Robotics & Automation News

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Manufacturing

Apple’s push for automation: Airlifts, tariffs, and the future of iPhone manufacturing

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As geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global trade, Apple finds itself re-engineering not just iPhones but its entire production model.

Reports that the company recently airlifted large quantities of its smartphones out of China to avoid tariffs have highlighted the mounting pressure to diversify its supply chain – and potentially to expand manufacturing closer to home.

The airlifts, which reportedly moved iPhones to markets like India and Vietnam, underscore a broader shift under way. [Read more…] about Apple’s push for automation: Airlifts, tariffs, and the future of iPhone manufacturing

Manufacturing content: Is Trump’s tariffs policy about economic justice?

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President Donald Trump is once again placing American manufacturing at the center of his economic agenda, promising to bring back industrial jobs and rebuild the nation’s productive base. His primary tool for doing so? Tariffs.

These duties on imported goods are designed to make foreign products more expensive, creating space for domestic producers to compete.

The idea is simple: if it costs more to buy a product from China or Germany, then producing it in Ohio or Michigan suddenly makes more economic sense. [Read more…] about Manufacturing content: Is Trump’s tariffs policy about economic justice?

Semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales surge to $117 billion

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Worldwide sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment increased 10 percent to $117.1 billion in 2024 from $106.3 billion in 2023, according to a report by SEMI, the industry association representing the global electronics design and manufacturing supply chain.

The data is now available in the Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics (WWSEMS) report.

In 2024, the global front-end semiconductor equipment market experienced notable growth, with sales of wafer processing equipment increasing by 9 percent and other front-end segments rising by 5 percent. [Read more…] about Semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales surge to $117 billion

BMW installs 294 robots in major upgrade of factory in Germany

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BMW has taken a significant step forward in its automation strategy with the commissioning of an expanded body shop at its Regensburg vehicle plant in Neutraubling, Germany.

The upgrade involved installing a total of 294 industrial robots into the facility – a clear signal of the company’s continued investment in high-efficiency, digitally integrated car manufacturing.

Spanning 40,000 square meters, the newly inaugurated body shop is designed to support rising global demand for the BMW X1 and BMW X2 models. [Read more…] about BMW installs 294 robots in major upgrade of factory in Germany

Chef Robotics raises $43 million in Series A funding

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Chef Robotics has raised $43.1 million in new Series A funding, which includes $20.6 million in equity and $22.5 million in equipment financing debt. The latter will be used to cover the financing of Chef’s robotic systems for Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) so Chef’s customers don’t have to front capex for their robots.

The equity round was led by Avataar Ventures and included investments from Construct Capital, Bloomberg Beta, Promus Ventures, MFV Partners, Interwoven Ventures, HCVC, MaC Venture Capital, Red and Blue Ventures, Tau Partners, Alumni Ventures, Siddhi Capital, and BOLD Capital Partners.

The new funding brings Chef’s total capital raised to $65.6 million which consists of $38.8 million in equity and $26.75 million in equipment financing, all with Silicon Valley Bank, a Division of First Citizens Bank. [Read more…] about Chef Robotics raises $43 million in Series A funding

Hyundai to buy ‘tens of thousands of robots’ from Boston Dynamics

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Boston Dynamics, a developer of mobile robotics, and Hyundai Motor Group have entered “a new chapter together” to increase manufacturing capabilities, expand collaboration to produce more robots, and build a vibrant robotics ecosystem in the US.

Hyundai Motor Group says it will invest $21 billion in the US, including a $6 billion investment to drive innovation and expand strategic partnerships with US companies. As part of this new investment, Hyundai will purchase “tens of thousands of robots” in the next few years.

It will further enable Boston Dynamics’ growth by integrating its manufacturing capabilities to help make the company the world’s leading manufacturer of advanced mobile robots. [Read more…] about Hyundai to buy ‘tens of thousands of robots’ from Boston Dynamics

Wyyt launches AI-powered robotics for agile manufacturing

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Wyyt, a developer of adaptive robotics for agile manufacturing, has launched “groundbreaking robotic solutions” designed specifically to help manufacturers quickly automate production line tasks without disrupting existing production processes.

Autonomous production lines powered by Wyyt enable companies in high-cost-of-living countries to bring production home, simplify logistics, and protect intellectual property.

Wyyt’s customers, including a Fortune 500 medical device manufacturer, and a leading specialty protective equipment supplier in Norway, benefit from increased flexibility, rapid deployment, and significant cost savings. [Read more…] about Wyyt launches AI-powered robotics for agile manufacturing

Global semiconductor manufacturing equipment investment expected to reach $110 billion

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Global fab equipment spending for front-end facilities in 2025 is anticipated to increase by 2 percent year-over-year (YoY) to $110 billion, marking the sixth consecutive year of growth since 2020, according to industry association SEMI. 

Fab equipment spending is projected to rise by 18 percent in the following year, reaching $130 billion.

This growth in investment is driven not only by demand in the high-performance computing (HPC) and memory sectors to support data center expansions, but also by the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI), which is driving up the silicon content required for edge devices. [Read more…] about Global semiconductor manufacturing equipment investment expected to reach $110 billion

ENCY Software and DAMRC partner to advance robotic machining technologies

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ENCY Software, a European developer of innovative CAD/CAM/OLP solutions for automating CNC machine and industrial robot programming, and the Danish Advanced Manufacturing Research Center (DAMRC), a non-profit research organization dedicated to enhancing manufacturing productivity, are excited to announce their new partnership. 

This collaboration aims to drive innovation in robotic machining and revolutionize the use of industrial robots for material removal applications. [Read more…] about ENCY Software and DAMRC partner to advance robotic machining technologies

SVT Robotics unveils new cloud-based portal for SoftBot platform

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SVT Robotics, a software provider that empowers companies to integrate, monitor and scale automation, has launched its new cloud-based portal for the SoftBot Platform, providing IT and operations teams with a central control hub for monitoring and managing automation across multiple sites.

A.K. Schultz, CEO of SVT Robotics, says: “As automation adoption continues to grow, companies need a centralized way to monitor and troubleshoot their technology.

“These new SoftBot Platform advancements provide real-time monitoring across diverse facilities, instant alerts on system issues, and faster resolution – all from a single, unified interface. [Read more…] about SVT Robotics unveils new cloud-based portal for SoftBot platform