Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

More than half of warehouse businesses to upgrade mobile equipment

by

More than half of warehousing and supply chain businesses are planning to upgrade their mobile devices, according to a new survey.

This is one of the findings of a new research study, Taking Advantage of Apps and App Modernization in Warehousing, released by Ivanti.

Based on research conducted by VDC Research, the study addresses the evolution of mobility in warehousing and outlines evolving requirements shaping the future of mobile applications within the supply chain.  [Read more…] about More than half of warehouse businesses to upgrade mobile equipment

Harrison Manufacturing increases throughput with Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer

by

Harrison Manufacturing, a custom plastics injection molding manufacturer specializing in molded plastics and light assembly, recently installed Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer robot at its Jackson, Mississippi facility and says it saw “immediate tangible benefits”.

Harrison bosses say they were able to integrate Sawyer into their process “within hours”.

The company says it is reducing labor costs and increasing throughput by using Sawyer in ergonomically challenging tasks. (See video below.) [Read more…] about Harrison Manufacturing increases throughput with Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer

Kollmorgen equips S700 servo controllers with single-cable connection technology

by

Kollmorgen has equipped its S700 servo controllers with single-cable connection technology.

The company says the combination is “designed for sophisticated tasks” and now also includes slender single-cable connection technology.

Kollmorgen says the S700 combines multi-functionality with “maximum levels of freedom”, from programming to wiring. (See main picture.) [Read more…] about Kollmorgen equips S700 servo controllers with single-cable connection technology

Chinese solar cell company Longi considers establishing facility in India

by

Chinese solar power generation equipment company Longi is reportedly planning to establish a manufacturing facility in India. 

If it does go ahead with the plan, Longi will become the first Chinese solar cell manufacturer to set up a factory in India.

According to a report in LiveMint.com, which quotes people close to the company, “Longi is planning to set up a manufacturing facility here. It will be a first for them here”.  [Read more…] about Chinese solar cell company Longi considers establishing facility in India

HP opens first advanced manufacturing centre in Singapore

by

HP has opened its first smart manufacturing centre in the tiny city-state of Singapore. 

The Smart Manufacturing Applications and Research Centre, or Smarc, is the first such facility HP has opened anywhere in the world, according to the Business Times of Singapore.

The 6,000 square foot facility – dubbed the “Asia-Pacific Japan campus” – is said to accommodate a team of engineers who oversee more than 50 manufacturing supply lines globally.  [Read more…] about HP opens first advanced manufacturing centre in Singapore

Shaw Industries to invest $184 million in its Alabama manufacturing plant

by

Shaw Industries says it will invest $184 million in its Andalusia, Alabama facility, which creates fiber used in the manufacturing of carpet.

Shaw says the project will include construction of new and expanded building assets, and installation of substantial amounts of new manufacturing equipment.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey welcome the decision, saying: “Shaw’s significant new investment in its Andalusia manufacturing facility is a welcome development that positions the plant for the future and demonstrates the company’s confidence in its large Alabama workforce.  [Read more…] about Shaw Industries to invest $184 million in its Alabama manufacturing plant

Alchemy IoT launches with $4 million funding to integrate AI into IIoT without need for coding

by

A new company called Alchemy IoT says it has $4 million seed funding to “simplify the industrial internet of thing using artificial intelligence”.

The company says it addresses the high costs and complexities of AI-based IoT for small- to mid-sized industrial customers with “no-code” cloud-based application, which enables its customers to be up “and running in 48 hours”.

Alchemy IoT describes itself as “a provider of IoT asset intelligence for industrial applications”.  [Read more…] about Alchemy IoT launches with $4 million funding to integrate AI into IIoT without need for coding

Apple awards $390 million from its advanced manufacturing fund to Finisar for its optical components

by

Apple has awarded $390 million from its $1 billion advanced manufacturing fund to a US company called Finisar. 

The computing devices giant says the award is part of its long-term aim to support innovation and job creation by American manufacturers.

The award will enable Finisar to exponentially increase its R&D spending and high-volume production of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs).  [Read more…] about Apple awards $390 million from its advanced manufacturing fund to Finisar for its optical components

Bend it like Comeco: Nord helps Swedish company to improve rebar bending process

by

Looking for ways to improve their machines’ usability and to economize on manufacturing costs, the Swedish company Comeco decided to launch a new line of rebar benders with electric drives instead of hydraulics.

Nord DriveSystems supported the company from the early planning phase through to production, configuring an AC vector drive with an integrated programmable logic controller that controls all machine functions.

The current solution is simpler, more robust, and easier to maintain, says Comeco. In addition to substantial savings for procured parts, the assembly time was halved.  [Read more…] about Bend it like Comeco: Nord helps Swedish company to improve rebar bending process

The big feature: Urban mobility in China – why car sharing is set to take off

by

By Klaus Schmitz, Arthur D. Little

China’s dominating chauffer companies, Didi and Uber China, merged in 2016, wrapping up a history of fierce competition for the city-mobility market.

The two are now left with a huge shared customer pool that knows a lot about their choices for mobility.

The new phase being ushered in is car sharing, which is poised for explosive growth across China.

In this article, Klaus Schmitz of consultancy firm Arthur D Little examines the market dynamics and the major hurdles, and makes predictions for the future of the Chinese car-sharing scene.  [Read more…] about The big feature: Urban mobility in China – why car sharing is set to take off