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Robotiq discontinues sales of the FT 150 Force Torque Sensor

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Robotiq’s new FT 300 Force Torque Sensor is now able to perform the applications done by the FT 150 Force Torque Sensor. Considering this, Robotiq has discontinued sales of the FT 150 Force Torque Sensor.

The latest updates on the Robotiq FT 300 Force Torque Sensor hardware and URCap enabled this product to perform highly repeatable precision force control tasks such as finishing, product testing, assembly and precise part insertion.

Notwithstanding discontinuation, Robotiq’s standard terms and conditions, including the twelve-month warranty and end-of-life product support, will continue to apply to all FT 150 units sold.

Mitsubishi partners with Eplan to integrate new IIoT data exchange system

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Industrial automation company Mitsubishi Electric is partnering with computer-aided design software provider Eplan to integrate a new industrial internet of things data exchange system.

The integration is made possible by industry association AutomationML, according to the companies.

The new integration solution from Eplan Electric P8 to Melsoft iQ Works by Mitsubishi Electric connects electrical engineering systems to automation systems.  [Read more…] about Mitsubishi partners with Eplan to integrate new IIoT data exchange system

Extra sensitivity for robotic force sensor

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The Robotiq FT 300 multi-axis torque force sensor, designed specifically for operation with Universal Robots, has had its sensitivity increased tenfold, says UK supplier Raruk Automation.

With plug-and-play integration on all models of Universal Robots, the Robotiq FT 300 performs highly repeatable, precision force control tasks such as finishing, product testing, assembly and precise part insertion. It has a measuring range of ±300N.

Raruk Automation offers the complete range of Robotiq off-the-shelf 2-finger, 3-finger and dual grippers and 6-axis torque force sensor.

[Read more…] about Extra sensitivity for robotic force sensor

Hollar deploys inVia Robotics mobile robots for warehouse operations

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Hollar has deployed inVia Robotics Picker robots and cloud-based Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) management system to streamline e-commerce fulfillment in its Los Angeles warehouse.

Hollar needed a cost-effective, collaborative mobile robotics platform to automate the goods-to-person fulfillment process. It will initially deploy 100 inVia Picker robots and scale as needed to address seasonal shopping and company growth.

The inVia Picker works collaboratively alongside Hollar’s human operators to pick and move items, automating the storage and retrieval process and minimizing operator risk exposure.

[Read more…] about Hollar deploys inVia Robotics mobile robots for warehouse operations

Cobots halt slide to overseas manufacturing

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The long-standing industrial practice of outsourcing manufacturing operations to low-cost parts of the world to keep manufacturing costs down has recently taken a turn.

A report from Boston Consulting Group has shown that ‘the share of executives saying that their companies are actively reshoring production increased by 9% since 2014 and by about 250% since 2012. This suggests that companies that were considering reshoring in the past three years are now taking action.’

With rapidly rising labour costs in traditional low-cost countries such as China, manufacturers are now experiencing that the financial advantages of manufacturing overseas are being seriously eroded.

[Read more…] about Cobots halt slide to overseas manufacturing

Honeywell introduces industrial training simulator

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Honeywell has launched a cloud-based simulation tool that uses a combination of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to train plant personnel on critical industrial work activities.

With as much as 50 percent of industrial plant personnel due to retire within the next five years, the Honeywell Connected Plant Skills Insight Immersive Competency is designed to bring new industrial workers up to speed quickly by enhancing training and delivering it in new and contemporary ways.

The training solution combines mixed reality with data analytics and the company’s 25 years of experience in worker competency management to create an interactive environment for on-the-job training.

[Read more…] about Honeywell introduces industrial training simulator

Cimtec to repair Epson Robots in south-east US

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Cimtec Automation LLC is now an official Epson Robots certified repair center. The partnership will extend beyond the current scope of selling new Epson Robots and automation products to include maintenance and repair of the broad installed base of legacy systems throughout the Southeastern US.

The original agreement, in 2015, included distribution of all of Epson Robots’ automation products, including the large lineup of SCARA, 6-Axis and Linear Module robots as well as Vision Guidance, Force Guidance and many other industrial automation products.

Cimtec has helped Epson Robots grow new robot-based automation solutions throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

[Read more…] about Cimtec to repair Epson Robots in south-east US

ESI looks to capitalise on collaborative robot market growth with its new CanArm model

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Engineering Services Inc is looking to capitalise on growing global demand for collaborative robots with its newly developed cobot. 

ESI says its CanArm C-15 cobot is the result of “several years of research … relying on our rich experience”.

ESI is looking to establish itself in a fast-growing market which has seen tens of thousands of robots sold in the past few years, as well as new companies entering the competition.  [Read more…] about ESI looks to capitalise on collaborative robot market growth with its new CanArm model

Siemens extends its Simatic industrial automation controller range

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Siemens is extending its Simatic automation controller series for PC-based applications.

The distributed automation controllers now include the new, more powerful Simatic ET 200SP Open Controller CPU 1515SP PC 2 – for standard and fail-safe applications up to Performance Level e.

The new Open Controller, which Siemens says is “particularly suitable for series machine building”, combines the functions of a PC-based software controller with visualization, Windows applications and central I/Os (inputs/outputs) in a single compact device.  [Read more…] about Siemens extends its Simatic industrial automation controller range

Siemens to acquire Sarokal to strengthen product lifecycle management business

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Siemens has agreed to acquire Sarokal Test Systems, a provider of test solutions for electronics components, such as integrated circuits. 

Sarokal’s test solutions cover fronthaul networks that are comprised of links between the centralized radio controllers and the radio heads, or masts, at the “edge” of a cellular network.

Sarokal products are used by chipset vendors, fronthaul equipment manufacturers, and telecom operators to develop, test and verify their 4G and 5G network devices from the early design stages through implementation and field-testing.

Tony Hemmelgarn, president and CEO of Siemens PLM Software, says: “The planned acquisition of Sarokal reinforces our ongoing commitment to EDA [electronic design automation] and the IC [integration circuit] industry.  [Read more…] about Siemens to acquire Sarokal to strengthen product lifecycle management business