Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Industry

HP opens first advanced manufacturing centre in Singapore

by

HP has opened its first smart manufacturing centre in the tiny city-state of Singapore. 

The Smart Manufacturing Applications and Research Centre, or Smarc, is the first such facility HP has opened anywhere in the world, according to the Business Times of Singapore.

The 6,000 square foot facility – dubbed the “Asia-Pacific Japan campus” – is said to accommodate a team of engineers who oversee more than 50 manufacturing supply lines globally.  [Read more…] about HP opens first advanced manufacturing centre in Singapore

Shaw Industries to invest $184 million in its Alabama manufacturing plant

by

Shaw Industries says it will invest $184 million in its Andalusia, Alabama facility, which creates fiber used in the manufacturing of carpet.

Shaw says the project will include construction of new and expanded building assets, and installation of substantial amounts of new manufacturing equipment.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey welcome the decision, saying: “Shaw’s significant new investment in its Andalusia manufacturing facility is a welcome development that positions the plant for the future and demonstrates the company’s confidence in its large Alabama workforce.  [Read more…] about Shaw Industries to invest $184 million in its Alabama manufacturing plant

Alchemy IoT launches with $4 million funding to integrate AI into IIoT without need for coding

by

A new company called Alchemy IoT says it has $4 million seed funding to “simplify the industrial internet of thing using artificial intelligence”.

The company says it addresses the high costs and complexities of AI-based IoT for small- to mid-sized industrial customers with “no-code” cloud-based application, which enables its customers to be up “and running in 48 hours”.

Alchemy IoT describes itself as “a provider of IoT asset intelligence for industrial applications”.  [Read more…] about Alchemy IoT launches with $4 million funding to integrate AI into IIoT without need for coding

Apple awards $390 million from its advanced manufacturing fund to Finisar for its optical components

by

Apple has awarded $390 million from its $1 billion advanced manufacturing fund to a US company called Finisar. 

The computing devices giant says the award is part of its long-term aim to support innovation and job creation by American manufacturers.

The award will enable Finisar to exponentially increase its R&D spending and high-volume production of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs).  [Read more…] about Apple awards $390 million from its advanced manufacturing fund to Finisar for its optical components

Bend it like Comeco: Nord helps Swedish company to improve rebar bending process

by

Looking for ways to improve their machines’ usability and to economize on manufacturing costs, the Swedish company Comeco decided to launch a new line of rebar benders with electric drives instead of hydraulics.

Nord DriveSystems supported the company from the early planning phase through to production, configuring an AC vector drive with an integrated programmable logic controller that controls all machine functions.

The current solution is simpler, more robust, and easier to maintain, says Comeco. In addition to substantial savings for procured parts, the assembly time was halved.  [Read more…] about Bend it like Comeco: Nord helps Swedish company to improve rebar bending process

Chinese robot makers produced more than 100,000 industrial robots in first 10 months of 2017

by

Chinese robot makers manufactured more than 100,000 industrial robots in the first 10 months of this year, according to the Communist Chinese government’s propaganda mouthpiece Xinhua. 

The unstoppable growth indicates a massive increase in output of 70 per cent compared with the previous year, says Xinhua.

And if the output of the two months of 2017 not yet counted – November and December – were to be included, the total production is likely to surpass 120,000.  [Read more…] about Chinese robot makers produced more than 100,000 industrial robots in first 10 months of 2017

Kuka opens arc welding technology centre in Michigan

by

Industrial robotics company Kuka has opened a new metal fabrication technology centre in Shelby Township, Michigan, in the US. 

The Kuka Metal & Arc TechCenter is designed to provide the company’s customers an opportunity to see the robots close up and see them work on customised welding solutions.

The facility currently features one Kuka’s KRY Cybertech arc welding robot, as well as the company’s mobile platforms, called Kuka Carts.  [Read more…] about Kuka opens arc welding technology centre in Michigan

ABB opens first-ever robotics training centre in Romania

by

Industrial robotics giant ABB has opened what is said to be the “first-ever” robotics centre in Romania, according to local media.

BusinessReview.eu, an English-language Romanian website, says the new robotics facility is a public-private partnership between ABB and the Polytechnic University in Bucharest.

The centre will offer advanced training in robotics and industrial automation to future engineers and provide support to ABB customers in the future.  [Read more…] about ABB opens first-ever robotics training centre in Romania

Emerson withdraws bid to buy Rockwell

by

It probably would have been a good merger or takeover, but it didn’t happen. 

Emerson Electric’s initial $27 billion bid to buy Rockwell Automation was rejected by the latter company’s board, as was the former’s subsequent, raised bid of $29 billion.

Some business analysts said combining strengths would be a good move for both companies, but Rockwell seems to have plans of its own which do not include a takeover or merger.  [Read more…] about Emerson withdraws bid to buy Rockwell

General Electric to shed 12,000 jobs as electric future opens up

by

General Electric’s recent decision to reduce its employee numbers by 12,000 globally indicate how important it thinks the trend of electric power will become, or perhaps has already become. 

The significant job losses will come from the GE Power division. GE says the decision is part of its overall restructuring.

The company acknowledges that the growth in renewables is part of the reason for the cost-cutting measures.  [Read more…] about General Electric to shed 12,000 jobs as electric future opens up