Robotics & Automation News

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Industrial robots

ABB Robotics launches new automated surface finishing cell

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ABB Robotics has launched its first fully automated sanding and polishing cell – the OmniVance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell, empowering a new wave of manufacturers to automate key surface finishing tasks, such as sanding and polishing.

Craig McDonnell, managing director business line industries, ABB Robotics, says: “A growing number of companies are looking to automate processes such as sanding and polishing, but many smaller businesses lack in-house robotics expertise – so while they need to deliver perfect quality every time, until now, many have not had a solution that fits their needs.

“Many businesses are wary of investing in complex, bespoke automation, while off-the-shelf tools lack the scalability and capability they require. With our new OmniVance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell, we’re introducing industrial-grade robotics in a simple, affordable, and scalable solution.” [Read more…] about ABB Robotics launches new automated surface finishing cell

Surplus robots, robot welders, and support equipment to be auctioned by BTM Industrial

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The industrial auctioneer is helping its client free up needed floor space

BTM Industrial, a leading asset disposition company, is helping a large industrial robotics supplier liquidate its surplus inventory of than 150 FANUC, ABB, KUKA, and Yaskawa robots, controllers, and welding equipment, along with other miscellaneous production support items.

The company is holding a no-reserve online auction on May 5 and 6, 2026, to help its client free up needed floor space at its Warren, Ohio, facility.

“Facility space is always a premium for our clients,” said BTM Industrial President Jeff Orlowski, who coordinated the auction’s set-up using his extensive used-robotics industry knowledge. “We help them manage available floorspace by quickly liquidating surplus inventory and assets that are no longer needed.” [Read more…] about Surplus robots, robot welders, and support equipment to be auctioned by BTM Industrial

Stäubli launches TX2-60L MedX Ready medical robot

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Stäubli Robotics has launched the TX2-60L MedX Ready, a high-precision six-axis robot engineered for medical and surgical applications.

Developed within an ISO 13485-compliant Quality Management System (QMS) and in accordance with the requirements of medical environments, the robot is equipped with MedXguiding, an intuitive manual guidance function, underscoring Stäubli’s long-standing commitment to innovation, safety, and clinical performance.

Stäubli partners with medical technology manufacturers and integrators to co-create solutions that meet stringent clinical requirements across surgery, rehabilitation, imaging, and diagnostics. [Read more…] about Stäubli launches TX2-60L MedX Ready medical robot

ABB Robotics launches high-speed PoWa collaborative robot range

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ABB Robotics is combining the flexibility of collaborative robots with higher payloads and performance, with the launch of its new PoWa cobot family into the rapidly expanding global collaborative robot market, which ABB Robotics estimates will grow by 20 percent annually through to 2028.

Andrea Cassoni, head of collaborative robots at ABB Robotics, says: “Cobots are growing significantly faster than traditional industrial robots, driven by demands from both small and midsized companies starting their automation journey as well as large enterprises.

“These customers are seeking higher speeds and payloads, but also greater ease of use, and compact designs. Established manufacturers want to automate heavier, fast cycle applications, without the complexity and operational rigidity of traditional industrial robots. [Read more…] about ABB Robotics launches high-speed PoWa collaborative robot range

Kuka outlines ‘Automation 2.0’ strategy, combining AI software with industrial robotics

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Industrial robot maker Kuka has outlined a new technology direction it calls “Automation 2.0”, centered on integrating artificial intelligence with industrial automation systems to enable more adaptive, autonomous operations.

The strategy, presented at the recent Nvidia GTC event, reflects a broader industry shift toward what is increasingly described as “physical AI” – systems that can perceive, decide, and act in real-world environments rather than simply execute pre-programmed tasks. [Read more…] about Kuka outlines ‘Automation 2.0’ strategy, combining AI software with industrial robotics

SVT Robotics launches ‘Softbot Intelligence’ to power AI with real-time automation data

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SVT Robotics, a developer of interoperability software, has launched its “Softbot Intelligence” platform, a new data capability that transforms how organizations see and leverage performance data across live automation environments.

Built on the Softbot Platform, Softbot Intelligence captures and contextualizes real-time execution data as it flows through integrated technologies, creating the high-fidelity data backbone required for reliable, AI-driven outcomes.

As the Softbot Platform orchestrates execution events across robotics, software, and enterprise systems, Softbot Intelligence continuously captures and correlates these events with millisecond-level precision – revealing relationships, dependencies, and cause-and-effect between technologies. [Read more…] about SVT Robotics launches ‘Softbot Intelligence’ to power AI with real-time automation data

PickNik releases MoveIt Pro 9 to improve AI-driven robotics in variable environments

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PickNik has released version 9 of its robotics development software MoveIt Pro, introducing new capabilities aimed at improving how robots operate in complex, real-world environments such as cleaning, sanitation and vehicle washing.

The update focuses on what the company describes as “scan-and-plan” workflows – a technique that allows robots to perceive their surroundings in real time and generate motion paths dynamically, rather than relying on fixed, pre-programmed instructions.

Industrial robots have traditionally performed best in structured environments, such as manufacturing lines, where tasks are repetitive and predictable. However, applications like restroom cleaning or food plant sanitation present a different challenge, requiring robots to adapt to changing layouts, irregular surfaces and variable geometries. [Read more…] about PickNik releases MoveIt Pro 9 to improve AI-driven robotics in variable environments

ABB partners with Jacobi Robotics to roll out AI-powered palletizing for integrator network

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Jacobi Robotics, a Physical AI company for warehouse automation, has announced a collaboration with ABB Robotics, which will integrate Jacobi’s OmniPalletizer AI software within its portfolio of robotics hardware and software.

The collaboration will give ABB Robotics’ network of system integrators a productized, repeatable way to deploy AI-powered mixed-case palletizing without upstream sequencing infrastructure, facility redesign, or custom engineering.

Mixed-case palletizing – building stable, store-ready pallets from live, unsequenced case flows – is one of the most labor-intensive and costly manual workflows in distribution. [Read more…] about ABB partners with Jacobi Robotics to roll out AI-powered palletizing for integrator network

Logic introduces ‘Octopus’ overhead multi-arm robot to boost warehouse throughput

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High-speed, multi-arm goods-to-robot system pairs with Logic Pallets to turn every loading zone into a smart automation cell

Logic, a pioneer in autonomous, data-driven logistics solutions, highlights the Octopus, an overhead industrial picking robot that replaces static, floor-bound equipment with an agile, ceiling-mounted system for high-speed case handling.

Suspended above existing workflows, Octopus autonomously picks, lifts, and transfers cased goods without consuming aisle space, allowing warehouses and logistics hubs to reclaim the floor for storage density, people, and flow.

Rather than relying on a single arm with one dominant tool, Octopus is built as a configurable, multi-arm platform that can be populated with any combination of suction cups, clamps, grippers, and specialized end effectors. [Read more…] about Logic introduces ‘Octopus’ overhead multi-arm robot to boost warehouse throughput

From Standards to the Shop Floor: Practical Robot Safety Steps Operators Can Apply

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Robots make work faster, cleaner, and more consistent. They also change how risk shows up on the floor. The danger is not only the moving arm, but also the in-between moments, when a cell is paused, a jam is cleared, or a quick adjustment turns into hands inside the fence.

Operators sit closest to these moments, so practical safety habits matter as much as any policy. You do not need to quote standards from memory to work safely. Here are practical robot safety steps operators can apply. [Read more…] about From Standards to the Shop Floor: Practical Robot Safety Steps Operators Can Apply