Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Manufacturing

Alabama family business builds lights-out manufacturing process based on Hermle equipment

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After spending most of their younger years in their father’s machine shop, two brothers have applied their knowledge to their own enterprise, Smith & Co, and have built a multimillion-dollar, advanced, lights-out CNC facility in Birmingham, Alabama

Robert and Dell Smith started in the manufacturing industry as kids, working with their father at his part-time machine shop in Tuscaloosa – about 50 miles from their current Birmingham, Alabama location.

In the late 1980s, Robert helped take the business to full-time operations, where they first experienced 5-axis and mill turn technology, primarily for the automotive and defense industries.

The Smiths recognized the need for standard operations – whether tooling, controls or systematic procedures – which led to an exponential growth of over 100 team members. In 2015, they sold the company but continued to work for six more years.

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5 Reasons to Work With an Electronic Components Distributor When Procuring Parts

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Whether you are an electronics enthusiast seeking to acquire the correct components for your circuit designs or a businessman in search of the right components for your production line, getting the services of an electronic components distributor is not a bad idea at all.

From knitting a simple toy for your child to managing a factory that manufactures complex products for market sale, dealing with a distributor is beneficial in a number of ways.

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Global semiconductor industry to ‘invest $400 billion on 300mm fab equipment in next three years’

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Global spending on 300mm fab equipment is expected to reach a record $400 billion from 2025 to 2027, says industry association SEMI in its quarterly 300mm Fab Outlook Report to 2027 report.

The robust spending is being driven by the regionalization of semiconductor fabs and the increasing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips used in data centers and edge devices.

Worldwide, 300mm fab equipment spending is projected to grow by 4 percent to $99.3 billion in 2024, and further increase by 24 percent to $123.2 billion in 2025, surpassing the $100 billion level for the first time.

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MassTech and Healey-Driscoll Administration award more than $3.5 million to manufacturers across Massachusetts

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The Healey-Driscoll Administration and MassTech Collaborative’s (MassTech’s) Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) announced more than $3.5 million in grants to 23 manufacturing companies through the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program (MMAP), which aims to strengthen supply chains and spur growth in the manufacturing sector.

The grants will support the creation of up to 130 advanced manufacturing jobs in Massachusetts and training for up to 151 workers.

Massachusetts Economic Development Secretary and MassTech board chair Yvonne Hao announced the awards during the fourth annual Manufacturing Mash-Up, an annual event hosted by CAM that brings together companies, students, and state officials to foster innovation and strengthen partnerships in the manufacturing sector. [Read more…] about MassTech and Healey-Driscoll Administration award more than $3.5 million to manufacturers across Massachusetts

Flexiv’s fish fillet shaping solution automates breaded cod production

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Flexiv, a developer of general-purpose robotics solutions, has launched what it calls “a revolutionary fish fillet shaping application”.

Fully automated by the Rizon 4 adaptive robot, the solution utilizes a combination of computer vision and force-control to identify and shape breaded fish fillets, so that consumers receive portions of a uniform size and shape.

Developed for one of Asia’s leading seafood producers, this task was traditionally performed by manual labor, where employees had to carefully shape each fillet to ensure a consistently sized end product. [Read more…] about Flexiv’s fish fillet shaping solution automates breaded cod production

Comau and Prima additive unveil ‘fully automated’ brake disc coating robotic cell

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Industrial robot maker Comau and 3D printing experts Prima Additive, both Italian companies, have joined forces to showcase the advantages of dual-layer laser cladding having developed a high-speed, fully automated brake disc coating system for Stellantis.

The first in a series of robotic-driven Rapid Coating Process cells was presented during the Stellantis Factory Booster Day, held in Turin, Italy on September 18.

By hard coating the raw brake discs with resilient steel and composite materials, the solution will enable Stellantis to significantly increase brake disc durability, reducing emissions pollution by up to 80 percent; all while keeping cycle times at a minimum. [Read more…] about Comau and Prima additive unveil ‘fully automated’ brake disc coating robotic cell

Global semiconductor equipment billings increase 4 percent

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Global semiconductor equipment billings increased 4 percent year-over-year to $26.8 billion in the second quarter of 2024, while quarter-over-quarter billings edged up 1 percent during the same period, says industry association SEMI in its Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics (WWSEMS) Report.

Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO, says: “Global semiconductor equipment billings totaled $53.2 billion for the first half of 2024, reflecting a healthy year so far for the industry overall.

“The semiconductor equipment market has returned to growth driven by strategic investments to support continued strong demand for advanced technologies and regions seeking to bolster their chipmaking ecosystems.”

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Caracol to debut ‘groundbreaking’ robotic large-format additive manufacturing platform at IMTS

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Caracol will use IMTS to demonstrate how manufacturers can produce industrial large-scale 3D printed parts with more efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability, thanks to its advanced technology.

Via live on-booth 3D printing with its partner, Kuka, (booth #236807, West Hall), visitors will be able to get an up-close look at the capabilities of LFAM via Caracol’s innovative flagship Heron AM integrated AM platform.

This modular hardware-software robotic system works on 6+ axes to enable manufacturers in key sectors like aerospace, automotive, energy and maritime, to produce thermoplastic composite parts with very complex geometries and with no scale or shape limits. [Read more…] about Caracol to debut ‘groundbreaking’ robotic large-format additive manufacturing platform at IMTS

Revolutionising Manufacturing with Vibratory Bowl Feeders

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In today’s fast-paced manufacturing environment, automation is key to staying competitive. With the rise of robotics and intelligent systems, industries are continually seeking ways to optimise production lines and increase efficiency.

One technology that has quietly revolutionised manufacturing processes is the vibratory bowl feeder.

Though often overlooked, these innovative devices play a crucial role in automating the precise sorting and delivery of components in various industries. [Read more…] about Revolutionising Manufacturing with Vibratory Bowl Feeders

Global semiconductor manufacturing industry ‘strengthens’ in second quarter

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The global semiconductor manufacturing industry in the second quarter of 2024 continued to show signs of improvement with significant growth of IC sales, stabilizing capital expenditure, and an increase in installed wafer fab capacity, according to industry association SEMI. 

The organization revealed its findings in its Q2 2024 publication of the Semiconductor Manufacturing Monitor (SMM) Report, prepared in partnership with TechInsights.

While slower recovery in some end markets impacted the pace of growth in the first half of the year, the surge in demand for AI chips and high bandwidth memory (HBM) created strong tailwinds driving industry expansion.

Seasonality and weaker than expected consumer demand impacted electronics sales in the first half of 2024 resulting in a 0.8 percent decrease year-over-year (YoY). Starting Q3 2024, electronics sales are forecast to see a rebound, growing 4 percent YoY and 9 percent relative to Q2 2024.

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