Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for August 6, 2018

Omron launches new ‘safety network controller’ for industrial operations

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Omron has released its new NX-series Safety Network Controller.

The company claims it is the world’s first to support two safety protocols: CIP Safety 2 that is adopted by industrial robot manufacturers and Safety over EtherCAT that provides a high-speed response.

Omron says that, in automotive and food factories where a wide variety of products are produced, the NX-series Safety Network Controller facilitates building and modifying safety systems for production lines using industrial robots and controls safety systems at high speeds, helping manufacturers “create manufacturing sites which ensure workers’ safety and productivity”.  [Read more…] about Omron launches new ‘safety network controller’ for industrial operations

HMS Industrial Networks acquires Beck IPC

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HMS Industrial Networks has acquired all shares in the German company Beck IPC located in Wetzlar, Germany.

Beck is a provider of technology and solutions for embedded control and industrial M2M communication, including solutions for the Industrial Internet of Things, IIoT.

The base technology IPC Chip is the core of Beck IPC’s product offering for industrial original equipment manufacturers.  [Read more…] about HMS Industrial Networks acquires Beck IPC

Walmart testing new warehouse robot from startup Alert Innovation

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Walmart is testing a new warehouse robot called Alphabot, supplied by startup company Alert Innovation, which built the robot for the US retail giant. (See video below.)

Alert is a developer of automated storage and retrieval systems, or ASRS, and something else called automated each-picking system, or AEPS.

A typical complete system Alert supplies includes a large storage shelving unit, along with its Alphabot, which is the only moving part.  [Read more…] about Walmart testing new warehouse robot from startup Alert Innovation

US-China trade war affecting Fanuc’s industrial robot sales

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The trade war between China and the US is negatively affecting the sales of Fanuc’s industrial robots, according to the Nikkei newspaper. 

In recent months, the US and China have been introducing new taxes on imports from each other’s countries, and this has set up Fanuc for a tough year ahead, reports Nikkei.

Fanuc is headquartered in Japan but has global operations. It is believed to be the largest supplier of robotics and automation technologies to the industrial sector.  [Read more…] about US-China trade war affecting Fanuc’s industrial robot sales

ABB claims to have connected 7,000 of its industrial robots to its IIoT platform

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ABB claims to have connected 7,000 of its industrial robots to its industrial internet of things platform, which the company calls “Ability”. 

ABB Ability was launched only last year, but has grown quickly because of the vast number of machines and devices the industrial giant already has in operation out in the world.

The company appears to consider the industrial internet a central part of its business and has been developing a variety of services for application on it.  [Read more…] about ABB claims to have connected 7,000 of its industrial robots to its IIoT platform

Bosch and Nio sign strategic partnership agreement

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The Bosch Group and electric vehicle company Nio signed a strategic cooperation agreement focused on sensor technology, automated driving, electric motor controls, and intelligent transport systems.

The signing ceremony took place in Berlin in the presence of German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

Nio began delivering its 7-seat high-performance electric sports utility vehicle, ES8, to its users in China in June.

The vehicle contains key components from Bosch, such as driver assistance systems, control units, sensors and the iBooster electromechanical brake booster. The components will be further developed for Nio’s future models.

Koki connects all 60 of its industrial robots to ABB’s Ability internet platform

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Koki Transmission has connected all 60 of its industrial robots to the ABB Ability internet platform.

The company is said to have connected its robots for the purposes of condition monitoring and diagnostics.

This is designed to address previous problems which were leading to unplanned downtime in material handling.  [Read more…] about Koki connects all 60 of its industrial robots to ABB’s Ability internet platform

Parker wins robotic welding and ‘innovative manufacturing’ contract with Safran on aircraft production

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Parker Hannifin, a provider of motion control technologies, has won a robotic welding and “innovative manufacturing” contract with Safran.

Parker Aerospace, a division of Parker Hannifin, has been chosen by Safran Oil Systems to work on the new CFM International Leap aircraft engine.

The Leap engine is 50-50 joint venture between GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines, of France.  [Read more…] about Parker wins robotic welding and ‘innovative manufacturing’ contract with Safran on aircraft production

Audi starts series production of electric motors in Hungary

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Audi Hungaria’s Győr factory has begun the series production of electric motors. The electric motors are produced using modular assembly.

The current production capacity is for approximately 400 electric axle motors each day and can be gradually increased.

At present, about 100 people are employed in this new area, to be increased to more than 130 by the end of the year. Production is with one‑shift operation, but will soon change to three shifts.

[Read more…] about Audi starts series production of electric motors in Hungary