Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for April 26, 2018

Hannover Messe: Siemens showcases its digital enterprise portfolio

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Siemens has been showcasing its digital enterprise portfolio at Hannover Messe. The company says it has been continuously enhancing its digital services for Industrie 4.0, also referred to as the fourth industrial revolution, wherein all machines are connected to the internet and everything is digitised, right down to individual components, which have what are called “digital twins”.

It’s a process also known as “digital transformation”.

Klaus Helmrich, member of the managing board of Siemens, at the press conference for Hannover Messe, said: “We created the technical prerequisites for this transformation with our range of consistent solutions. By implementing Digital Enterprise solutions, users and customers can now tap into the full potential of Industrie 4.0.” [Read more…] about Hannover Messe: Siemens showcases its digital enterprise portfolio

Hannover Messe: A new software paradigm for industrial hardware

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Within every intelligent machine, such as an industrial robotic arm, there is, of course, software.

The software is what enables it to operate according to its requirements.

And as the machines get more sophisticated, so does the software. [Read more…] about Hannover Messe: A new software paradigm for industrial hardware

Hannover Messe: Global expansion for events platform

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Deutsche Messe is the company behind the annual Hannover Messe industrial technology show, and generates annual revenues of around $360 Million, give or take $100 million.

The company has been expanding recently into Asia, with several new trade events for the manufacturing industry as well as the logistics sector.

For the logistics sector, Deutsche Messe holds a series of events under the brand name of CeMAT. While both these events are expectedly huge in Germany, they are also rather large in other parts of the world. [Read more…] about Hannover Messe: Global expansion for events platform

ABB showcases electric vehicle technology to German and Mexican leaders

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ABB has been showcasing its latest technologies for electric vehicles to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto at Hannover Messe.

The two leaders, along with ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer, were shown a demonstration of the company’s new high power fast charging solution: the Terra HP EV charging station with a power output of up to 350 kW recharges a car battery in just eight minutes for 200 km reach.

“This high-power fast charger provides electric vehicles with up to seven times more range in the same charging time than with previous models,” Spiesshofer said. [Read more…] about ABB showcases electric vehicle technology to German and Mexican leaders

Kuka launches specialised system for riveting

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Industrial Robot maker Kuka has launched something it calls ready2_rivet, which the company says is the “ideal self-pierce riveting solution for body-in-white applications”.

The new ready2_rivet solution is part of Kuka’s ready2_use range.

The self-pierce riveting solution for body-in-white applications has been developed jointly with Böllhoff, one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of fasteners and assembly systems.  [Read more…] about Kuka launches specialised system for riveting

Tulip launches digital manufacturing quick-start kit

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Tulip has launched Factory Kit, which it claims is the industry’s first quick-start solution for powering digital manufacturing that includes everything engineers need to quickly design, build and deploy Manufacturing Apps without writing code.

Factory Kit uses Tulip’s Manufacturing App Platform, which brings the power of Industrial IoT and advanced analytics to the front-line engineer and the associate on the shop floor.

Manufacturing Apps integrate human, sensor, and machine data, allowing engineers to gain actionable insights, implement process changes, and continuously improve their operations.

[Read more…] about Tulip launches digital manufacturing quick-start kit

Butler goods-to-person robotics systems at three new sites

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Robotics and supply chain automation company, GreyOrange, will install its Butler robotics system at three new sites, located in Japan and Europe.

The upcoming site in Japan is for Trusco Nakayama Corporation, a  wholesale trading company specializing in machine tools and equipment for production sites, wholesale distributors and retailers. Its range of over 335,000 products includes over 2,300 brands and manufacturers.

Customers in Europe include a Global 3PL using the Butler system for one of its pan-European distribution operations in Benelux and a leading e-commerce platform for its regional fulfilment centre.

[Read more…] about Butler goods-to-person robotics systems at three new sites

Burke Porter Group buys Van Hoecke Automation

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Burke Porter Group (BPG), a US-based global manufacturer of intelligent machines, has completed its purchase of Van Hoecke Automation (VHA), a Belgium-based global supplier of production automation and product manipulation and control in the food processing and automotive industries.

Established in 1990, VHA not only provides a complementary product portfolio to BPG, but also strengthens its manufacturing presence in Belgium, which includes BEP Europe NV in Bruges. VHA will remain at its current location in Gavere, near the city of Ghent.

The acquisition agreement provides for management continuity over the company’s business activities with no change in day-to-day business or contacts.

[Read more…] about Burke Porter Group buys Van Hoecke Automation

New research: Massive rise in warehouse robots predicted

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A recent report from ABI Research estimates that shipments of global commercial and collaborative robots in e-commerce fulfilment will reach 443,000 units in 2026, 20 times more than current shipments in 2018.

This includes squat mobile platforms in goods-to-person systems, autonomous mobile robots with manipulators, last mile delivery robots, and collaborative robots.

Two major types of customers in e-commerce fulfilment are the major-e-retailers and third-party logistics service providers who engage in the contract logistics business. Currently, warehousing, order processing, and last mile delivery are all extremely labour intensive.

[Read more…] about New research: Massive rise in warehouse robots predicted