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Siemens, Lufthansa and Glaxo gear up for 3D printing expo In(3D)ustry

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The third edition of IN(3D)USTRY is taking shape and the event, organised by Fira de Barcelona, ​​already has the confirmed presence of high level representatives from companies which are successfully using 3D printing.

The event, which this year incorporates new sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, moulds and dies, plastic converters and new materials, will include around thirty speakers and some 50 exhibiting companies.

Amongst the companies which will be taking part in IN(3D)USTRY, from 16 to 18 October at Fira de Barcelona, Spain, are Siemens, Lufthansa Technik, the maintenance division of the German aeronautics company, as well as the British pharmaceutical industry multinational, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

[Read more…] about Siemens, Lufthansa and Glaxo gear up for 3D printing expo In(3D)ustry

ABB launches newest member of its YuMi collaborative robot range

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ABB has launched the newest member of its YuMi collaborative industrial robot family. The company had unveiled the model in Japan towards the end of last year, and this looks to be the formal launch in Europe. 

The company unveiled the new, single-arm version – full technical name the ABB IRB 14050 single-arm collaborative robot (main picture) – at the ongoing Automatica event. ABB says the machine is its “most agile and compact collaborative robot yet and can easily integrate into existing production”.

The single-arm YuMi has the same safety features, precision and ease-of-use as dual-arm YuMi, says ABB, adding that it weighs less than 10 kg and has seven-axis dexterity.  [Read more…] about ABB launches newest member of its YuMi collaborative robot range

ABB launches third-generation of its ‘Foundry Prime’ industrial robot arm

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ABB has launched the third-generation of its “Foundry Prime” industrial robotic arm.

The company says the new robot “reduces maintenance cost by up to 60 percent” and operates at “15 percent less energy consumption”.

The IRB 6790 (main picture) targets high-pressure water-jet cleaning applications in harsh industrial environments with 100 percent humidity.  [Read more…] about ABB launches third-generation of its ‘Foundry Prime’ industrial robot arm

ABB and Kawasaki partner to launch ‘world’s first’ operating system for collaborative robots

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ABB and Kawasaki Heavy Industries are showcasing the world’s first common collaborative robot operating interface at the ongoing Automatica event. 

The two companies are among the world’s largest industrial robot manufacturers, with almost half a million installations worldwide.

The companies say the new common interface will help address the shortage of skilled workers in many industries. In Japan, for example, one person in five is within a decade of retirement.  [Read more…] about ABB and Kawasaki partner to launch ‘world’s first’ operating system for collaborative robots

Reko inaugurates new automation and innovation facility

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Reko International Group Inc. has opened its new state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the design, development, and build of innovative industrial automation solutions.

Reko Automation, a division of Reko International Group, will now operate out of their newly constructed 48,600 sq.ft. facility in Lakeshore, Ontario.

With three 150-foot long bays, 19-foot ceilings, and up to 30 metric tonne crane capacity, Reko Automation now has the infrastructure in place to deliver large scale, turn-key automation projects and Industry 4.0 solutions.

[Read more…] about Reko inaugurates new automation and innovation facility

North American semiconductor equipment sales at an all-time high

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North American semiconductor equipment sales are at an all-time high, according to the leading industry association, Semi.

North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $2.7 billion in billings worldwide in May 2018, according to the May Equipment Market Data Subscription Billings Report, published by Semi.

The billings figure is 0.6 percent higher than the final April 2018 level of $2.69 billion, and is 19.2 percent higher than the May 2017 billings level of $2.27 billion.  [Read more…] about North American semiconductor equipment sales at an all-time high

Omron awards its North American distributors of the year

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Industrial automation solutions provider Omron Automation Americas recently announced the 2017 fiscal year’s winners of its “Distributor of the Year” award at its 2018 Sales Conference during the week of May 21st.

More than 650 representatives of Omron and the company’s channel partners participated in the event, which included new technology presentations, product training, business planning and team building activities.

The Sales Conference was truly an Americas event, with attendees hailing from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and other Latin American countries.  [Read more…] about Omron awards its North American distributors of the year

Pilz launches its first service robotics solutions at Automatica

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A German company called Pilz has launched what it describes as a new range of “service robotics modules”. The company showcased the solutions at the ongoing Automatica event.

By “service robotics”, Pilz appears to mean solutions which include small, collaborative robots the company appears to have built by itself (see main picture).

The new range of solutions includes:

  • a “manipulator module” – by which Pilz seems to mean the robotic arm – with 6 axes and a load of 6 kg;
  • the control module with drive and control technology; and
  • the operator module including an operator and visualisation software developed by Pilz.

[Read more…] about Pilz launches its first service robotics solutions at Automatica

Sandia’s robotic work cell conducts high-throughput testing ‘in an instant’

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Automation speeds up 3D-printed part testing, materials science data collection

Today with 3D printing you can make almost anything in a matter of hours. However, making sure that part works reliably takes weeks or even months.

Until now, according to a group of scientists.

Sandia National Laboratories has designed and built a six-sided work cell, similar to a circular desk, with a commercial robot at its center that conducts high-throughput testing to quickly determine the performance and properties of the part.

They call this flexible, modular and scalable system Alinstante, Spanish for “in an instant” (see video below). Sandia is seeking industry partners to help expand or discover more uses for the new robotic testing system.  [Read more…] about Sandia’s robotic work cell conducts high-throughput testing ‘in an instant’

Universal Robots launches e-Series ‘next-generation’ of its collaborative robot

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Universal Robots, widely regarded as a pioneer and market leader in collaborative robots, has launched the “next generation” of its flagship product, the e-Series collaborative robot.

The company unveiled the new robot arms at Automatica, in Munich, Germany, and says the innovation is the result of Universal Robots “continuing to improve its ground-breaking technology”.

The e-Series includes technology advances that enables faster development for a wider variety of applications, offers easier programming than ever, and meet the very latest ISO safety standards.  [Read more…] about Universal Robots launches e-Series ‘next-generation’ of its collaborative robot