Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

David Edwards

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

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

BASF completes $9 billion acquisition of businesses and assets from Bayer

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BASF has completed the acquisition of numerous businesses and assets from Bayer in a deal worth almost $9 billion.

BASF says it has purchased “a range of businesses and assets from Bayer”, including crop protection systems, and some digital assets.

The deal also enables BASF to enter new markets such as seeds, non-selective herbicides, and nematicide seed treatments.  [Read more…] about BASF completes $9 billion acquisition of businesses and assets from Bayer

Murata launches auto industry’s ‘first’ GHz band tiniest noise suppressor

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Murata claims it has launched “industry’s first GHz Band 0201-inch noise suppression filter for automotive applications.

Murata has launched a BLM03EB_SH series, 0.6 x 0.3 mm GHZ band, high impedance ferrite bead, or noise suppression filter, for the auto industry.

This is intended mainly for use with automotive powertrain and safety applications. This product has already entered mass production.  [Read more…] about Murata launches auto industry’s ‘first’ GHz band tiniest noise suppressor

EU-funded organisation offers €200,000 in funding to each robotics ‘experiment’

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The European Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises Robotics Applications organization has opened its first call for experimental proposals.

The EU-funded robotics project says this is its first competitive call for experiment proposals.

Within the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, ESMERA aims to boost robotics innovation by European small and medium-sized enterprises.  [Read more…] about EU-funded organisation offers €200,000 in funding to each robotics ‘experiment’

Plex Systems acquires factory data company Dattus

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Plex Systems, a provider of cloud enterprise resource planning and manufacturing execution systems software, has acquired Dattus, a supplier of industrial internet of things connectivity technologies.

Dattus solutions connect manufacturing equipment and sensors to the cloud, manage high-volume data streams, and analyze in-motion equipment data to optimize performance, reduce costs, and ensure uptime.

The acquisition is expected to accelerate Plex’s IIoT strategy, extending the Plex Manufacturing Cloud to new streams of machine data and the underlying intelligence. The acquisition was completed last month.  [Read more…] about Plex Systems acquires factory data company Dattus

Kollmorgen servo motors provide boost for robotics start-up

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Collaborative robots were a big feature of the Hannover Messe trade show again in 2018.

Small, intelligent, sensitive, and self-learning: The ways in which robots can be used are increasing all the time.

And the level of acceptance is also rising – not least thanks to attractive prices and short return-on-investment times.  [Read more…] about Kollmorgen servo motors provide boost for robotics start-up

InVia Robotics raises $20 million in funding for warehouse automation robots

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InVia Robotics, a provider of warehouse robots and automation solutions for e-commerce fulfillment centers, has raised $20 million in new funding.

The Series B round was led by Point72 Ventures and included investments from Upfront Ventures and Embark Ventures.

The funds will be used to boost the commercial deployment of inVia’s Picker robots and cloud-based robotics-as-a-service management system in warehouses as necessitated by the scaling e-commerce market.  [Read more…] about InVia Robotics raises $20 million in funding for warehouse automation robots

Skills shortage could slow down the manufacturing sector, says report

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Manufacturers are concerned that skilled labor shortage could stymie innovation, finds LEK Consulting survey

Most US manufacturers agree that increased growth and investment opportunities are on the horizon, despite some of the uncertainties related to global trade.

But they say a major issue looms: Where are the skilled workers for the digital factories of the future?

In a recent survey of 200 decision-makers across seven manufacturing industries, global management consulting firm LEK Consulting found that four out of five US manufacturers are preparing for an increase in automation technology, with only 18 percent of companies saying they have minimal plans for automation.  [Read more…] about Skills shortage could slow down the manufacturing sector, says report

General Electric puts Predix IIoT platform and its digital business up for sale

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General Electric is looking to sell its digital business, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. 

The sale would include Predix, GE Digital’s industrial internet of things platform.

Predix was claimed to be the first IIoT platform when it was launched a couple of years ago, and GE Digital was said to be generating approximately $4 billion a year in revenues at some point.  [Read more…] about General Electric puts Predix IIoT platform and its digital business up for sale