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Omron partners with Techman to sell TM cobots

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Omron Corp. and Techman Robot Inc. have signed an agreement to form a strategic alliance on collaborative robots under which Omron will globally market and sell Techman’s TM series of collaborative robots via its worldwide distribution network under a co-branded logo, starting in the second half of FY2018.

In addition, Omron and Techman will cooperate in developing the next generation of collaborative robots that will be easier to integrate with Omron’s other factory automation products.

Factories worldwide are facing major challenges in having to manufacture a high mix, low volume of products to meet their customer demands, combined with shorter product life cycles and labour shortage issues.

[Read more…] about Omron partners with Techman to sell TM cobots

Yamaha Motor debuts at Hannover with digital production lines

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Yamaha Motor booth made its debut at Hannover Messe last month, showcasing fully-digitalised production lines, including transport processes. Its stand featured an operational demonstration of the Advanced Robotics Automation Platform.

This new robotics system enables automation of complex advanced production facilities, integrating control of multiple robots and peripheral devices necessary for production facilities in one unit.

The company also highlighted the YK400XR SCARA robot, which features both high quality/functionality and excellent cost-performance, according to Yamaha.

[Read more…] about Yamaha Motor debuts at Hannover with digital production lines

Schaeffler reports three divisions for the first time and confirms guidance for the year

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Global automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler has announced its quarterly results for the first three months of 2018.

As a result of the organizational realignment initiated last year, this is the first time the company is also reporting on the performance of its three divisions:

  1. automotive original equipment manufacturers (64.2 percent of revenue);
  2. automotive aftermarket (12.5 percent of revenue); and
  3. industrial (23.3 percent of revenue).

[Read more…] about Schaeffler reports three divisions for the first time and confirms guidance for the year

Kollmorgen launches new generation of Topline drives

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By Thomas Sautter, Kollmorgen

In the beginning, there is the pipe – and, at the Breyer machine factory, it comes endlessly out of the extruder.

If the singular for pipe in Latin is tubus, it is very easy to see why the technological origins of a tube are in a pipe.

Breyer is said to be one of the world market leaders in sophisticated extrusion systems.  [Read more…] about Kollmorgen launches new generation of Topline drives

Osram acquires US ‘smart grow’ lighting firm

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Lighting giant Osram is acquiring Fluence Bioengineering, Inc. of Austin, Texas. The company specialises in LED-based horticultural systems, using Osram LED chips, for a wide variety of applications including vertical farming, especially in urban areas.

Potential crops range from salad greens and herbs to medicinal plants. Fluence was founded in 2013, has approximately 95 employees and its 2017 sales were in the mid-double-digit millions of dollars (USD).

LED-based solutions from Fluence can increase harvests up to 25 percent, reducing energy costs by as much as 50 percent and, through the targeted use of light, improving the quality and nutritional content of plants.

[Read more…] about Osram acquires US ‘smart grow’ lighting firm

Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer bridges workforce gaps at Cox Container

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Cox Container, LLC, a plastics blow moulding manufacturer, has deployed Rethink Robotics‘ Sawyer robot at its Troy, Alabama, USA, facility to address challenges associated with labour shortages and offering high quality jobs to its workers.

Cox Container, LLC, currently operates several blow molders, 24 hours per day in its 73,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility.

Cox Container accommodates custom orders, so adaptability from both human workers and machines is a critical need as the company shifts between high-volume, low-mix and low-volume, high-mix models.

[Read more…] about Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer bridges workforce gaps at Cox Container

Ansys claims ‘first comprehensive solution’ for simulation-based digital twins

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Industrial design software provider Ansys claims the new version of its software delivers the “first comprehensive solution for simulation-based digital twins”.

The company says Ansys 19.1 will “boost productivity and eliminate product complexity across all physics”.

Ansys says product developers can spur product innovation by rapidly building, validating and deploying simulation-based digital twins within a single workflow.  [Read more…] about Ansys claims ‘first comprehensive solution’ for simulation-based digital twins

General Motors uses AI-based generative design technology to reduce vehicle weight

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General Motors is using new, advanced software design technology to introduce the next generation of vehicle lightweighting. The technology is key to developing efficient and lighter alternative propulsion and zero emission vehicles.

GM is the first automaker in North America to use new generative design software technology from software company Autodesk.

It uses cloud computing and AI-based algorithms to rapidly explore multiple permutations of a part design, generating hundreds of high-performance, often organic-looking geometric design options based on goals and parameters set by the user, such as weight, strength, material choice, fabrication method, and more. The user then determines the best part design option.

[Read more…] about General Motors uses AI-based generative design technology to reduce vehicle weight

HMS received the ISO 27001 certification for eWon Talk2M

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HMS Industrial Networks has obtained ISO 27001 Certification for eWon Talk2M, its award-winning cloud connectivity platform.

The ISO 27001 Certification is the international standard that describes best practices for an information security management system.

Compliance with the ISO 27001 certification validates that HMS Industrial Networks has implemented comprehensive information security practices to protect their users, their information, and their data in accordance with internationally recognized standards. [Read more…] about HMS received the ISO 27001 certification for eWon Talk2M

Drishti raises $10 million to ‘digitise’ factory workers

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Even after decades of advancement in robotics and automation, humans are still the biggest contributors to value creation in manufacturing.

Yet, the techniques to measure human activities in the factory are 100 years old—dating back to the time of Henry Ford—and impossible to perform at scale.

Humans in the plant are effectively invisible to analytics. Major manufacturing business decisions are based on incomplete and unreliable data.

[Read more…] about Drishti raises $10 million to ‘digitise’ factory workers