Robotics & Automation News

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Manufacturing

Spending on semiconductor fabrication equipment expected to reach record $107 billion in 2022

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Global fab equipment spending for front-end facilities is expected to jump 18 percent year-over-year to an all-time high of $107 billion in 2022, marking a third consecutive year of growth following a 42 percent surge in 2021, according to a report by industry association SEMI.

Ajit Manocha, president and CEO of SEMI, says: “Crossing the $100 billion mark in spending on global fab equipment for the first time is a historic ​milestone for the semiconductor industry.

“This ​significant achievement is a tribute to the relentless drive to add and upgrade capacity to address a diverse range of markets and emerging applications, solidifying expectations for long-term industry growth to enable electronics for the digital world.” [Read more…] about Spending on semiconductor fabrication equipment expected to reach record $107 billion in 2022

3D Printing the Future: The Move into Mainstream Serial Production Accelerates

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From robotics to dentistry and from food to metals, 3D printing is exponentially maturing

It doesn’t take a great degree of imagination to picture future applications for 3D printing in robotics, as examples of how the technology is already being used in the industry easily lend themselves to extensions on concepts.

3D printing is heavily utilized in the design of robots due to the flexibility and customization that 3D printing provides.

It’s next to impossible to find exact statistics, but one estimate is that at least 40 percent of the top 2,000 manufacturers are now utilizing intelligent machine tools and 3D printing as a way of optimizing material usage and reducing waste. [Read more…] about 3D Printing the Future: The Move into Mainstream Serial Production Accelerates

How Do Robots Widely Apply in PCB Manufacturing

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The PCB manufacturing industry is becoming complex daily with the shrinking size of components and circuits.

The high density of components, multiple layers, delicate and tiny parts, and small pitches demand precision and extra care in this industry.

As a result, despite being a technology-intensive industry, it is still labor intensive. [Read more…] about How Do Robots Widely Apply in PCB Manufacturing

Festo ‘investing heavily’ in automating electric vehicle battery production

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Manufacturing automation specialist Festo says it is “investing heavily” in automating the production of batteries for electric vehicles.

Festo says the trend towards electrification has led the company to pour in almost three-quarters of all its investment money into electrification initiatives.

Basically, there are many “gigafactories” and other types of battery manufacturing facilities being planned and built – and Festo is involved in developing manufacturing systems for a good number of them. [Read more…] about Festo ‘investing heavily’ in automating electric vehicle battery production

ABB to deliver ‘multiple’ robotic systems to large vehicle maker Scania’s highly automated battery assembly plant

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ABB has entered into an agreement with Scania, one of world’s largest truck and bus manufacturers, to provide “a comprehensive range of robotic solutions” for Scania’s new highly automated battery assembly plant in Sweden.

The new facility will be a key milestone on Scania’s journey towards the electrification of heavy vehicles. Scania will invest more than SEK 1 billion ($108 million) in the facility over several years and the new Södertälje plant is expected to be fully operational by 2023.

Joerg Reger, managing director of ABB Robotics’ automotive business line, says: “We are delighted to work with one of our longest-standing clients to help deliver their electrification roadmap. [Read more…] about ABB to deliver ‘multiple’ robotic systems to large vehicle maker Scania’s highly automated battery assembly plant

Fuzzy Logic makes robotics agile at MBDA

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MBDA is a leading European manufacturer in the aerospace and armaments sector, specializing in the design of missiles and missile systems for the operational needs of the three branches of the military (army, navy and air force).

MBDA France’s Bourges site specializes in the manufacture of tactical missile equipment utilising several key technologies: mechanical manufacturing (metal and composite materials) and electromechanical assembly.

The company wanted to robotise certain processes in small series or even single unit production, by allowing an operator with no programming skills to teach the robotic system, in just a few seconds, the process to be carried out, and then to execute the cycle with complete confidence without human supervision. [Read more…] about Fuzzy Logic makes robotics agile at MBDA

4 Ways to Reduce Laser Cutting Costs

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Many industrial companies, particularly those in the fabrication and machining sectors, require laser cutting for their projects and services.

Essentially, laser cutting refers to the process of using a laser beam to pierce the material and melt it in an exact line to ensure a clean output. It has been a popular method in the industrial setting because it produces no edge effects after cutting.

Due to its ability to cut materials with precision, manufacturers and other businesses can carry out a high volume of jobs more efficiently. However, it’s essential to know that laser cutting can be expensive.

The continuous use of laser cutting can be unsustainable for many companies and organizations. [Read more…] about 4 Ways to Reduce Laser Cutting Costs

Will Car Manufacturing Ever Be Fully Automated?

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The other day, I got an email asking me to participate in a survey regarding robots in hotels. Basically, the people behind the study wanted to gauge how comfortable respondents were about letting robots and AI systems take care of different aspects of their stay.

Would they be happy to check in without ever speaking to a human? What about having a robot clean their rooms?

The reason this survey stuck with me is that it posited the possibility that hotels would be staffed by robots in the near future. I wondered if it would be people coming to stay in hotels who would delay this from happening due to technophobia. This is in spite of the fact that mechanisation itself is not fully automated in many industries. [Read more…] about Will Car Manufacturing Ever Be Fully Automated?

Humans and robots find synergy working at Hyundai Card factory

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When you think of robots, what comes to mind? Big factory machinery or humanoids from a science fiction movie?

At the Hyundai Card headquarters located in the finance center of Seoul, employees and robots work together to create synergy. As a leading financial technology company, Hyundai Card has continuously increased robots within the work place. [Read more…] about Humans and robots find synergy working at Hyundai Card factory

Worldwide silicon wafer shipments and revenue ‘set new records in 2021’

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Worldwide silicon wafer shipments and revenue “set new records in 2021”, according to a new report by semiconductor manufacturing industry association SEMI. 

SEMI says that worldwide silicon wafer area shipments in 2021 increased 14 percent while wafer revenue rose 13 percent compared to 2020, topping $12 billion, to reach new “all-time highs”.

The study was produced by the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group as part of its year-end analysis of the silicon wafer industry. [Read more…] about Worldwide silicon wafer shipments and revenue ‘set new records in 2021’