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Yaskawa reaches 20 million AC servo motor sales

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Yaskawa Electric, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of industrial robots and automation technologies, has sold 20 million AC servo motor sales to date, according to a press release on the company’s website.

The company has offered AC servo motors and controllers to a wide range of customers in Japan and overseas since 1983.

Yaskawa, which coined the term “mechatronics”, says “cumulative AC servo motor shipments reached 20 million units in August 2020”. [Read more…] about Yaskawa reaches 20 million AC servo motor sales

Denso unveils new IoT platform to link 130 factories

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Denso, one of the world’s largest automotive component manufacturers, has launched a Factory-IoT Platform that connects 130 production factories worldwide using information technology and the internet of things technologies, based on the concept of “as if under one roof.”

This is the first in-house development of a cloud-native platform using open-source-software in the automotive supplier industry. Cloud-Native refers to a system development method that uses open-source-software to cooperatively control multiple applications on the premise of operation in the cloud.

Open-source-software is free software that anyone can use. The newly developed platform stores data collected from a range of equipment at various production sites in a single cloud that can be used freely across Denso’s organization network. [Read more…] about Denso unveils new IoT platform to link 130 factories

SVV claims China’s first dedicated low-volume manufacturing facility

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Product development and engineering company Shenzen Valley Ventures (SVV) says its​ new manufacturing facility in China is its “first tier-1 facility” in the country. (See 3D tour of the facility.)

Located on the 9th floor of a skyscraper, SVV says it is “the most impressionable manufacturing facility in the Greater Bay Area’s Shenzhen”.

The platform is designed solely to accommodate the low-volume production needs of complex business-to-business devices, something which other manufacturers are unable to support, at least at a tier-1 level.  [Read more…] about SVV claims China’s first dedicated low-volume manufacturing facility

5 Reasons Compressed Air Testing Is Essential in Manufacturing

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There are several reasons why testing is a necessity in manufacturing. It’s essential for safety, security, and quality assurance purposes.

All kinds of businesses are now moving toward automation, affecting how processes are carried out.

Thus, the need for improved performance and reduced downtime makes testing an essential component of the work. [Read more…] about 5 Reasons Compressed Air Testing Is Essential in Manufacturing

Sarcos Robotics raises $40 million in Series C funding

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Sarcos Robotics, a global leader in the production of robots that augment humans to enhance productivity and safety, announced that it has raised $40 million in an oversubscribed Series C financing round.

The Series C round was led by Rotor Capital, with most of the company’s existing investors participating in the financing.

The Series C funding will be used to begin commercial production of the company’s Guardian XO industrial exoskeleton – the world’s first full-body, battery-powered wearable industrial robot designed to increase strength and endurance – scheduled for commercial release in 2021. [Read more…] about Sarcos Robotics raises $40 million in Series C funding

Karlsruhe demonstrates robotic system for custom manufacturing

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There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about what’s sometimes called “custom manufacturing”, or the “batch of one” concept.

The idea behind such phrases is to create manufacturing processes that can almost tailor-make products for individual customers.

So let’s say if you wanted a particular brand of bicycle but would like your bike to have higher handle bars or wider foot pedals, the maker should be able to provide that without having to incur significantly greater production costs or add much to your purchase price. [Read more…] about Karlsruhe demonstrates robotic system for custom manufacturing

Robotic and Automation News Review: Indy Autonomous Challenge, ABB’s final trim system for automotive manufacturing, billion-dollar quantum and AI plan, microscopic robots, and much more…

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Robotic and Automation News Review Saturday 29 August 2020

This is a new, weekly column which rounds up all the most interesting news from the robotics and automation industry in the past seven days, in brief form.

Usually, we try to publish the review on Fridays, but because of technical problems last week, it has been delayed until today. Apologies for that.

This Robotics and Automation News Review is also available to view on our YouTube channel. (See video embedded below.)

Please support our website by subscribing to our YouTube channel, by sharing the stories we publish on social media, and by purchasing premium subscriptions to RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com, as well as through corporate sponsorships and advertising.

[Read more…] about Robotic and Automation News Review: Indy Autonomous Challenge, ABB’s final trim system for automotive manufacturing, billion-dollar quantum and AI plan, microscopic robots, and much more…

SICK launches new image-based code reader

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SICK has expanded its portfolio of image-based code readers with the launch of the Lector61x.

The compact device detects 1D, 2D, and stacked codes for identification, inspection, or content monitoring in production processes.

The trend toward smaller batch sizes in manufacturing and production processes drove the development of this compact code reader, which SICK says enables manufacturers to maintain short throughput times, in spite of individualized products, and remain competitive in production. [Read more…] about SICK launches new image-based code reader

ABB Dynamic Assembly Pack provides ‘missing last piece’ in automating final trim assembly applications

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ABB says its Dynamic Assembly Pack provides the “missing last piece” in automating final trim assembly applications. (See video below.)

New force control sensors enable robots to accurately perform assembly tasks during final trim assembly, improving productivity, ergonomics and quality.

Designed to offer a fast, accurate and safe automated solution for installing anything from seats, dashboards and carpets inside vehicle bodies, to doors, bumpers and wheels outside the vehicle, ABB’s new Dynamic Assembly Pack for Final Trim and Assembly (FTA) combines real time vision cameras on the robot gripper and arms with integrated force control sensors to allow the robot to precisely track the position of the car body as it enters the workstation. [Read more…] about ABB Dynamic Assembly Pack provides ‘missing last piece’ in automating final trim assembly applications

Swisslog completes $20 million ASRS for drinks company in Dubai

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Swisslog has completed the construction of a fully automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) for a drinks company in Dubai.

Following the implementation of the data-driven intralogistics ASRS, Mai Dubai has benefited with double production, storage capacity and reduced labour costs, say the companies.

Global warehouse automation specialist, Swisslog, today announced the successful installation and implementation of a new fully-automated and retrieval solution for Mai Dubai, a leading Dubai-based bottled drinking water company. [Read more…] about Swisslog completes $20 million ASRS for drinks company in Dubai