation in space-scarce facilities, Sesto Magnus is able to autonomously travel through spaces as narrow as 0.9 metres wide while avoiding obstacles in its path. [Read more…] about Sesto Robotics launches new autonomous mobile robot

China’s biggest chipmaker to double investment in capital goods to $7 billion

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China’s largest chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International is to double its investment in capital goods to $6.7 billion, according to a report on the Nikkei Asian Review website. 

The company is somewhat flush with cash as a result of net profit skyrocketing by 644 percent in the second quarter. Part of the increase is due to Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei stockpiling chips.

Huawei is trying to prepare for any potential shortage in its supply chain caused by the ban imposed on its activities in the US and Europe. [Read more…] about China’s biggest chipmaker to double investment in capital goods to $7 billion

Opinion: A coronavirus-induced acceleration of robotics and automation is happening in China

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By Gao Feng Advisory

A coronavirus-induced acceleration of robotics and automation appears to be taking place in China. There are a number of forces driving this catalysis in automation technologies. 

Firstly, the Chinese government and its policies are playing a central role. This will be particularly reflected in the unprecedented spending on “new infrastructure” as a response to the pandemic.

Secondly, the technologies and related-industries targeted by the government’s new infrastructure agenda are critical components. [Read more…] about Opinion: A coronavirus-induced acceleration of robotics and automation is happening in China

Siemens opens beta testing for forthcoming launch of NX

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Siemens has opened beta testing of its next update of NX, the engineering giant’s computer-aided design software.

The NX application is part of Siemens product lifecycle management (PLM) software unit, and can also be used for computer-aided manufacturing and computer-aided engineering.

NX – sort for Siemens Next Generation Design – includes design functions and simulation capabilities which feature real-world physics, and the company is strongly emphasising the new additions for additive manufacturing. [Read more…] about Siemens opens beta testing for forthcoming launch of NX

What does the term ‘productivity’ actually mean in economics?

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Here at Robotics and Automation News, we’ve often wondered what factors determine the productivity of a nation or industry, market or economy. There is a reason for this that has to with our website’s editorial subject matter and possibly our survival as a business.

In other words, we would like to expand our editorial coverage, and we would like to monetise. Our website has millions of readers, a significant proportion of whom are business people, so we have a marketable audience.

So far, we have mostly carried niche industrial news. Now, we want to add to that broader, global industry-wide and indeed world economy-wide, perspectives that may affect their growth and success. [Read more…] about What does the term ‘productivity’ actually mean in economics?

Kuka launches new robotic cell with pre-configured applications

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Kuka has launched a new robotic cell with pre-configured applications, or “packages”, as the company calls them.

The Kuka “cell4_production” systems are described as flexible production cells for automated processes.

The company says they feature highly flexible, modular in design, digitally networked and are “immediately ready for use”. [Read more…] about Kuka launches new robotic cell with pre-configured applications

Important 2020 Trend: Price Alignment Automation

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By Thomas R. Cutler

Automation solutions have been adapted and adjusted promoting the ease of setting and managing pricing boundaries for manufacturers.

When corporate objectives include rapidly and repeatedly adjusting prices at the most granular level, automation must be designed to alleviate the pain by using simple rules to derive prices.

Previously, most industrial business decision-makers feared an extensive implementation time, complexity, and significant costs for pricing technology. [Read more…] about Important 2020 Trend: Price Alignment Automation

Rapid Growth of Autonomous Forklifts

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By Thomas R. Cutler

Autonomously driven forklifts, whether in distribution centers, manufacturing, or some hybrid, are much more cost-effective than manned forklifts for extremely repetitive processes.

They can be integrated into continuous round-the-clock operations covering several shifts. Self-controlling these trucks can coordinate perfectly in terms of routing and speed. This enables material flows to maintain optimal levels and the energy consumption is kept to a minimum.

The additional benefit reported by facilities managers includes substantially less damage to shelving, loads, pallets, and other trucks, as they navigate more accurately and safely than manned forklifts. [Read more…] about Rapid Growth of Autonomous Forklifts