Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

GE to sell Distributed Power business to Advent International for $3.25 billion

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General Electric has signed an agreement to sell its Distributed Power business to Advent International, one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors, for $3.25 billion.

The transaction includes Distributed Power’s Jenbacher and Waukesha engines, as well as manufacturing sites in Austria, Canada and the US.

Distributed Power, a business unit of GE Power, is a leading provider of reciprocating gas engines, power equipment and services focused on power generation and gas compression at or near the point of use.  [Read more…] about GE to sell Distributed Power business to Advent International for $3.25 billion

Last-mile logistics: Our cities are getting smarter

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Once firmly in the realm of science-fiction, technological advances mean the concept of a “smart city” is now closer than ever to science-fact.

But, what does the concept mean? And how will it actually affect our day to day lives?

A smart city is a place where absolutely everything is connected and streamlined to work in sync with everything else.  [Read more…] about Last-mile logistics: Our cities are getting smarter

4 reasons why collaborative robotics is the answer to SME automation

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With technology becoming an integral part of business operations, several organizations are investing in robotics and automation to streamline their processes, create a safe work environment, and boost profitability.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, are increasingly relying on automation to gain a significant increment in their process-and-workforce efficiency.

However, most SMEs are reluctant to invest in robotics as conventional industrial robots are complex, expensive, and require large shop floor space for deployment. Moreover, the payback period for these robots is extremely long, making them expensive for SMEs.  [Read more…] about 4 reasons why collaborative robotics is the answer to SME automation

Canadian investment fund puts $5 million into Belt-Tech Products Inc

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The Fonds de solidarité FTQ and the Fonds régionaux de solidarité FTQ – Estrie have announced a $5 million investment in Belt-Tech Products Inc, a manufacturer of seat belt webbing for the automotive, industrial and aviation markets.

The funds will be used to purchase equipment, increase working capital to support expanding operations, automate its plant and improve productivity by making the innovation shift to Industry 4.0.

A second innovation project is also under way to automate the dyeing process.

Belt-Tech – which is based in Granby, Quebec, in Canada – says it is positioning itself as “a leader in the $100 million North-American automotive and aviation seatbelt market”.  [Read more…] about Canadian investment fund puts $5 million into Belt-Tech Products Inc

Disruptive technology: The industries at risk and the companies positioned to benefit

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Financialnewsmedia.com news commentary

“Neither RedBox nor Netflix are even on the radar screen in terms of competition,” Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes told the Motley Fool in 2008. His video-rental chain filed for bankruptcy in 2010. Today Netflix is worth $61.93 billion. 

Sometimes the next big thing isn’t easy to spot. Sometimes disruption is staring you right in the face and you can’t help but look the other way. That’s doubly true when you’re the head of a legacy business desperate to stay relevant.

Business disruption has become the new normal that companies face on a regular basis whereas a decade ago it was the rare exception.

The major cause of disruption is the rapid advancement of technology and globalization, which allows new business models to be introduced at an ever-increasing rate and with rapidly declining costs.  [Read more…] about Disruptive technology: The industries at risk and the companies positioned to benefit

Infographic: The mined minerals inside the devices you use every day

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Think your life isn’t impacted much by the mining industry? Think again.

Without mining, our lives as we know them would be very different: There would be no mass-produced light bulbs, no microwave ovens, no computer monitors.

Even our cell phones are made possible by mining – there’s a world of minerals in mobile devices from copper to quartz to silicon and more.  [Read more…] about Infographic: The mined minerals inside the devices you use every day

New books: We the robots

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We occasionally highlight interesting books that have been brought to our attention by their publishers.

In this article, we bring to your attention the following four books, three of which are published by Elsevier, and one by Quarto.

If you have written or published a book that you think is relevant to our website’s subject matter and might interest our readers, why not let us know?  [Read more…] about New books: We the robots

Canadian university ‘ready to train the next generation’ of mechatronics boffins

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One of the leading universities in Canada says it is “ready to train the next generation” of mechatronics eggheads.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University, located in Vancouver, has opened a new program to train the next generation of brainiacs needed to control and maintain electronic industrial machinery.

KPU is now accepting applications for the first students to take its Mechatronics and Advanced Manufacturing Technology Diploma program.  [Read more…] about Canadian university ‘ready to train the next generation’ of mechatronics boffins

Independent Kosovo college reorganises Summer Academy for second year

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Article contributed by AAB College, Kosovo

The first independent college in Kosovo is organising its “International Summer Academy” for the second consecutive year. 

Students from different countries of the world have started applying for the second edition of AAB Summer Academy.

The second edition of Summer School, organized by AAB College, AAB Summer Academy, has already announced the call for application open for all interested students.  [Read more…] about Independent Kosovo college reorganises Summer Academy for second year

Semicon West preview: Looking beyond Moore’s Law to the artificial intelligence era

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With the rapid rise of AI providing overwhelming possibilities for industry growth, Semicon West has been designed to help the microelectronics industry get a firm handle on how best to enable and take advantage of AI’s potential.

From the lab to the fab, and from design through system, the benefits from conversations at the event will be felt across transportation, medical, manufacturing, IoT and Big Data.

With the world’s interest racing toward how artificial intelligence can accelerate so many things, six visionary keynoters will reveal what lies ahead for semiconductors and society.  [Read more…] about Semicon West preview: Looking beyond Moore’s Law to the artificial intelligence era