Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Manufacturing

Infographic: Samsung’s foldable smartphone

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The high level of interest in smart factory and automation technologies in South Korea is understandable – the country has the highest density of industrial robots per 1,000 workers in manufacturing of any nation on Earth.

Additionally, some of its companies are not only global operations, they are household names all over the world.

Samsung, for example, which recently released what is one of the first foldable smartphones (see infographic below), is headquartered in Seoul, the capital city of South Korea.  [Read more…] about Infographic: Samsung’s foldable smartphone

Tetra Pak launches connected packaging platform

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Company to turn cartons into ‘full-scale data carriers and digital tools’

Tetra Pak has launched what it calls its “connected packaging platform”, which the company says will “transform milk and juice cartons into interactive information channels, full-scale data carriers, and digital tools”.

Driven by the trends behind Industry 4.0, and with code generation, digital printing and data management at its core, the connected packaging platform will bring new benefits to food producers, retailers, and shoppers.

For producers, the new packaging platform will offer end-to-end traceability to improve the production of the product, quality control, and supply chain transparency.  [Read more…] about Tetra Pak launches connected packaging platform

Manufacturing and logistics: The common space between senior executives and operations managers

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By Carien Viswat, Oceaneering International

The automotive industry is most proficient in seeking manufacturing improvement through automated, efficient, and effective processes.

Automotive companies and their suppliers need to carry out lean manufacturing and assembly operations by handling a wide variety of components carefully and cost efficiently.

The deployment of automated material handling (AMH) equipment prevents damage to automotive parts, reduces the cost of unproductive labor hours by efficiently handling inventory, and maximizes storage capacity within available floor space.  [Read more…] about Manufacturing and logistics: The common space between senior executives and operations managers

JFE Steel starts production of new type of steel sheet for automobiles

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JFE Steel Corporation has begun producing its recently developed “GI JAZ” high-lubricity hot-dip galvanized steel sheet.

The company says the new type of steel sheet offers “dramatically improved press formability” for use in automobile bodies.

Commercial production for automobile manufacturers is now under way at JFE Steel’s West Japan Works.  [Read more…] about JFE Steel starts production of new type of steel sheet for automobiles

Honda begins operation at new automobile production plant in Brazil

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Honda Automoveis do Brasil, the Honda subsidiary in Brazil, has started operation at its new automobile plant in the city of Itirapina in the state of São Paulo.

Honda had last year announced a plan to restructure its automobile production operations to strengthen the foundation of its automobile business.

In line with that plan, Honda began operation at its new automobile production plant in recent weeks, with the Honda Fit the first model produced at the plant.  [Read more…] about Honda begins operation at new automobile production plant in Brazil

GM to invest $300 million and add 400 jobs at Michigan plant

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General Motors is investing $300 million in its Orion Township, Michigan, assembly plant to produce a new Chevrolet electric vehicle that will bring 400 new jobs to the Orion plant.

The investment is part of GM’s new commitment to invest a total of $1.8 billion in its United States manufacturing operations, creating 700 new jobs and supporting 28,000 jobs across six states.

The new Chevrolet electric vehicle is in addition to the existing Chevrolet Bolt EV, further advancing GM’s commitment to an all-electric future.  [Read more…] about GM to invest $300 million and add 400 jobs at Michigan plant

Faraday Future to manufacture electric cars in partnership with computer games company

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Faraday Future is partnering with a computer games company called The9 to produce electric cars for the Chinese market.

The California-based Faraday Future says it has signed a joint venture agreement with The9 to form a joint venture to manufacture, market, distribute, and sell “luxury intelligent electric vehicles” in China.

This also marks a key first step for FF to officially launch its dual-home-market and dual-brand strategy in both China and the US.  [Read more…] about Faraday Future to manufacture electric cars in partnership with computer games company

BMW creates 2,000 jobs as it starts production of new autonomous electric car

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BMW’s Dingolfing plant director announces the expansion of e-drive production, as well as preparations for series production of the fully electric and “highly automated” BMW iNext

The mobility of tomorrow is being turned into reality to a large extent in BMW’s Dingolfing production plant, in Lower Bavaria, southern Germany.

Ilka Horstmeier, the new director of the plant, is convinced of this. “We want to, and will, emerge as a winner in our industry’s technological transformation,” she says. “And we will continue to pioneer future topics such as e-mobility and autonomous driving.”

In this context, the plant director announced that “we will increase the number of Dingolfing-based jobs in the production of e-drive components several times over in the next few years – to a total of up to 2,000”.  [Read more…] about BMW creates 2,000 jobs as it starts production of new autonomous electric car

Ottobock to launch ‘smallest exoskeleton in the world’ at Hannover Messe

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Ottobock is planning to present a range of innovative new exoskeletons for ergonomic workplaces during the Hannover Messe trade show

Ottobock will be presenting its industrial exoskeletons for the first time at the Hannover Messe trade show.

Visitors to booth G18/1 in hall 17 will have the opportunity to personally test the passive exoskeletons in the Paexo product family and experience the relief they provide.

Dr Sönke Rössing, head of Ottobock Industrials, says: “Exoskeletons designed for industrial settings will bring about permanent changes in many working environments.  [Read more…] about Ottobock to launch ‘smallest exoskeleton in the world’ at Hannover Messe

North American semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales for February down 23 percent

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North American semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales have decreased slightly, according to the industry association SEMI.

North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.86 billion in billings worldwide in February 2019.

The figures are in the February Equipment Market Data Subscription Billings Report published by SEMI.  [Read more…] about North American semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales for February down 23 percent