Archives for September 9, 2016

Exclusive: Comau has eyes on massive Asian market

Exclusive interview with Maurizio Cremonini, head of marketing at Comau

As many readers of Robotics and Automation News will know, Comau (Consorzio Macchine Utensili) is the Italian manufacturer of industrial robotic arms utilised by all the leading automakers in the world.

One of those automakers is the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Group, which happens to own Comau, as well as the famous Ferrari brand of supercars.

So, in a way, Comau could claim to be the Ferrari of industrial robot makers. If I were the company’s marketing boss, I would certainly make more of the Ferrari connection. Having said that, Comau robots do echo the beauty of Ferrari cars, both in their colour and their shapes, using a similar red to the classic body paint on a Ferrari such as the one pictured above, and lately using a silver/grey/brushed steel and black combination with curves perhaps borrowed from Ferrari cars.

Maurizio Cremonini is head of marketing at Comau, and he has made time to give Robotics and Automation News this exclusive, extensive and deep insight into Comau. [Read more…] about Exclusive: Comau has eyes on massive Asian market

Tag Team Manufacturing says using Rethink Robotics machines has improved performance by 25 per cent

Tag Team Manufacturing, a specialist in precision production runs and prototype work for original equipment manufacturers, says deploying Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer for large production jobs at its facility in Parker, Colorado, has led to significant improvements in its productivity.

Tag Team uses Sawyer in an effort to help decrease client costs while shortening the delivery times to market. Sawyer enabled Tag Team to work 24 hours per day, seven days per week to meet the condensed delivery window that otherwise would have required an addition of five machinists in a very tight labor market.

Within weeks of deployment, Sawyer bolstered Tag Team’s production figures by 25 percent, says the company. Sawyer operates a Tag Team computer numerical control (CNC) mill, constantly executing replicable tasks. [Read more…] about Tag Team Manufacturing says using Rethink Robotics machines has improved performance by 25 per cent

Tata claims its AI system monitors hundreds of TV channels simultaneously in realtime

Tata Elxsi, a software division of the industrial giant Tata, says it has developed an integrated test automation and monitoring system which now incorporates artificial intelligence.

The company adds that FalconEye 2.0 suite for test, workflow and monitoring automation now includes “a host of new and industry-first features”.

This includes a new artificial intelligence engine, focusing on improving the test coverage and optimizing stability testing scenarios.

One of the things it can do is simultaneously test and monitor hundreds of television channels in realtime. [Read more…] about Tata claims its AI system monitors hundreds of TV channels simultaneously in realtime

Robotiq launches community for robotics professionals

Robotiq has launched an open community – called DoF – where industrial automation professionals can share their know-how and get answers to accelerate their robotics projects.

DoF, which stands for degrees of freedom, is meant as a medium for sharing ideas and solving automation problems, says Robotiq.

Samuel Bouchard, CEO of Robotiq, says: “We realized that the know-how is locked in the head of automation engineers who can’t talk to each other because they are far apart, focused on making their factory run.

“This is why we created this online community, to bring industrial automation pros together so they can help each other with their automation projects and stop reinventing the wheel on their own.” [Read more…] about Robotiq launches community for robotics professionals

Koops embarks on $5 million industrial automation expansion journey

Factory automation specialist Koops says its $5 million expansion plan will eventually double its production capacity

Preparing for the increasing global demand for industrial automation systems, Michigan-based automation company Koops broke ground on a new 40,000-square-foot plant expansion that will nearly double production capacity.

The $4.9 million expansion to its current plant at 987 Productions Court in Holland, Michigan, is in response to growing global demand for automation equipment that is expected to hit $200 billion in sales in the next few years.

“Growth in the automation systems industry is on the rise because manufacturing companies worldwide are seeking ways to lower production costs while improving quality through expanded automation processes,” said Koops CEO Paul Brinks at last week’s groundbreaking.