Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for June 22, 2018

Briefing – Robotics and Automation in Logistics: Driverless trucks on the horizon

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In this article, Robotics and Automation News marvels at the driverless trucks being developed for freight operations.

Most people know what “freight” means – it refers to the movement of goods by road, rail, sea or air. Beyond that, terminology in that sector can get a little complicated, mostly because some terms are interchangeable.

Logistics, for example, is often used to mean the entire process of moving goods, although professionals in the industry use it to mean a similar thing to freight.  [Read more…] about Briefing – Robotics and Automation in Logistics: Driverless trucks on the horizon

Events: Automatica ‘beats all records again’, say organisers

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Organisers of the biennial Automatica event say this show has beaten all previous records.

Automatica 2018, which took place from June 19 to 22, reached new highs in the two main categories:

  • more than 46,000 visitors (+ seven percent); and
  • 890 exhibitors (+ seven percent).

Falk Senger, trade fair managing director for Messe München, the parent company of Automatica, says: “Automatica addresses the future topics of human-robot collaboration, digital transformation in production, and service robotics.

“The strong results show that the history of automation and robotics is being written here in Munich.”  [Read more…] about Events: Automatica ‘beats all records again’, say organisers

Siemens showcases wide range of ‘digital enterprise’ solutions at Automatica

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Engineering giant Siemens has been showcasing a wide range of “digital enterprise” solutions at the ongoing Automatica event, in Germany.

Siemens says its solutions demonstrated how machine builders and users can benefit from Industrie 4.0, and can be found at a specially constructed page for Automatica on Siemens website.

Exhibiting under the banner “Digital Enterprise – Implement now!”, Siemens focused on integrated, user-oriented solutions from its digital enterprise portfolio for enterprises of all sizes and branch of industry – along the entire value chain from product design and production planning, through the engineering process, to new data-based services.  [Read more…] about Siemens showcases wide range of ‘digital enterprise’ solutions at Automatica

Honeywell launches gas metering monitoring solution

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Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS) has launched a new gas metering solution that provides monitoring of midstream metering systems for operations, maintenance and leadership teams.

Honeywell Connected Plant Measurement IQ for Gas is said to enhance the metering operation’s reliability and safety while cutting costs by massively reducing the need for site visits.

With advanced diagnostics, at-a-glance dashboards and intelligence analytics, Measurement IQ enables operators to increase metering reliability in the face of skills shortages, dispersed operations and a complex hydrocarbon mix.

[Read more…] about Honeywell launches gas metering monitoring solution

Airbus inaugurates Hamburg’s fourth A320 production line dominated by robots and digital processes

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Airbus has inaugurated the fourth Hamburg, Germany production line for its A320 Family of jet airliners.

Making use of digital technologies and a more flexible industrial setup, Airbus says the “innovative state-of-the-art line is a key enabler for ramping up the single-aisle programme to 60 aircraft per month by mid-2019”.

Frank Horch, Hamburg’s senator of economy, transport and innovation and Thomas Jarzombek, federal government coordinator of German aerospace policy, witnessed the milestone together with Guillaume Faury, president Airbus commercial aircraft, and 500 guests at a special ceremony in Hamburg.  [Read more…] about Airbus inaugurates Hamburg’s fourth A320 production line dominated by robots and digital processes

Bossa Nova Robotics raises $29 million for grocery store robot

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Bossa Nova Robotics has raised $29 million in its latest funding round, according to reports in the media. 

Bossa Nove makes mobile robots that can wander along the aisles of a grocery store and check the shelves to see if any product lines need to be replenished.

Its robots are currently used in 50 Walmart stores, according to the Wall Street Journal.

More as and when we get it.

ATS Automation executives open stock market

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Senior executives from ATS Automation and the company’s business partners had the opportunity to open the stock market in Canada recently.

The executives included Andrew Hider, CEO, Ungad Chadda, senior vice president, head of enterprise corporate strategy and external affairs, TMX Group, a financial services company, opened the market to celebrate 25 years listed on Toronto Stock Exchange.

Founded in 1978, ATS is an automation solutions provider addressing the needs of multinational customers in markets such as life sciences, chemicals, consumer products, electronics, food, beverage, transportation, energy, and oil and gas.

ATS Automation Tooling Systems commenced trading on Toronto Stock Exchange on December 21, 1993.

Fosun acquires automation solutions provider FFT Group

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Fosun International Limited, one of the world’s leading family-focused multinational companies, has agreed to acquire FFT GmbH & Co. KGaA, a global provider of automated and flexible turn-key production systems.

FFT is to be acquired from ATON GmbH, a German family-owned private investment company, through the funds managed by the subsidiaries of Fosun International.

Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Fulda, Germany, FFT provides flexible automation turn-key solutions, customized engineering designs, and various smart factory solutions for renowned first-line original equipment makers (‘OEMs’) in Germany, the USA, Japan, China and other countries.

[Read more…] about Fosun acquires automation solutions provider FFT Group

Variohm expands its range of press sensors

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Variohm EuroSensor has expanded its range of pressure sensors with the new and robust EPT7100 series featuring 316 grade stainless steel wetted parts and an integral Packard connector for excellent durability and convenient installation at competitive cost.

With a choice of four hermetically sealed pressure ports and five standard pressure range options from 0.01 to 10 bar, the EPT7100 is an excellent choice for gas or liquid pressure measurement for on- and off-highway automotive, HVAC, compressors, industrial hydraulics and more.

The new sensor is based on a well proven piezo-resistive sensing element and latest ASIC circuitry which does not rely on O-ring sealing or silicon oil. [Read more…] about Variohm expands its range of press sensors

Omron introduces new i4 Scara product family

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Omron Corporation announced at automatica, the automation and robotics exhibition, that it will be introducing a new line of Scara robots, boasting sleek design and enhanced performance.

Named the “i4,” the new generation of Scara robot is claimed to save space during installation and allow easier configuration into existing production lines. The i4 is fast, repeatable, easy to operate and flexible for multiple configurations and applications, says the company.

Manufacturers around the world are facing major challenges in having to produce a high mix low volume of products and shorter product life cycles while dealing with labour shortage issues.

[Read more…] about Omron introduces new i4 Scara product family