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Comau agrees deal with Brazilian integrator MVB Automation

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Comau has agreed a new partnership with MVB Automation in Brazil. Founded over 10 years ago, the company is a system integrator based in Camaçari, Bahia, with about 90 experts in the field of factory automation.

MVB serves a variety of customers in general industry with robotics solutions, automation controls, process simulation and tooling.

Comau says this partnership represents its strategy to develop its growing partner network in Latin America.  [Read more…] about Comau agrees deal with Brazilian integrator MVB Automation

Equashield to open new $30 million manufacturing facility

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equashield

Equashield, a provider of Closed System Transfer Devices for the handling of hazardous drugs, has broken ground to mark the beginning of the construction of a new manufacturing plant.

The company will invest an estimated $30 million to build the new plant to meet the growing market demand for manual and automated hazardous drug compounding devices.

The new manufacturing facility will be built on a 3 acre plot with an option to expand by another 1.5 acres.  [Read more…] about Equashield to open new $30 million manufacturing facility

ATI Industrial Automation to hold technology fair in Michigan

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ati industrial automation

ATI Industrial Automation will hold its Annual Technology Fair on August 10, 2017 at its Orion Township, Michigan facility.

The one-day educational event will focus on “Applications Advancing Automation”, providing attendees the opportunity to learn more about ATI’s products and hear from the industry-leading experts that use them every day.

The event will feature educational seminars hosted by ATI’s distinguished customers, as well as live robotic demonstrations of ATI’s tool changers, multi-axis force/torque sensors, robotic collision sensors and robotic deburring tools.  [Read more…] about ATI Industrial Automation to hold technology fair in Michigan

Almarai partners with Schneider Electric to introduce smart manufacturing system

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Schneider Electric, a provider of energy management and automation solutions, has partnered with Almarai to develop a smart manufacturing solution.

Almarai is said to be the world’s largest vertically integrated dairy company. The company already uses Schneider’s industrial internet of things platform, Wonderware.

Now it has expanded its Schneider Electric deployment as part of a smart manufacturing initiative by deploying line performance suite.  [Read more…] about Almarai partners with Schneider Electric to introduce smart manufacturing system

Nord Drivesystems shows modular industrial gear units in additional sizes

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nord drivesystems

Nord Drivesystems has presented two new gearboxes for nominal torques of 15 and 20 kNm.

The company says its new industrial gear units greatly increase the possibilities for configuring application-specific drives in the load range up to 20,000 Nm, for example with a dual gear setup and swing base.

With these latest additions to the line-up, the series now comprises 11 gearbox sizes that deliver output torques up to 250 kNm.  [Read more…] about Nord Drivesystems shows modular industrial gear units in additional sizes

NSK claims ‘10 times more service life’ for linear guides in robotic welding applications

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nsk condition monitoring

A manufacturer of sheet metal assemblies recently sought a solution to short lifespan issues with the drive and guide elements on its automated welding systems.

In fact, the linear guides for a robotic welding gun on one particular production line had to be replaced every two or three months.

Due to the cost of replacement parts and maintenance time, as well as equipment downtime, the company asked NSK to investigate and provide a proposal to address the problem.  [Read more…] about NSK claims ‘10 times more service life’ for linear guides in robotic welding applications

Delta presents its latest innovations in industrial automation at SPS IPC Drives Italia

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Delta, a provider of power and thermal management solutions and industrial automation solutions, is showcasing its complete portfolio of next-generation industrial automation products and solutions at SPS IPC Drives Italia 2017.

The company says its solutions are designed to augment the productivity of manufacturing and industrial processes in a broad spectrum of applications.

These include the new compact modular mid-range PLC AS series, featuring slim and modular design with max. 1,024 I/O and remarkable program capacity of 128K steps for multi-axis control to support advance automation machinery, as well as the new ASDA-A3 servo system, boasting a high performance motor with 6,000rpm and a vibration suppression function to enhance the operation integrity of advanced machines.  [Read more…] about Delta presents its latest innovations in industrial automation at SPS IPC Drives Italia

Video: Microsoft looks to strengthen partnerships with industrial companies

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Microsoft has been offering industrial companies a range of digital services based on its Azure platform over the past few years and is probably the leading tech company in the space.

Microsoft’s global infrastructure and Azure cloud platform enables companies with worldwide manufacturing or logistics operations to create software applications either specifically for their own companies or for other companies.

The company has also developed special connectors which can accept data from devices which use the OPC-UA standard, a data transmission protocol which is increasingly being adopted in industry for sensor-laden machines and components.  [Read more…] about Video: Microsoft looks to strengthen partnerships with industrial companies

Apple invests $200 million into Corning’s ‘revolutionary’ glass production methods

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apple corning investment
Corning recaptures glass material for use in the production process and to help reduce waste. Pictures courtesy of Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently set up a $1 billion fund for the tech giant to invest in advanced manufacturing in the US, and the company has allocated $200 million of that money to a company called Corning. 

Corning – which has been supplying the cover glass for iOS devices for the past 10 years – will receive the $200 million from Apple’s new Advanced Manufacturing Fund as part of what Apple calls its “commitment to foster innovation among American manufacturers”.

The investment will support Corning’s research and development, capital equipment needs and “state-of-the-art glass processing”.  [Read more…] about Apple invests $200 million into Corning’s ‘revolutionary’ glass production methods

Apple begins manufacturing iPhones in India

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After months of protracted negotiations, Apple has started manufacturing its iPhones in India. 

The factory is variously said to be in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and / or Karnathaka. Not knowing the geography all that well, we think this is slightly south-west of the middle of India.

The picture above is from IndRead.com, which seems to suggest Foxconn is setting up and running the factory. Foxconn is the Taiwanese company which manufactures most of Apple’s products.

Apple has begun making what was described as “a small number” of iPhones in the country, although a “small number” could mean hundreds of millions, considering there are more than a billion iPhones in the world today.

In comments to CNBC, Apple said, “We are beginning initial production of a small number of iPhone SE in Bengaluru”, adding that it plans to begin shipping to customers as early as this month.  [Read more…] about Apple begins manufacturing iPhones in India