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Kuka wins multi-million-dollar order to supply robotic work cell to make batteries for electric vehicles

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Industrial robotics and automation company Kuka Industries has received an order from what it says is “a leading European manufacturer in the automotive industry” to supply a battery production system. 

Kuka Industries, which is part of Kuka, would not say which company it was which placed the order, but it has supplied the same company before with a similar system, and now the customer seems to be selling or expecting to sell more electric cars, or maybe battery systems for electric vehicles.

Kuka says the order value lies in the “mid-double-digit million euro range” and was booked in the second quarter of 2017. Start of production is planned for mid-2019.  [Read more…] about Kuka wins multi-million-dollar order to supply robotic work cell to make batteries for electric vehicles

General Electric resumes talks to sell its industrial solutions business to ABB

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General Electric has resumed negotiations to sell its industrial solutions business to ABB, according to a report on Reuters.com. 

The US conglomerate’s industrial solutions business includes products such as circuit breakers, relays, panel boards and other technologies for sectors including power generation, telecommunications and mining.

Swiss company ABB had previously talked to GE about possibly purchasing the business, and the price it offered was said to be $2 billion.  [Read more…] about General Electric resumes talks to sell its industrial solutions business to ABB

Midea planning robot bartenders and factories with no human workers in them

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Midea, the Chinese company which acquired industrial robotics and automation systems supplier Kuka, is planning to launch robot bartenders and design factories where no humans are needed. 

Neither one of the ideas is new, since most visitors to robotics industry events may have seen at least one robotic arm pouring and serving up a drink, and fully automated factories have been much discussed for some time.

However, Midea is thought to be the world’s largest appliance maker, producing a wide range of washing machines, fridge-freezers and other gadgets for the home.  [Read more…] about Midea planning robot bartenders and factories with no human workers in them

Ingersoll Rand launches powerful new cordless torque multiplier

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Ingersoll Rand has launched the QX Series Cordless Torque Multiplier – a high-torque fastening tool for industrial applications that achieves up to 2000 Nm of torque.

Built upon the QX Series platform, the Ingersoll Rand Cordless Torque Multiplier employs advanced technology, communication and control features to ensure accurate, repeatable bolting for torque-critical joints.

Dan Fleming, product manager at Ingersoll Rand, says: “In heavy-duty, high-risk environments like oil and gas, infrastructure construction, and power generation, the accuracy of applied torque is critical.  [Read more…] about Ingersoll Rand launches powerful new cordless torque multiplier

Tennplasco invests in Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer Robot and sees return in under four months

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Tennplasco, a plastic injection molding company, says it solved its labor shortage and met its return on investment just three and a half months after integrating Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer into its Lafayette, Tennessee facility. 

The company says it has increased its productivity and efficiency, giving it a competitive advantage in the injection molding market.  [Read more…] about Tennplasco invests in Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer Robot and sees return in under four months

A smooth revolution: Exclusive interview with Genesis Robotics CEO

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There’s been a lot of talk about, and tremendous interest in, Genesis Robotics because of its new invention, the LiveDrive, an actuation system which could not only revolutionise industrial robotics and automation, but could also transform automotive vehicles as well as change many other machines, devices and whole sectors. 

But for the people behind the technology, one especially interesting potential application for LiveDrive is exoskeletons and what the company calls “assistive robots”, which they see as being in virtually every home in the future.

In this exclusive and wide-ranging interview, Robotics and Automation News talks to Mike Hilton, CEO of Genesis Robotics, about its development of LiveDrive, its potential applications, as well as the company’s negotiations for the licensing of its technology as well as the possibility of an acquisition.  [Read more…] about A smooth revolution: Exclusive interview with Genesis Robotics CEO

Asian demand for actuators for industrial robots set to increase in next few years

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The market for motors and actuators for industrial robots is forecast to increase dramatically over the next few years, according to a new report. 

The market is also set to see “intense competition”, says Technavio, which adds that key vendors are “constantly trying to provide innovative motors and actuators for industrial robot manufacturers”.

In their bid to outdo each other, vendors are said to be providing full-fledged customer services and support, as well as assisting in training the employees to operate the industrial robots.  [Read more…] about Asian demand for actuators for industrial robots set to increase in next few years

China reaching new heights in demand for industrial robots as well as making them

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China is seeing more demand for industrial robots as well as more of the machines being built inside the country, according to a report by the Robotics industries Association. 

Annual sales in China were “the highest level ever recorded for a single country”, says RIA, adding “sales in China surged by 27 percent to 87,000 units” in 2016.

At the same time, says RIA, robot manufacturers in China have been expanding their market share within the country.  [Read more…] about China reaching new heights in demand for industrial robots as well as making them

Vertical farms in urban areas ready to grow after harvesting tons of seed money

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Even if you’ve never heard the term before, you probably understand what “vertical farming” is. 

Unlike some buzz phrases, it sounds like what it means – farms built upwards, inside a building on multiple levels, unlike traditional farms, which occupy large, flat, single-level fields, covering thousands of acres of earth if done on an industrial scale.

The concept of vertical farms has been around a long time, but perhaps only now is the technology available to sustain the sector commercially.  [Read more…] about Vertical farms in urban areas ready to grow after harvesting tons of seed money