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Electric Future: Battery production facilities bloom on both sides of the Atlantic

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Battery production plants are popping up and blooming on both sides of the Atlantic, with one or two exceptions, such as BritishVolt, which went into administration recently

Viridi Parente, a developer of battery storage technology, has selected Bright Machines to digitally transform the company’s US electric battery manufacturing facility.

Bright Machines Microfactories, the company’s full-stack assembly automation solution, modernizes manufacturing by leveraging data and artificial intelligence, providing Viridi with new capabilities to meet the increasing demands for its zero-carbon emission energy battery solutions.

Viridi manufactures battery energy storage systems on a 42-acre campus in Buffalo, New York. Its efforts have and will continue to lead to significant job creation in the historically disadvantaged East Buffalo community where its facility is situated. [Read more…] about Electric Future: Battery production facilities bloom on both sides of the Atlantic

Electric Future: Stalled car revolution

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How green are electric vehicles?

Believe it or not, if you had been walking through Manhattan in 1900, there is a good chance you would have seen an electric car. Roughly one third of cars on the road in New York back then were electric, while the city’s taxi fleet had 30 electric vehicles (EVs). It was to be a brief heyday.

It was Henry Ford’s Model T – first produced in 1908 – that signalled the beginning of the end of the electric car. Suddenly, petrol-fuelled cars were relatively affordable and, thanks to Ford’s pioneering use of the production line, ubiquitous.

Improved roads and cheaper petrol prices saw the electric car all but disappear by the mid-1930s, and it wasn’t until the 1970s – amid soaring oil prices and gasoline prices – that the potential of EVs began to be seriously considered again. [Read more…] about Electric Future: Stalled car revolution

2023 Predictions & Forecasts: The future is bright machines

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Two senior executives from Bright Machines, a manufacturing automation company, give Robotics and Automation News their thoughts and forecasts for the year ahead.

The predictions offer insight on manufacturing trends, supply chain evolution, the future of automation, and more. [Read more…] about 2023 Predictions & Forecasts: The future is bright machines

New 3D Printer That Creates Custom Prescription Drugs Developed by University College London

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University College London (UCL) have developed an exciting new 3D printing technique: “volumetric 3D printing” that lets the pharmaceutical industry customize drugs – including shape, size, dosage, and release – according to each patient’s individual needs.

In turn, medical professionals may eventually be able to use 3D printing to “print” prescription drugs for patients in-office in the future. Not only does 3D printing promise to improve personalized medicine, but it’s also set to drastically cut cost and waste in the process. [Read more…] about New 3D Printer That Creates Custom Prescription Drugs Developed by University College London

What is manufacturing software, and how can it help a small business?

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Manufacturing software is a type of software that assists small companies in streamlining their manufacturing processes and improving operational efficiency. In particular, cloud-based solutions offer fast deployment, allowing businesses to implement their software without waiting for physical installation.

Additionally, online solutions provide improved scalability and flexibility, meaning businesses can quickly add or remove functionality as their needs evolve.

This is an essential feature from the perspective of a small company: the intention is always to grow and expand, but only a few business owners can afford expensive investments at the start, as they usually stretch their budgets without having spent on manufacturing software tools. The scalability of online solutions is a great advantage. [Read more…] about What is manufacturing software, and how can it help a small business?

Manufacturing Software: Definition and Benefits for Your Business

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Today, IT solutions are just as necessary as the machinery and heavy equipment used to produce products. As such, it is used by large and new small and medium manufacturing companies.

This software is also designed for those who have factory businesses such as import/export trade. Manufacturing IT solutions are designed to streamline a manufacturer’s operations, from supply chain management to distribution management, increase organizational productivity, and reduce operating costs.

Manufacturing software is a tool that provides functionality to plan and execute projects from beginning to end while automating materials planning, production tracking, and scheduling and product lifecycle management. [Read more…] about Manufacturing Software: Definition and Benefits for Your Business

ArrowSpot signs multi-million-dollar deal with Astrocast to mass produce satellite tracking system

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Astrocast, a global nanosatellite IoT network operator, and ArrowSpot has signed a multi-million-dollar contract to start mass production of ArrowSpot’s ArrowTrack SAT device.

The contract between Astrocast and ArrowSpot includes hardware integration and Satellite IoT (SatIoT) connectivity for an initial three-year period.

For context, ArrowSpot’s technology solutions provide the worldwide supply chain logistics industry with online information for safe & secure sensitive chilled cargo and high value cargo. Clients working with ArrowSpot include ZIM Shipping Line and Oceanex Inc. intermodal transportation services. [Read more…] about ArrowSpot signs multi-million-dollar deal with Astrocast to mass produce satellite tracking system

Denso increases efficiencies with fleet of MiR250 autonomous mobile robots

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Denso, one of the world’s largest automotive technology suppliers, says it has “increased efficiencies, improved employee morale and ergonomics, and managed a tight labor market” by deploying six MiR250 autonomous mobile robots to transport materials in its 800,000 square foot powertrain component production facility in Athens, Tennessee.

According to a new case study from Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), Denso has successfully executed more than 500,000 missions since deploying its first MiR robot in 2020, recognizing a return on investment (ROI) in less than a year along with an ongoing need for more AMRs for additional logistics applications.

One of MiR’s largest global customers, Denso has AMRs from MiR running in two other US locations, as well as three facilities in Europe and two in Asia. [Read more…] about Denso increases efficiencies with fleet of MiR250 autonomous mobile robots

ABB opens state-of-the-art robotics mega factory in Shanghai

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ABB has officially opened its state-of-the-art, fully automated and flexible robotics factory in Kangqiao, Shanghai, China. (See video below.)

The 67,000 sq m production and research facility represents a $150 million (1.1 billion RMB) investment by ABB and will deploy the company’s digital and automation technologies to manufacture next generation robots – enhancing ABB’s robotics and automation leadership in China.

Sami Atiya, president of ABB Robotics and Discrete Automation, says: “Building on three decades of success in China, the opening of our new mega factory is another milestone in helping our customers grow sustainably, address labor shortages and create high-value jobs in a new era of automation. [Read more…] about ABB opens state-of-the-art robotics mega factory in Shanghai

Comau to provide robotic systems for Daimler’s first truck production line in China

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Comau has built an advanced, automated welding solution for Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive, a joint venture between Daimler Trucks and the Chinese truck manufacturer Foton Motor.

In doing so, Comau is helping support BFDA’s first localized heavy-duty truck for the Chinese market, the “Actros”, which is based on the Mercedes-Benz global platform and uses Daimler’s most advanced truck technology.

Featuring 100 percent process automation, the Comau-designed production line is engineered to be completely flexible in order to handle complex model management and variable output management. [Read more…] about Comau to provide robotic systems for Daimler’s first truck production line in China