Robotics & Automation News

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Industrial robots

Interview with Epson Robots’ Scott Marsic: ‘We make it simple to deploy robots’

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Epson Robots has been a quiet but influential force in industrial robotics for decades, particularly in high-precision automation.

The company’s history in robotics dates back to its internal efforts to automate watch assembly, which pushed it toward small-parts handling, speed, and accuracy rather than heavy-payload industrial automation. That heritage still shapes its strategy.

Today, Epson is best known for its strong market position in the SCARA robot segment – where it has held a prominent position globally for many years – and for supplying compact six-axis systems, vision tools, force-sensing technology, and integrated software environments designed to reduce deployment time and complexity. [Read more…] about Interview with Epson Robots’ Scott Marsic: ‘We make it simple to deploy robots’

China’s production of industrial robotic arms hits record high, according to ‘latest official data’

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Robot makers in China have supplied 595,000 industrial robotic arms to the market in the first nine months of this year, according to the South China Morning Post.

While the original source for this precise figure is not specified in available reports, it aligns with a broader trend of explosive growth documented by “latest official data” (as SCMP describes it), which shows production for the first half of 2025 reached 369,316 units, a year-on-year increase of 35.6 percent.

This surge in domestic production coincides with a major milestone for China’s automation sector. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), China now operates more industrial robots than the rest of the world combined, with its stock of in-service robots surpassing 2 million units in 2024. [Read more…] about China’s production of industrial robotic arms hits record high, according to ‘latest official data’

Yamaha Motor launches 7-axis collaborative robot with dedicated 48V controller

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Yamaha Motor has released the Yamaha Motor Cobot, a new seven-axis collaborative robot designed to operate safely alongside humans. The company has also introduced a compact, dedicated controller developed specifically for the new model.

The Yamaha Motor Cobot marks the company’s first commercially available collaborative robot and employs a seven-axis configuration that provides a degree of freedom similar to a human arm.

According to Yamaha, the additional axis enables “delicate movements, such as reaching into confined spaces that cannot be accessed by 6-axis robots or approaching targets by moving around obstacles”. [Read more…] about Yamaha Motor launches 7-axis collaborative robot with dedicated 48V controller

The grand illusion: Are big profits in the industrial robotic arms market just pure fantasy now?

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A recent Dürr financial statement sent a clear signal to the robotics world: even well-established players are not immune to the strain of slowing demand.

Dürr cut its order-intake target for 2025 (for continued operations) from its previous band of €4,300 to €4,700 million down to €3,800 to €4,100 million, citing weaker project demand.

Meanwhile, in its restructuring plan, the company announced it would eliminate roughly 500 administrative positions by end-2026, and absorb €40-50 million of restructuring provisions in H2 2025 to enable annual savings of about €50 million from 2027 onward. [Read more…] about The grand illusion: Are big profits in the industrial robotic arms market just pure fantasy now?

HD Hyundai Robotics launches new industrial robot controller with ‘enhanced safety and AI integration’

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HD Hyundai Robotics has launched its next-generation industrial AI robot controller, the Hi7, which the company says “significantly enhances safety, AI capabilities, and user convenience”.

The newly released controller is equipped with HD Hyundai Robotics’ proprietary AI-based safety control solution, SafeSpace 2.0, enabling advanced safety simulations and motion control features.

By analyzing situational data collected from sensors, the AI predicts potential risks during operation and autonomously halts robot movements upon detecting motion or impact, effectively preventing safety incidents. [Read more…] about HD Hyundai Robotics launches new industrial robot controller with ‘enhanced safety and AI integration’

ABB to sell its robotics division to SoftBank Group for $5.4 billion

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ABB has signed an agreement to divest its robotics division to SoftBank Group for an enterprise value of $5.375 billion and not pursue its earlier intention to spin off the business as a separately listed company.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and further customary closing conditions and is expected to close in mid-to-late 2026.

Peter Voser, chairman of ABB, says: “SoftBank’s offer has been carefully evaluated by the Board and Executive Committee and compared with our original intention for a spin-off. It reflects the long-term strengths of the division, and the divestment will create immediate value to ABB shareholders. [Read more…] about ABB to sell its robotics division to SoftBank Group for $5.4 billion

Beyond the headlines: Inside China’s multi-billion dollar industrial robotic arms market

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China now has more industrial robots than the rest of the world put together, but that headline tells only part of the story. The bigger narrative is the fierce internal competition between global giants and local robot-making startups.

A new report from the International Federation of Robotics delivered a seismic fact: China now operates more industrial robots than the rest of the world combined.

This isn’t just a statistical milestone; it’s the culmination of a decade-long gold rush that has reshaped the global automation industry.

The narrative, however, extends far beyond a simple headline. It’s a story of a fiercely competitive internal market where global titans and ambitious local champions are vying for a piece of an immense financial prize. [Read more…] about Beyond the headlines: Inside China’s multi-billion dollar industrial robotic arms market

Universal Robots launches new collaborative robot

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Universal Robots, the world’s leading collaborative robot (cobot) company, has expanded its UR Series with the launch of the UR18, an industrial collaborative robot designed to deliver both power and speed in a compact form.

With a 950 mm reach, payload capacity for larger end effectors, and motion speeds up to 4 m/s, the UR18 is ideal for fast-paced pick-and-place, assembly, and material handling in industries such as logistics, automotive, and food and beverage.

Its lightweight 39 kg design makes installation simple on most standard gantry systems, enabling flexible mounting without costly infrastructure changes. [Read more…] about Universal Robots launches new collaborative robot

Franka unveils two new robot prototypes for advanced robotics research

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Franka Robotics has introduced two new research-focused prototypes designed to advance work in dual-arm manipulation, imitation learning, and mobile robotics.

The systems – the Franka Research 3 Duo and its mobile counterpart, the Mobile FR3 Duo – are aimed at providing high-performance, extensible platforms for robotics learning and experimentation.

The FR3 Duo integrates two Franka Research 3 robot arms on a single mount, creating a reference dual-arm system for control, manipulation, and imitation learning tasks. [Read more…] about Franka unveils two new robot prototypes for advanced robotics research

Global robot demand in factories ‘doubles over 10 years’, according to new report

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The new World Robotics 2025 statistics on industrial robots, published by the International Federation of Robotics, showed 542,000 robots installed in 2024 – more than double the number 10 years ago. Annual installations topped 500,000 units for the fourth straight year.

Asia accounted for 74 percent of new deployments in 2024, compared with 16 percent in Europe and 9 percent in the Americas.

Takayuki Ito, president of the International Federation of Robotics, says: “The new World Robotics statistics show 2024 the second highest annual installation count of industrial robots in history – only 2 percent lower than the all-time-high two years ago. [Read more…] about Global robot demand in factories ‘doubles over 10 years’, according to new report