Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Archives for June 26, 2020

How Robotics Work in the Plastic Injection Molding Industry

by 3 Comments

Driven by the never-ending increasing demand for more flexible solutions, industrial robots are extensively used in today’s plastics industry in all areas of the production process, including injection molding related operations.

Industrial robots can be used to automate the injection molding process by using a pick-and-place robot to load plastic parts into the machine or to place the finished pieces onto a conveyor belt.

And as human-operated injection molding leaves room for variations, the use of robots in the process ensures the production of the highest quality, accurately cut, formed, and measured finished products every single time. [Read more…] about How Robotics Work in the Plastic Injection Molding Industry

ABB wins $5 million order for electric vehicle chargers from GAC Toyota

by Leave a Comment

ABB has won an order worth $5 million for electric vehicle chargers from GAC Toyota.

The agreement was made through Chargedot, an ABB business unit, and is considered “a major order” in China.

GAC Toyota is the Guangzhou-based joint venture between GAC Group and Toyota. With plans to expand production of electric vehicles to 400,000 a year, the company has asked ABB to supply “several thousand electric vehicle chargers” over the next year. [Read more…] about ABB wins $5 million order for electric vehicle chargers from GAC Toyota

Fanuc offers free trial of CNC virtualization platform

by Leave a Comment

Fanuc America, a leading automation solutions provider, is offering a free trial version of CNC Guide – Fanuc’s PC-based virtualization platform for control design, training and part programming.

To assist machine tool operators and builders through the rough economic times created in 2020, Fanuc is offering this simulation tool at no cost.

CNC Guide offers an immersive and safe way to learn how to operate CNCs, even for novice operators. Because the software creates digital twins of machine controls, programmers can test G-code programs with no risk of damaging actual machines. [Read more…] about Fanuc offers free trial of CNC virtualization platform

Hyundai Robotics secures $42 million investment from KT

by Leave a Comment

Hyundai Robotics, a specialized robot company and subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries, has secured an investment of 50 billion Korean won (approximately $42 million) from KT, formerly Korea Telecom.

Hyundai Robotics recently signed a pre-IPO investment contract for the investment with KT at KT Gwanghwamun Building East in Jongno, Seoul. [Read more…] about Hyundai Robotics secures $42 million investment from KT

Mecademic releases new firmware for its tiny little industrial robot

by Leave a Comment

Mecademic has released new firmware for its tiny little industrial robot, the Meca500, dubbed “the world’s smallest six-axis industrial robot arm”.

Though minuscule, the machine has six axes and is said to be essentially the same in movement and articulation to a large industrial robot. The Mecademic robot features 5 micron repeatability and has a price tag consistent with industry-standard robots.

Mecademic, a Canadian startup, says the new firmware 8 is “an entirely new software product”, and will be the base for all future Mecademic robots. [Read more…] about Mecademic releases new firmware for its tiny little industrial robot

Hitachi and Microsoft to offer digital solutions for manufacturing and logistics

by Leave a Comment

Hitachi and Microsoft have a “multi-year strategic alliance” to accelerate the digital transformation of the manufacturing and logistics industries across Southeast Asia, North America and Japan.

The first solutions will be available in Thailand in July 2020.

The two companies will work together to meet the growing demand for predictive maintenance and process automation in remote areas and support enterprises as they tackle the challenges infused by the Covid-19 pandemic. [Read more…] about Hitachi and Microsoft to offer digital solutions for manufacturing and logistics

Fugro working with Australian Space Agency on new robotics control complex

by Leave a Comment

The Australian government’s newly formed Australian Space Agency (ASA) has partnered with Fugro to design, build and operate the Australian Space Automation, Artificial intelligence and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC) in Western Australia.

Benefitting from additional funding support from the WA State Government, the new complex will support start-ups, small businesses and researchers in controlling robotics activities in space, including servicing satellites in orbit.

The ASA selected Fugro in Australia on the basis of their track record in cutting-edge remote operations and robotics control in harsh marine environments, which demonstrates their robust robotics control capability via satellite communications. [Read more…] about Fugro working with Australian Space Agency on new robotics control complex

Qualcomm’s partners talk about the chipmaker’s new robotics platform

by Leave a Comment

Chipmaking giant recently unveiled its RB5 robotics platform.

Commercial products based on the Qualcomm Robotics RB5 platform are expected to be available in 2020, but the company has been partnering with a number of companies in advance.

New partners can now start developing products based on the platform, and are invited to visit the Qualcomm Developer Network webpage and the Qualcomm Technologies’ product webpage to ask for more information. [Read more…] about Qualcomm’s partners talk about the chipmaker’s new robotics platform