Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Sam Francis

Meiko Group partners with Fizyr and Yaskawa Europe on automated dishwashing

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Fizyr, a provider of advanced vision AI, and Yaskawa Europe, one of the world’s largest robotics and industrial automation companies, have teamed up with Meiko Group to bring automation to commercial kitchens. 

Meiko, known for its professional warewashing, cleaning, and disinfection systems, is working with the two technology companies to develop an automated dish sorting and washing solution.

The project also incorporates Meiko’s expertise in sustainable food waste treatment, aiming to improve efficiency and hygiene in large-scale food service operations. [Read more…] about Meiko Group partners with Fizyr and Yaskawa Europe on automated dishwashing

The Precision Engineering Foundations of Next-Generation Robotics

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As advances in CNC Swiss machining and customized components address the fundamental physical realities of advanced automation.

The overwhelming source of headlines in robotics is almost entirely consumed by artificial intelligence, machine learning, and creative software concepts.

However, these digital abilities are only possible because the digital instructions are being applied to a physical machine that moves predictably, reliably, and accurately. [Read more…] about The Precision Engineering Foundations of Next-Generation Robotics

ABB to invest an extra $110 million in US manufacturing

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Industrial automation and energy giant ABB says it will invest a further $110 million in the United States in 2025 to expand the R&D and manufacturing of its advanced electrification solutions as customers focus on improving energy efficiency and uptime while reducing their energy costs.

The IEA estimate US wholesale electricity prices rose by 30-40 percent in the first half of 2025, compared with 2024.

Creating nearly 200 new jobs, the investment will support expected future growth in key industries, including data centers and the power grid. Rapid expansion of data centers in the US is expected to keep annual electricity demand growth above 2 percent in both 2025 and 2026, more than double the average growth rate over the past decade (IEA). [Read more…] about ABB to invest an extra $110 million in US manufacturing

GlaxoSmithKline to invest $30 billion in R&D and manufacturing in the US

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British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) says it plans to invest $30 billion across the United States in research and development and supply chain infrastructure over the next five years.

This includes a new $1.2 billion investment in advanced manufacturing facilities and AI and advanced digital technologies, to deliver new, next-generation biopharma factories and laboratories in the United States.

These investments build on GSK’s strong innovation and manufacturing footprint and capabilities in the United States today, developing and making products in the United States for the United States. [Read more…] about GlaxoSmithKline to invest $30 billion in R&D and manufacturing in the US

Eli Lilly to build $5 billion manufacturing facility in Virginia

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American multinational pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly says it plans to build a $5 billion manufacturing facility just west of Richmond, Virginia, in Goochland County.

The new site will be the company’s first dedicated, fully integrated active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and drug product facility for Lilly’s emerging bioconjugate platform and monoclonal antibody portfolio.

Earlier this year, at a press conference in Washington, DC, Lilly announced plans to bolster its domestic medicine production across therapeutic areas by building four new pharmaceutical manufacturing sites in the United States. [Read more…] about Eli Lilly to build $5 billion manufacturing facility in Virginia

Sonair raises $6 million to accelerate launch of ‘world’s first safe 3D ultrasonic sensor for robots’

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As autonomous robots enter warehouses, hospitals, shops, and public spaces, the need for safe human-machine collaboration is growing fast. That’s exactly what Sonair’s ADAR sensor is built for. With $6 million in new funding the company can capture its global target market segments and establish a new category for robotic perception.

After a strong market debut earlier this year, ADAR (acoustic detection and ranging) is now shipping to manufacturers in Asia, Europe and North America.

The sensor uses sound waves in air to give robots a precise, real-time 3D view of their surroundings, helping them operate safely in shared spaces.

Sonair is safety-certifying to PLd ISO13849 / SIL IEC 61508. An industry-first for 3D ultrasonic sensing, with the company now moving fast to meet rising, global demand. [Read more…] about Sonair raises $6 million to accelerate launch of ‘world’s first safe 3D ultrasonic sensor for robots’

ASG Power advances sustainability and efficiency through new training initiative

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ASG Power, a provider of design-build industrial automation and electrical-power solutions, has completed a company-wide 5S training initiative as part of its ongoing focus on sustainability, operational efficiency and environmental stewardship.

By adopting these lean practices, ASG is reducing waste, streamlining processes and supporting broader trends in green manufacturing and energy-efficient operations.

The training focused on the core principles of 5S: Sort, Set, Shine, Standardize and Sustain, and empowered teams to implement them across warehouses, manufacturing spaces and offices. [Read more…] about ASG Power advances sustainability and efficiency through new training initiative

GMI and AINEXXO form strategic alliance to launch ‘self-aware and self-protecting factory’

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G.M. International (GMI), a provider of intrinsic and functional safety hardware for Operational Technology (OT), and AINEXXO, a deep-tech pioneer in AI-powered OT, have announced a strategic alliance to deliver a transformative industrial innovation: the “Self-Aware and Self-Protecting Factory”.

This alliance fuses GMI’s SIL-certified safety hardware with AINEXXO’s cognitive AI stack, laying the foundation for a new class of safety-embedded, self-aware industrial systems that redefine the future of operational resilience. [Read more…] about GMI and AINEXXO form strategic alliance to launch ‘self-aware and self-protecting factory’

SoftBank develops ‘robot-friendly’ server rack to enable automation at data centers

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SoftBank, a Japanese telecommunications giant which is a significant player in the robotics sector, has developed a new server rack intended to make data center hardware easier for robots to install, maintain, and replace. 

The company says the initiative will help position its infrastructure as being tailored to the demands of AI and autonomous systems.

Announced in September 2025, the rack introduces a cableless structure that allows robots to carry out tasks such as installing and removing servers, swapping faulty units, and conducting inspections. [Read more…] about SoftBank develops ‘robot-friendly’ server rack to enable automation at data centers

Georgia Tech team designs robot guide dog to assist the visually impaired

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People who are visually impaired and cannot afford or care for service animals might have a practical alternative in a robotic guide dog being developed at Georgia Tech.

Before launching its prototype, a research team within Georgia Tech’s School of Interactive Computing, led by Professor Bruce Walker and Assistant Professor Sehoon Ha, is working to improve its methods and designs based on research within blind and visually impaired (BVI) communities.

“There’s been research on the technical aspects and functionality of robotic guide dogs, but not a lot of emphasis on the aesthetics or form factors,” says Avery Gong, a recent master’s graduate who worked in Walker’s lab. “We wanted to fill this gap.” [Read more…] about Georgia Tech team designs robot guide dog to assist the visually impaired