Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for August 14, 2019

Kuka develops mobile robot for semiconductor production

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Kuka has developed a mobile robot for semiconductor production. The system integrates a robotic arm with an autonomous wheeled platform.

Kuka says it developed the system because the production of semiconductors is particularly complex.

Until now there was no mobile, automated semiconductor production system that enabled component transfer from one step to the next. That has now changed with the Kuka wafer handling solution. [Read more…] about Kuka develops mobile robot for semiconductor production

Volkswagen has already built 200 pre-production vehicles of its new electric car ID.3

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Volkswagen has already built 200 pre-production vehicles of the new electric car ID.3, although none are for sale yet.

The initiative involved the conversion of VW’s vehicle factory in Zwickau, which the company says will eventually be “the largest facility for electric mobility in Europe”.

The members of Volkswagen’s group and brand boards of management, as well as the group works council, were able to see that for themselves at today’s site symposium for all three locations in Saxony held at Zwickau. [Read more…] about Volkswagen has already built 200 pre-production vehicles of its new electric car ID.3

Sportamore opts for Swisslog to expand automated warehouse

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Sportamore, one of the largest and fastest-growing online vendors of sports clothing and equipment in the Nordic countries, has expanded its automated central warehouse in Eskilstuna in cooperation with Swisslog.

The expansion began in February 2018 and was finished according to plan in February 2019.

Sema Söderhäll, chief logistics officer at Sportamore, says: “Together with Swisslog, we were able to complete the expansion without disrupting our regular production, something we’re very grateful for.” [Read more…] about Sportamore opts for Swisslog to expand automated warehouse

Mercedes-Benz plant ships 750,000th truck assembly kit

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The Mercedes-Benz plant at Wörth has shipped its 750,000th truck assembly kit.

Called the CKD Centre, for “Completely Knocked Down”, the Wörth facility in Germany sent the 750,000th truck kit to South Africa.

The item was packed in a 40-foot sea container for its journey overseas. It will be shipped to Rotterdam before it embarks to Port Elizabeth, in South Africa, its destination country. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz plant ships 750,000th truck assembly kit

ThyssenKrupp invests €80 million in ‘world’s most advanced forging line’

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ThyssenKrupp is investing €80 million into building what the company describes as “the world’s most advanced forging line” in Homburg, in Germany.

The investment is to expand a front axle production facility for trucks, for which long-term customer contracts have been signed, says the industrial giant.

ThyssenKrupp says its decision to build the new forging line represents “the biggest single investment ever made at its Homburg site. [Read more…] about ThyssenKrupp invests €80 million in ‘world’s most advanced forging line’

SEAT invests €57 million in its factory in Barcelona

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SEAT has invested €57 million in a new metal press and two new hot stamping lines for its factory in Barcelona.

The new PXL press installed in SEAT Barcelona involved an investment of just over €31 million and it will boost the productivity of this metal press compared to the previous ones thanks to greater automation and manufacturing speed, as well as an advanced robot system.

A little over €25 million was also invested in two new hot stamping lines that will also help increase efficiency, speed and precision in the production process. [Read more…] about SEAT invests €57 million in its factory in Barcelona

ABB and Fastned open their 100th electric vehicle charging location

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ABB, the industrial giant with a massive business in power generation equipment, and electric vehicle network operator Fastned Charging have opened their 100th electric vehicle charging location in the Netherlands.

The companies say Europe is introducing stricter emission targets from 2020, so their partnership Fastned and ABB is “facilitating the electric revolution set to transform European highways”.

Since the launch of the pilot Fastned project in The Netherlands in 2013, the close working relationship between Fastned and ABB has facilitated the successful launch of charging sites across the Netherlands and Germany, with the UK’s first high power station launching in Sunderland just a couple of months ago. [Read more…] about ABB and Fastned open their 100th electric vehicle charging location

Continental inaugurates new fuel cell laboratory with German university

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Continental AG is expanding its fuel cell technology sector, opening the newly established Fuel Cell Laboratory for Fuel Cell Technology with the Chemnitz University of Technology Professorship of Advanced Powertrains (ALF).

With the installation of a large hydrogen tank (H2 Tank) in February 2019 at a laboratory belonging to ALF, a central requirement for the expansion to more extensive measuring capabilities was put into place.

ALF, headed by Prof. Dr. Thomas von Unwerth, has an excellent reputation in the field of research and development of fuel cells.

[Read more…] about Continental inaugurates new fuel cell laboratory with German university