Robotics & Automation News

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Robots boost profitability at machining company

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A multi-axis machining firm is leveraging the benefits of Universal Robots supplied by Raruk Automation to load and unload its machine tools.

A mix of seven UR5 and UR10 robots have helped Rousant Sherwood maximise the productivity of its workforce by automating repetitive tasks and allowed the company to bid for contracts which would have otherwise been unprofitable.

Rousant Sherwood Manufacturing (RSM) is a family-owned company based at Henley-on-Thames, UK, which has been specialising in the subcontract manufacture of complex machined components for over 40 years. [Read more…] about Robots boost profitability at machining company

Audi opts for FRS Robotics quality control on car doors

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FRS Robotics has introduced a new adaptive robot cell that automates the highly sensitive ultrasonic inspection of fold glue joints of Audi vehicle doors.

Vehicle door types consist of metal sheet inner and outer parts which are glued, plied and welded along the door edges. Ultrasonic inspection is performed manually to verify correct glue bonding.

Audi asked FRS Robotics to automate the highly sensitive ultrasonic quality control of the doors’ fold glue joints.

[Read more…] about Audi opts for FRS Robotics quality control on car doors

Toshiba and Nebbiolo sign an industrial IoT partnership deal

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Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation (Toshiba) and Nebbiolo Technologies Inc. (Nebbiolo) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to deploy industrial IoT solutions using fog computing technology.

As strategic partners, a complete suite of infrastructure products will be developed, driving new business supporting industrial IoT architecture and specifications.

The partnership establishes a large-scale initiative in the factory IoT domain to address modernizing the ageing fleet of hardware and software currently deployed on industrial automation floors using a virtualized fog platform.

[Read more…] about Toshiba and Nebbiolo sign an industrial IoT partnership deal

Universal Robots brings cobots to NPE2018 plastics show

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Universal Robots (UR) will make its debut at the NPE2018 in Orlando, USA, May 7-11, showing the new Kanga Poucher from RND Automation & Engineering.

Kanga is a vertical form/fill/seal pouching system that forms four-sided pouches for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and durable goods industries.

The system integrates with a UR cobot loading products into the pouches before the fourth, “top” seal is made after the product is indexed through the sealing gasket.

[Read more…] about Universal Robots brings cobots to NPE2018 plastics show

Honeywell offers new visualisation technology for batch operations

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Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS) has introduced a control technology solution that it claims increases productivity for batch operations and speed-to-market of batch products.

Honeywell’s Experion® Batch uses patent-pending visualization technology to allow operators to “look ahead” into their processes and see an intuitive and comprehensive timeline of every task required to complete a product batch.

This approach provides operators with insights into upcoming events or potential delays, which make it easier for them to conduct multiple tasks, take appropriate actions sooner and adjust next steps accordingly.

[Read more…] about Honeywell offers new visualisation technology for batch operations

Apple unveils ‘Daisy’, the robot that can disassemble iPhones to reclaim precious metals

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Apple has revealed a new robot which can disassemble nine different iPhone models to recover valuable materials within the devices.

The company called the robot “Daisy” and says that traditional recyclers cannot perform the intricate functions that Daisy can.

The robot looks to be a follow-up to a similar machine the company revealed a couple of years ago – called “Liam”.  [Read more…] about Apple unveils ‘Daisy’, the robot that can disassemble iPhones to reclaim precious metals

Schunk demonstrates how the electronics industry can be made more collaborative

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Schunk is now showcasing on a demo system to show how depanelling machines can be made collaborative for the electronics industry.

The depanelling machine, from its subsidiary Schunk Electronic Solutions, uses a robot arm for the loading and unloading processes, so that a single employee can operate up to five machines simultaneously.

The automated system consists of the SAR 1700 depanelling machine and a UR5 six-axis robot arm from Universal Robots equipped with a Schunk Co-act EGP-C gripper.

[Read more…] about Schunk demonstrates how the electronics industry can be made more collaborative

Shipbuilders set to increase use of robotics and automation technologies

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Parts of the shipbuilding sector has for many years used robots for tasks such as welding and blasting, things that industrial robotic arms are particularly good at. 

There has also been a type of exoskeleton developed for shipbuilding work which is worn by workers to help with heavy lifting to reduce the physical stress of what can be a demanding job.

But shipbuilding remains a human labour-intensive sector, and companies are looking to increase their utilisation of robotics and automation technologies.  [Read more…] about Shipbuilders set to increase use of robotics and automation technologies

Kärcher advances its digital transformation with Dassault Systèmes

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Cleaning technology company Kärcher has adopted Dassault Systèmes‘ 3DExperience platform to digitally transform its existing processes worldwide for its cleaning systems, products and services.

Kärcher will rely on the “Single Source for Speed” industry solution, based on the 3DExperience platform. The company can integrate its product development processes, improve collaboration and knowledge sharing for up to 1,200 employees, and reduce product development and production costs.

“We planned to deploy the 3DExperience platform on premise to strengthen our brand performance, innovation and quality, but once we understood the values and benefits that the 3DExperience platform on the cloud can bring to our business, we clearly chose the cloud,” said Michael Stritzelberger, Executive Vice President, Kärcher.

[Read more…] about Kärcher advances its digital transformation with Dassault Systèmes

Bühler partners with Microsoft to launch new digital solutions for the food processing industry

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Bühler says it will unveil “ground-breaking digital technologies” that include minimizing toxic contamination, reducing food waste and increasing end-product quality across the whole food value chain as part of a new partnership with Microsoft.

The new digital solutions and services will be presented at the Microsoft booth at Hannover Messe in Germany.

“Today’s food value chains are facing tremendous challenges,” says Ian Roberts, CTO at the Bühler Group.  [Read more…] about Bühler partners with Microsoft to launch new digital solutions for the food processing industry