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Septentrio announces global distribution partnership with Digi-Key

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Septentrio, a leader in high-precision GNSS positioning solutions, announced today that it has partnered with Digi-Key Electronics, a global electronic components distributor.

Digi-Key now offers mosaic-X5™ globally for customers who need secure and reliable high-accuracy positioning in a compact and low-power form factor.

Septentrio’s mosaic-X5TM features complete multi-frequency multi-constellation technology and tracks every existing and future signal from all Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) constellations. [Read more…] about Septentrio announces global distribution partnership with Digi-Key

Why do we need smart kitchen appliances?

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Kitchen technology is constantly evolving to make cooking easier. The latest innovation is smart technology.

This describes the suite of devices that are designed to connect with the internet.

In some cases, you might be able to control them from your smartphone. Let’s take a closer look at some of these devices and why you might want to add them to your kitchen. [Read more…] about Why do we need smart kitchen appliances?

Updates to Gantry Tool Storage improve overall user experience

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Updates to Gantry Tool Storage and Manufacturing Management Software from Fastems Improve Cutting Tool Sharing, Efficiency, Ergonomics, and User Experience
New releases of the Gantry Tool Storage (GTS) system and Manufacturing Management Software (MMS) from Fastems are designed to significantly increase manufacturing efficiency, enhance ergonomics and improve overall user experience.

When applied within a Fastems Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS), the GTS system and MMS can achieve machine utilization levels above 95 percent.

In the GTS system, pick-and-place and traveling gantry robots provide access to centralized storage of up to 4,000 cutting tools and perform just-in-time tool delivery to individual machines.

MMS software commands automatic cutting tool changes based on specific NC program scheduling requirements and real-time cutting tool life status.

The GTS system enables cutting tools to be shared among multiple machines, minimizing redundancy and eliminating the need to reserve a cutting tool for a single machine.

This generates cutting tool cost savings and minimizes operator interaction with cutting tool changes, reducing labor expense and eliminating tooling loading errors.

Cutting tool sharing also permits reduction in the size of machine tool magazines. When implementing the GTS system, its new modular design results in shorter delivery, installation, and commissioning times, as well as hardware cost advantages.

Improvements to MMS software include a more ergonomic interface and improved user experience, faster cutting tool information search functions, improved view of NC programs, and upgraded response in the case of unexpected machine stoppages.

Overall, Fastems’ cutting tool management products facilitate cutting tool setups in advance, eliminate scrap and machine crashes due to cutting tool loading errors, enable cutting tool sharing and lights-out machining, and consolidate cutting tool setup activities.

Advantages are realized in both initial investment and in ongoing return on investment. Fastems cutting tool automation equipment and software can be installed in phases, with each stage growing in capability and functionality.

To fully introduce GTS and MMS improvements, Fastems will present a virtual seminar “Productivity Beyond Machine Tending” on November 4, 2020, providing comprehensive details of the systems’ features and capabilities, while giving useful insight on cutting tool management in general.

Revealing ways to reduce waiting time, eliminate loading errors, maximize cutting tool safety and manage ergonomic considerations. The seminar program also includes useful presentations and Q&A sessions on how flexible automation and intelligent production planning software can increase efficiency and quality on a shop floor of any size.

MWES looks to the next generation in machine tending

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Robotic machine tending systems have been on the market for a number of years and they’ve faithfully helped many firms increase their throughput without burning through valuable operators in the process.

Though some shops are coming to grips with the notion that most of these machine tending systems are great at loading and unloading machines, but that’s all they do.

Sometimes jobs require off-machine work in between machine operations or the need to reposition parts in the same machine to complete the work. [Read more…] about MWES looks to the next generation in machine tending

ATI Boeing Accelerator opens call for sustainability startups that support the future of the aerospace industry 

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ATI Boeing Accelerator has opened applications for its second cohort, to invest into sustainability-enabling startups that will benefit the UK aerospace industry across three key areas of focus: Industry 4.0, Lifecycle and Resilience, and Energy.

