Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

Manufacturing

5 Industries That Can’t Do Without Custom Machining

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Precision and efficiency have become the leading demands for manufacturing. Modern equipment is rapidly changing.

New, sturdier and harder materials are used, complex geometries with tight tolerances and fine surface finishes are required and all of that has to be done at a faster pace.

This race toward product perfection involves using professional custom machining services for more and more industries for a lot of different purposes. Let’s see, which modern industries simply can’t manage without custom machining. [Read more…] about 5 Industries That Can’t Do Without Custom Machining

Audi virtually tests assembly processes for concept car

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Audi is embracing virtual reality (VR) with the Audi e-tron GT concept car. Using VR glasses and controllers, employees from various departments test all assembly processes entirely virtually.

Audi has developed in-house software for the process, which relies on 360-degree scans that provide a three-dimensional indoor map. The technology is being used for the first time at the Neckarsulm site.

Workflows along the assembly line and the associated logistics processes are being tested in “3P workshops”.  3P stands for the Production Preparation Process, and is used for process validation.

[Read more…] about Audi virtually tests assembly processes for concept car

Volkswagen has already built 200 pre-production vehicles of its new electric car ID.3

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Volkswagen has already built 200 pre-production vehicles of the new electric car ID.3, although none are for sale yet.

The initiative involved the conversion of VW’s vehicle factory in Zwickau, which the company says will eventually be “the largest facility for electric mobility in Europe”.

The members of Volkswagen’s group and brand boards of management, as well as the group works council, were able to see that for themselves at today’s site symposium for all three locations in Saxony held at Zwickau. [Read more…] about Volkswagen has already built 200 pre-production vehicles of its new electric car ID.3

Mercedes-Benz plant ships 750,000th truck assembly kit

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The Mercedes-Benz plant at Wörth has shipped its 750,000th truck assembly kit.

Called the CKD Centre, for “Completely Knocked Down”, the Wörth facility in Germany sent the 750,000th truck kit to South Africa.

The item was packed in a 40-foot sea container for its journey overseas. It will be shipped to Rotterdam before it embarks to Port Elizabeth, in South Africa, its destination country. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz plant ships 750,000th truck assembly kit

ThyssenKrupp invests €80 million in ‘world’s most advanced forging line’

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ThyssenKrupp is investing €80 million into building what the company describes as “the world’s most advanced forging line” in Homburg, in Germany.

The investment is to expand a front axle production facility for trucks, for which long-term customer contracts have been signed, says the industrial giant.

ThyssenKrupp says its decision to build the new forging line represents “the biggest single investment ever made at its Homburg site. [Read more…] about ThyssenKrupp invests €80 million in ‘world’s most advanced forging line’

SEAT invests €57 million in its factory in Barcelona

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SEAT has invested €57 million in a new metal press and two new hot stamping lines for its factory in Barcelona.

The new PXL press installed in SEAT Barcelona involved an investment of just over €31 million and it will boost the productivity of this metal press compared to the previous ones thanks to greater automation and manufacturing speed, as well as an advanced robot system.

A little over €25 million was also invested in two new hot stamping lines that will also help increase efficiency, speed and precision in the production process. [Read more…] about SEAT invests €57 million in its factory in Barcelona

BMW’s Spartanburg plant doubles battery production capacity

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BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in the US state of South Carolina has doubled its capacity for production of high-voltage batteries.

The plant’s own battery facility now produces the new fourth-generation batteries.

These are intended for the plug-in hybrid models of the new BMW X5 and the future BMW X3, also produced in Spartanburg. [Read more…] about BMW’s Spartanburg plant doubles battery production capacity

Additive manufacturing to generate $100 billion in Asean by 2025, says ThyssenKrupp

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ThyssenKrupp has presented a white paper on additive manufacturing (AM) potential in the ASEAN region, titled Additive Manufacturing: Adding Up Growth Opportunities for ASEAN.

The white paper provides deep insights and perspectives on the state of additive manufacturing in the ten member countries of ASEAN. There is huge potential for the ASEAN market given its contribution to global manufacturing output.

The paper was developed by ThyssenKrupp with the support and contribution of a multidisciplinary team of experts and partners in Singapore including the global industrial 3D printing leader EOS and the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC).

[Read more…] about Additive manufacturing to generate $100 billion in Asean by 2025, says ThyssenKrupp

Organisers of watchmaking event EPHJ report increased visitors and ‘excellent feedback’

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Against the backdrop of a thriving watchmaking industry, the 18th EPHJ Trade Show ended recently with “really good news” on visitor numbers, which were slightly up, and positive feedback from the 820 exhibitor companies.

After four busy days, the 820 exhibitors and the organisers left the EPHJ Trade Show with a smile on their faces.

Alexandre Catton, director of EPHJ, says: “This 18th show was a continuation of previous versions with improvements in many areas, especially the number of visitors, which was up more than 4 per cent, and the satisfaction of the exhibitors.” [Read more…] about Organisers of watchmaking event EPHJ report increased visitors and ‘excellent feedback’

Nokia’s 5G factory recognised as ‘Advanced 4th Industrial Revolution Lighthouse’

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Nokia‘s 5G ‘factory of the future’ in Oulu, Finland has been selected by McKinsey and the World Economic Forum as an Advanced 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) Lighthouse, reflecting leadership and proven success in adopting and implementing 4IR technologies at scale.

Designed to showcase Industry 4.0 concepts for the manufacturing of Nokia 4G and 5G base stations, the Oulu factory uses Nokia’s private (4.9G/LTE) wireless networks for connectivity for all assets within and outside the factory, IoT analytics running on Edge cloud, and a real-time digital twin of operations data.

The factory, which produces 1,000 4G and 5G base stations per day, generated significant annual improvements, including more than 30 percent productivity gains, 50 percent savings in time of product delivery to market, and an annual cost savings of millions of euros.

[Read more…] about Nokia’s 5G factory recognised as ‘Advanced 4th Industrial Revolution Lighthouse’