Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

manufacturing

HGZN and Hyundai Robotics to build smart factory to manufacture robots in China

by

HGZN has partnered with Hyundai Robotics to embark on a project to build smart factory to manufacture robots in Haining, China.

The official groundbreaking ceremony for the “HGZN’s Intelligent Robot Industrialization Project” was held recently at the Economic Development Zone in Haining.

With a strong industrial city as its goal, HGZN – an acronym for Jiangsu Hagong Intelligent Robot Company – is focusing on the smart robot industrialization project. [Read more…] about HGZN and Hyundai Robotics to build smart factory to manufacture robots in China

A digital skills crisis is looming in manufacturing – but there could be a game-changing solution

by

According to recent research, there’s an escalating talent shortage in the manufacturing industry. As the sector benefits from advances in technology, including implementation of automated processes and robotics – the digital skills gap has only widened.

In the 2018 Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute skills gap and future of work study, researchers predicted a potential shortage of around 2.4 million workers over the next 10 years.
The study was US-based, but the findings are likely to resonate with manufacturing firms worldwide. Job openings have been growing at rapid rates, but employers are struggling to find the skilled talent needed to fill them. [Read more…] about A digital skills crisis is looming in manufacturing – but there could be a game-changing solution

Overcoming metrology bottlenecks in additive manufacturing

by

By Eric Felkel, product manager optical profilers, Zygo Corporation

Undoubtedly there are many benefits associated with the use of additive manufacturing as a production technology.

Across industries, manufacturers exploit the fact that through the use of additive manufacturing they can not only build complex parts – in one piece – which were previously impossible, but they can also build stronger, lighter weight parts, reduce material consumption, and benefit from assembly component consolidation across a range of applications.

These advantages have been well documented during the last 10-20 years as additive manufacturing has emerged as a truly disruptive technology for not just prototyping but also production, and are invariably seen as being enabled by the additive hardware that builds the parts. [Read more…] about Overcoming metrology bottlenecks in additive manufacturing

3D printing moving into mainstream manufacturing, says GlobalData

by

3D printing technology is slowly cementing its role as a key part of the manufacturing mix, continuing its journey towards industry 4.0.

It has already lowered the barriers to entry for manufacturing, allowing enterprises across many industries to respond to customer demands while offering greater customization of products and speed to market, says GlobalData, a data analytics company.

Venkata Naveen, disruptive tech analyst at GlobalData, says: “3D printing has leaped from the proof-of-concept stage to a viable manufacturing alternative, demonstrating its potential in real-world environments, notably in industries such as aerospace and defense, construction, consumer and automotive.” [Read more…] about 3D printing moving into mainstream manufacturing, says GlobalData

Covid-19 pandemic impact: Mobile robotics market to grow to $23 billion by next year

by

The Coronavirus outbreak has highlighted use cases for mobile robotics to successfully disinfect, monitor, survey, and handle and deliver materials.

These proven use cases will propel the overall mobile robotics market to $23 billion by 2021, according to a report by technology market advisory firm, ABI Research.

Rian Whitton, senior analyst at ABI Research, says: “Crises shift perceptions on what is possible regarding investment and transformative action on the part of both private and government actors. [Read more…] about Covid-19 pandemic impact: Mobile robotics market to grow to $23 billion by next year

GÖPEL improves quality control in automotive manufacturing with Universal Robots

by

Using the UR10e, the company says it has eliminated the tedious and physically taxing tests manually conducted by employees

Universal Robots says GÖPEL electronic, a manufacturer of testing and inspection systems for electronic assemblies and printed circuit boards, has developed a revolutionary, automated quality control system for its automotive customers using its UR10e cobot.

According to Thomas Schöppe, senior team manager at GÖPEL electronic, the cobot replaces the company’s manual and cumbersome end of line seating test system. He says: “Previously, our employees have to simulate the vehicle-driver interaction.

For example, pressing the seat’s buttons and switches to measure the voltage or current. This process could often result in production errors which proved costly further down the manufacturing line. [Read more…] about GÖPEL improves quality control in automotive manufacturing with Universal Robots

Selling an Efficient Manufacturing Company in the Covid-19 Era

by

First Order of Business is Occupational Health and Safety. By Frances A. Brunelle

Due to Covid-19, more small and midsized manufacturers ($2 million to $20 million) will either close or be sold. For those owners who are thinking of selling their manufacturing operation, occupation health and safety should be #1 on the list of issues to address when preparing their company for sale.

With so much of the world on lockdown, more industrial enterprises are using Q2 2020 to evaluate the short-term game plan. Companies will enter Q3/Q4 2020 and all of 2021 with one thought: acquire or be acquired.

Manufacturing occupational health and safety processes prevents or lessens the risk of workplace injury, illness, and even death. These are the right actions to take, whether a manufacturer is looking to be acquired or not. [Read more…] about Selling an Efficient Manufacturing Company in the Covid-19 Era

How Automation is Disrupting All Kinds of Manufacturing in 2020

by

We are entering an era of smart factories and automated manufacturing. While many speculate it to be the end of manual labor as we know it, the evidence points in a different direction.

Industrial automation has ushered new ways that machines and human effort can collaborate to increase efficiency and drive down complexity.

This is especially true for the emerging automation technologies which, in the past few years, are disrupting all kinds of manufacturing. [Read more…] about How Automation is Disrupting All Kinds of Manufacturing in 2020

Open Manufacturing Platform expands with new industrial giants joining

by

The Open Manufacturing Platform has expanded, with new steering committee members and new working groups established.

OMP is an alliance founded in 2019 to help manufacturing companies accelerate innovation at scale through cross-industry collaboration, knowledge and data sharing as well as access to new technologies.

The OMP was founded under the umbrella of the Joint Development Foundation, which is part of the Linux Foundation. [Read more…] about Open Manufacturing Platform expands with new industrial giants joining

Brain Corp and Dane Technologies partner to build autonomous delivery solutions

by

Brain Corp, an artificial intelligence company specialising in robotics, and Dane Technologies, a designer and manufacturer of power assist solutions, have formed a technology partnership to manufacture autonomous material delivery robots for use in public and commercial applications.

Under the partnership, Dane Technologies will license BrainOS, a cloud-connected operating system for commercial autonomous robots, and begin building the delivery robots in Q2 2020. The two companies will pilot the robots with several major retailers this spring.

John Black, SVP of new product development for Brain Corp, says: “Dane Technologies has a successful track record of developing equipment for demanding retail and manufacturing environments, including the pioneering QuicKART shopping cart management system. [Read more…] about Brain Corp and Dane Technologies partner to build autonomous delivery solutions