Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Industrial robots

Comau brings high-speed robotic precision to the cosmetics industry

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Comau has collaborated with Siscodata for the development of an innovative robotic cell designed to clean and manipulate high-end, pre-printed cosmetic bottles without leaving a single scratch.

With the aim of increasing the production capacity for Cosmint, a premium cosmetic manufacturer who works with some of the world’s biggest names in the industry, the System Integrator used two Comau NJ-40 robots within a high-speed depalletizing solution able to pick, rotate and clean custom-printed plastic bottles at an accelerated rate of 150 pieces per minute.

The new cell replaces three standard machines that were previously installed at the Cosmint facilities. [Read more…] about Comau brings high-speed robotic precision to the cosmetics industry

Festo unveils ‘the first pneumatic collaborative robot’

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Industrial technology and automation company Festo has unveiled what it describes as “the first pneumatic collaborative robot”, saying it marks a “new era in human-robot collaboration”

What if there was a robot that was easy to operate, did not require a safety fence and was also attractively priced? That would introduce a whole new era in human-robot collaboration. This new era is now dawning – with the world’s first pneumatic robot from Festo.

Hardly any industrial market segment will grow as rapidly over the next few years as human-robot collaboration. Cobots relieve employees of particularly strenuous or monotonous tasks, giving them new levels of freedom and making their work easier and healthier.

And no other technology has such a sensitive and flexible approach to human-robot collaboration as pneumatics. [Read more…] about Festo unveils ‘the first pneumatic collaborative robot’

ABB launches new robotic depalletizer to ‘reduce complexity and improve efficiency’

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ABB has launched the “ABB Robotic Depalletizer”, a solution for handling complex depalletizing tasks in the logistics, e-commerce, healthcare, and consumer packaged goods industries.

Using machine vision software, ABB’s new solution can quickly assess a wide variety of box types, enabling customers to efficiently process assorted loads with very little engineering effort and short set-up time.

Marc Segura, ABB’s Robotics division president, says: “Changes in consumer behavior are leading to a rise in new sales channels such as omni-channel, direct to consumer and e-commerce. [Read more…] about ABB launches new robotic depalletizer to ‘reduce complexity and improve efficiency’

ABB Robotics unveils world’s first robot-painted art car

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ABB Robotics has collaborated with two world-renowned artists – eight-year-old Indian child prodigy Advait Kolarkar and Dubai-based digital design collective Illusorr – to create the world’s first robot-painted art car.

ABB’s award-winning PixelPaint technology has, without human intervention, perfectly recreated Advait’s swirling, monochromatic design as well as Illusorr’s tri-color geometrical patterns.

Equipped with 1,000 nozzles in the printer head, ABB’s IRB 5500 paint robots were able to complete the highly complex artworks in less than 30 minutes. [Read more…] about ABB Robotics unveils world’s first robot-painted art car

Industrial robot costs to drop by half in the next three years

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Karthee Madasamy, founder and managing partner at MFV Partners

According to ARK Invest research, industrial robot costs will drop by 50-60 percent by 2025. This dramatic drop in costs, combined with other factors such as the global pandemic’s acceleration of industries embracing automation, has resulted in a situation where interest in robotics has reached a fever pitch.

In fact, in the first year of the pandemic venture firms poured $6.3 billion into robotics companies, up nearly 50 percent from the $4.3 billion they invested over the same period a year earlier.

Further, in North America, industrial robot sales had their strongest year ever in 2021. With this activity it’s not surprising that the global market is forecasted to reach $31 billion by 2028. [Read more…] about Industrial robot costs to drop by half in the next three years

Universal Robots records best ever Q1 results

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Universal Robots, the Danish producer of collaborative robots, has reported record Q1 revenue of $85 million, 30 percent up on its 2021 Q1 revenue.

The company’s chief financial officer, Kim Nørgaard Andreasen said: “Reporting record Q1 revenue at a time when businesses across the world are facing disruption from the pandemic, supply chain challenges and conflict is a testament to the role collaborative automation can play in helping our customers stay competitive.

“In addition to record revenue, we have been pleased this quarter to welcome 80 new employees to our rapidly growing company.” [Read more…] about Universal Robots records best ever Q1 results

Schaeffler to unveil ‘eagerly anticipated innovative solution’ for robots

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Schaeffler says it will present at Hannover Messe 2022 an “eagerly anticipated innovative solution package” for collaborative robots and articulated robots.

The manufacturing industry requires lightweight robots that can operate with high dynamics and a high degree of precision.

Ralf Moseberg, head of business field industrial automation at Schaeffler, says the industry is looking for innovation. [Read more…] about Schaeffler to unveil ‘eagerly anticipated innovative solution’ for robots

Kollmorgen launches new generation of robot-ready frameless servo motors

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Kollmorgen, a specialist in motion control systems, has launched the new TBM2G series of frameless servo motors, introducing features that simplify the design of collaborative, surgical, aerospace and defense and other robots while delivering optimal performance in a lighter, more compact package.

These new motors will complement Kollmorgen’s existing TBM and KBM series of frameless motors.

Resulting from several years of research, testing and customer feedback, the TBM2G series offers high-performance torque in an extremely compact electromagnetics package. [Read more…] about Kollmorgen launches new generation of robot-ready frameless servo motors

New large ABB robots ‘increase speed and flexibility’ in electric vehicle battery production

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ABB is adding two new robot product lines to its portfolio of large robots for complex manufacturing applications.

ABB says the new robots deliver “enhanced speed, accuracy, flexibility, and a more robust design”, including integrated process cabling, adding that the ABB IRB 5710 and 5720 robots deliver “increased productivity and enhanced performance with higher uptime for applications” including electric vehicle manufacture, foundry, forging, rubber, plastics, and metal fabrication.

Available in eight variants, the IRB 5710 and IRB 5720 present a choice of options for payloads from 70 kg to 180 kg and reaches from 2.3 m to 3 m. [Read more…] about New large ABB robots ‘increase speed and flexibility’ in electric vehicle battery production

Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots to break new ground at new site

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In a few weeks, construction will begin on state-of-the-art joint headquarters for Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots in Odense, Denmark.

The building will accommodate up to 600 employees and will be the “world’s largest cobot and autonomous mobile robot hub”. Groundbreaking will take place on 20 April with completion expected at the start of 2024.

The background for building a new joint headquarters is the explosive growth of both MiR and Universal Robots. [Read more…] about Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots to break new ground at new site