Launched last year, the accelerator was created in partnership by the Aerospace Technology Institute and Boeing, and is delivered by European accelerator Ignite. GKN Aerospace is a corporate sponsor and more partners will be announced in the upcoming months.

The first cohort has already raised a further £6M in funding, created 30 new jobs, and engaged further organisations outside of the programme partners, including Frazer-Nash, Chevron Technology Ventures and Rolls-Royce. [Read more…] about ATI Boeing Accelerator opens call for sustainability startups that support the future of the aerospace industry 

Geek+ launches S100C for intelligent sortation of large-size packages

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Geek+, a global AMR leader, has launched its new S100C large-size parcel sorting robot, advancing its already extensive line of intelligent sorting robots and expanding the possibilities for automated sorting.

S100C is an efficient, stable, and affordable solution for solving many of the complex logistics scenarios brought on by increased online sales and the need for systems that can flexibly handle a wide variety of goods.

The robot can support unit sortation, parcel sortation, and bins transportation, making it applicable to many industry scenarios, from 3PLs and distribution centers to cross-docking facilities and airports. [Read more…] about Geek+ launches S100C for intelligent sortation of large-size packages

XPO Logistics extends technology partnership with MIT

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XPO Logistics, a leading global provider of transportation and logistics solutions, has announced the renewal of its partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Industrial Liaison Program (ILP).

In 2019, XPO became the first global logistics company to join the ILP, which pairs MIT’s world-class research with leading corporations to advance innovation.

The terms of the renewal are tailored to XPO’s role as a technology leader in the supply chain industry. The ILP is structured to foster collaboration between XPO and MIT, providing these and other benefits: [Read more…] about XPO Logistics extends technology partnership with MIT

ABB offers augmented reality on a smartphone to simplify robot installations

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ABB’s new RobotStudio AR viewer provides a quick and convenient way of visualizing where and how robotic automation can fit into your process using a smartphone or tablet.

Discovering whether a robot is right for your application has never been easier following the launch of ABB’s new Augmented Reality viewer, which has been added to ABB’s powerful PC-based RobotStudio offline programming software.

The RobotStudio AR Viewer app can be used to test any model created in RobotStudio, enabling users to get an idea of the size and scale of a robot or robot cell and how it can be deployed on a factory floor to fit around any existing production equipment. [Read more…] about ABB offers augmented reality on a smartphone to simplify robot installations

Bosch installs traffic video sensor technology across Peachtree Corners

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Peachtree Corners, which claims to be “America’s first smart city environment powered by real-world infrastructure and next-generation connectivity”, has agreed a strategic collaboration with the Bosch Building Technologies division to test, demonstrate and develop the future of video-as-a-sensor technology.

As Peachtree Corners looks to further strengthens its position as a testbed for autonomous mobility and smart city technology, connected city infrastructure and interaction with residents will enable Bosch to prove out its latest, most advanced edge computing capabilities via Curiosity Lab’s connected intersection.

Bosch’s technology will generate new insights into traffic planning for “the city street of the future.” With tele-operated e-scooters and fully autonomous vehicles intermingling with regular traffic, drivers and citizens living their everyday lives in Peachtree Corners, this collaboration “will unveil a host of data points that will help other cities across the globe better prepare for tomorrow”, according to city authorities. [Read more…] about Bosch installs traffic video sensor technology across Peachtree Corners

Siemens makes industrial data accessible and actionable

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Siemens Digital Industries Software is leveraging the Mendix low-code application development platform to help customers across industries build contextual and personalized solutions and help enable data-driven decision-making processes.

With the general availability of Mendix Data Hub and new Mendix for Industrial Edge services, Siemens can help customers achieve an end-to-end view of their plants, factories, and systems and provide domain experts with actionable insights through solutions that have been developed with the right data from across the organization.

The Mendix platform extends the Xcelerator portfolio with the ability to build multi experience apps and share data from any location, on any device, on any cloud or platform, to more quickly realize the benefits of digital transformation. [Read more…] about Siemens makes industrial data accessible and actionable