Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Abdul Montaqim

EPHJ: Big industry seen at the small scale

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EPHJ-EPMT-SMT is the name of an annual trade show built around what is referred to as “microtechnology” because it’s all about the small scale – tiny but essential components. 

Currently in its second day, the conference is held in Geneva, Switzerland, and the vast majority of the 500 or so exhibitors – about 80 per cent – are from the watchmaking sector.

The Swiss watchmaking industry is still massive, despite historical challenges from Japanese watchmakers in the 1960s and ’70s, and lately, disruptive innovations by makers of smart watches, such as Apple. [Read more…] about EPHJ: Big industry seen at the small scale

EPHJ: Microtechnology event keeps it simple while using a complicated name

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It might have an inexplicably complex name, but the EPHJ-EPMT-SMT event, which just got under way today in Geneva, is a trade show about what is, arguably, one of the simplest forms of technology.

By “simplest”, I mean it’s about mechanical technology – gears, springs, and so on – almost exclusively, with computer technology playing a very small part, if at all. And it’s all about small-scale.

Certainly the watchmaking aspect of the show is almost entirely about mechanical timepieces. The jewellery-making strand also features mechanised equipment. And the medical technology side, while requiring computing in some areas, is also mostly about mechanical equipment. [Read more…] about EPHJ: Microtechnology event keeps it simple while using a complicated name

Kerlink and Tata Communications launch partnership to expand LoRaWAN network deployments

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Kerlink, a specialist in solutions dedicated to the internet of things, and Tata Communications Transformation Services (TCTS), have formed a partnership to promote and deploy LoRaWAN IoT networks globally.

The partnership was announced at the LoRa Alliance three-day All Members Meeting in Berlin. LoRaWAN stands for long-range wide area network.

Kerlink and TCTS will demonstrate to telecom carriers, start-up IoT connectivity providers, cities and large multinationals how LoRa technology is one of the most responsive and reliable protocols for IoT connectivity. [Read more…] about Kerlink and Tata Communications launch partnership to expand LoRaWAN network deployments

Deliver: Cost-effectively navigating the last mile is crucial to e-commerce growth

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The second and final day of the Deliver event has seen sponsors and attendees ask each other many questions about the future of e-commerce, or rather “e-logistics”.

And some of the most crucial questions concern the critical last mile of the journey a product makes before it reaches the customer’s door.

The answers appear to be many and varied, and involve new hardware and software, but there does seem to be a general feeling of consensus, even if the details of the technologies underpinning that consensus is yet to be fully articulated, let alone realised. [Read more…] about Deliver: Cost-effectively navigating the last mile is crucial to e-commerce growth

‘E-logistics’ event Deliver opens its doors in Portugal

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The Portuguese capital city of Lisbon is playing host to one of the most important events in the e-commerce logistics and supply chain industry, Deliver.

Some describe Deliver as the “Davos of e-commerce” because it attracts all the most important e-commerce companies as well as the companies which provide the technology they rely on.

And that’s why we’re here.

E-commerce companies are increasingly dependent on technologies such as conveyors, automated storage and retrieval systems, robots, and even artificial intelligence to gain a competitive edge over their rivals.

And in such a competitive market with relatively low margins, any slim advantage is fought for as though the survival of the business depends on it. [Read more…] about ‘E-logistics’ event Deliver opens its doors in Portugal

Industrial Internet Consortium launches series of challenges

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The Industrial Internet Consortium has launched a series of “IoT Challenges” aimed at solving real problems and advancing the validation of industrial internet applications and solutions.

The current Challenges are co-organized with the Trusted IoT Alliance.

In an interview with Robotics and Automation News, Dr Richard Soley, executive director of the IIC, provides an overview and some insights into what the IIC is and what it does. (See video below.)

In these Challenges, architects and solution providers will compete to design industrial internet solutions that address high-profile, real-world problems. [Read more…] about Industrial Internet Consortium launches series of challenges

CP Technologies claims to be ‘first’ rugged computer manufacturer to expand into full rack integration

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CP Technologies, a provider of ruggedized computers, is claiming to have become the “first” rugged computer manufacturer to expand into full rack integration. 

The company’s president and CEO, Mike McCormack, gave Robotics and Automation News an interview some time before the latest development in which he explained that the company’s background in the military is useful for the industrial and commercial markets. (See video below.)

For over 20 years, CP Technologies – formerly Chassis Plans – has been designing and manufacturing computers, servers, LCD displays, storage arrays, and human interface devices to defense and industrial customers. [Read more…] about CP Technologies claims to be ‘first’ rugged computer manufacturer to expand into full rack integration

Omron robotics boss envisages cars building themselves

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A senior executive at industrial giant Omron foresees a time in which cars virtually build themselves in factories. (See interview below.)

Bruno Adam, director of Omron’s mobile robot business director in Europe, says that in the future, factories will operate completely differently.

The current process sees car bodies moved along a linear, straight production line where different robots and people work on their assembly.

[Read more…] about Omron robotics boss envisages cars building themselves

Mass customization platform KBMax named ‘visual configuration leader’

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KBMax, a company which provides mass customization services to the manufacturing sector, says it has been named “visual configuration leader” by G2 Crowd, a website which collates and presents reviews from users of software.

KBMax mainly offers its services through its website, and primarily categorizes itself as a “CPQ” platform, a well-known term in sales and marketing which stands for configure, price, quote.

Traditionally, CPQ platforms have not included visual configurators, which enable the customization of a product using online 3D computer-aided design software.

[Read more…] about Mass customization platform KBMax named ‘visual configuration leader’

Samsung launches ‘highest-capacity’ mobile dynamic random access memory

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Samsung Electronics has begun mass producing what it says is “the highest-capacity mobile DRAM” – dynamic random access memory.

The company claims this is the industry’s first 12-gigabyte low-power double data rate 4X (LPDDR4X) package – optimized for tomorrow’s premium smartphones.

Featuring higher capacity than most ultra-thin notebooks, the new mobile DRAM will enable smartphone users to take full advantage of all the features in next-generation smartphones.

[Read more…] about Samsung launches ‘highest-capacity’ mobile dynamic random access memory