Robotics & Automation News

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Kawasaki robots take the biscuit

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Fox’s, a UK biscuit brand, has replaced SCARA type robots with Kawasaki robots to overcome efficiency issues relating to obsolescence.

Back in 1989, Fox’s Uttoxeter facility first implemented robotic handling of wrapped biscuits, reducing operators from 34 to just 14, using SCARA configuration robots.

Out of three replacement options proposed to Fox’s, Kawasaki suggested a move back to conventional six axes arms. Through simulations, Kawasaki Robotics UK was able to illustrate that the RS-20N Robots would cost effectively match, and exceed if required, the output of the existing SCARA robots.

[Read more…] about Kawasaki robots take the biscuit

KEB America releases new safety products for automation systems

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KEB America, Inc. has released new safety automation products for the North American market. Safety PLC, Safe I/O modules, and Safety PLC programming software are now available as part of a full system solution designed by KEB.

KEB’s Safety PLC is a Fail Safe over EtherCAT (FSoE) master that is used in tandem with the machine PLC to execute and monitor the safety functions of the machinery.

FSoE uses a black-channel approach and can be used with other bus systems. KEB’s Safety PLC connects with other FSoE slave modules like Safe I/O and Servo Drives with Safe Motion functionality.

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Steel fabricator makes intelligent upgrade

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Zalk Josephs Fabricators is a structural steel fabricator that specializes in the commercial market in the upper Midwest of the USA. It uses CNC systems for sawing, drilling and plate processing. It wanted to move to a more integrated and automated approach.

Chris Simonson, president of Zalk Josephs Fabricators, says: “Ficep was able to assist in this process by going through numerous plant layouts where the Ficep software was used to simulate past jobs showing real time productivity and exposing material handling bottlenecks.

“As we were going from stand-alone machines to combined drill/saw and drilling/coping, we needed to be convinced that we could achieve the throughput required to feed our fit up area.”

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Kawasaki ‘Successor’ to expand human-robot remote collaboration

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Kawasaki Heavy Industries has a new robot system, Successor, that reproduces the movements of expert engineers through remote collaboration.

The company is first introducing the system into the robot manufacturing line at its Nishi-Kobe Works and will begin limited sales to select customers in FY2018, followed by general sales in FY2019.

Successor is a system that features newly-developed remote control devices that enable remote collaboration. Remote control will make it possible to apply robots to a wide range of fields, and the system is compatible with a wide range of Kawasaki robots.

[Read more…] about Kawasaki ‘Successor’ to expand human-robot remote collaboration

Universal Robots opens repair center in Shanghai

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Universal Robots‘ newly renovated location in Shanghai will handle all repair requests as well as house a complete inventory of spare parts for Universal Robots collaborative robot arms, servicing the entire China mainland region.

Universal Robots General Manager in China, Adam Sobieski, said: “In China, which is developing very fast, not only the system integrators but also the end users prefer just-in-time services and solutions,” he says.

With the 200 sqm new center in Shanghai and support from a local technical and application team, Universal Robots China says it is able to deliver a timely after-sales service locally.

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Metal products manufacturers in China turning to robots to increase output

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A large number of companies in China which make metal products are concentrated in one particular city, called Yongkang, also known as the “City of Metal”. 

And, according to state news agency Xinhua, many of these companies are turning to robotic assembly lines to increase productivity.

The communist Chinese government outlet quotes one general manager of a company called Haers Vacuum Containers as saying: “A robot assembly line will be launched soon, and we are confident of surpassing the current leading producer this year.”  [Read more…] about Metal products manufacturers in China turning to robots to increase output

Siemens extends digital industrial network

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Siemens has set up 20 centers for digital customer applications in the industrial sector. Each of these MindSphere Application Centers for digital offerings from Siemens spans multiple locations in different countries and specializes in a particular industry in which Siemens is active.

Today, around 900 software developers, data specialists and engineers are already working together with Siemens customers at these centers to develop digital innovations for data analysis and machine learning.

These new solutions are being developed on MindSphere, Siemens’ open, cloud-based operating system for the Internet of Things (IoT). To be close to its customers, the company has distributed its 20 centers across around 50 locations in 17 countries worldwide.

[Read more…] about Siemens extends digital industrial network

Do you know what a camera looks like? Do you know what a watch looks like? If you’re under 30, you probably don’t

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Young people today. What do they know?

Not much, obviously. For example, they don’t know what a camera looks like. An actual camera, not a camera “app” on their smartphones.

It’s one of the reasons why Instagram decided to change its logo. The photo-sharing app and website previously used an attractive image of a camera, as shown below, on the left.

It was an elegant design, and made you want one of those cameras. Someone should probably manufacture a camera of that design – it might find a lot of buyers.  [Read more…] about Do you know what a camera looks like? Do you know what a watch looks like? If you’re under 30, you probably don’t

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