Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Manufacturing

Opinion: Collaborative robots enable effective high-mix, low-volume production

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Oliver Giertz, product manager for servo/motion and robotics for the EMEA region at Mitsubishi Electric, factory automation, explains how collaborative robots are helping manufacturers to increase flexibility, boost quality, and drive down operational costs.

With increased competition, often on a global scale, manufacturers need to differentiate themselves by tailoring products more closely to customer demand.

This, of course, carries with it an implicit reduction in batch sizes and has seen the rise of high-mix, low-volume production.

Collaborative robots, or cobots, can enable manufacturers to effectively meet individual customer requirements with greater product variety in smaller batches. [Read more…] about Opinion: Collaborative robots enable effective high-mix, low-volume production

5 Ways to Improve Productivity in Your Manufacturing Facility

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Manufacturing facilities are among the busiest places regardless of where they’re located or what industry they cater to. Workers move in a calculated manner, and one wrong action might affect their output for the day.

Also, these facilities usually expect a high productivity rate from their staff members. If you’re an employer struggling to achieve this, read on to discover how you can boost your establishment’s efficiency. [Read more…] about 5 Ways to Improve Productivity in Your Manufacturing Facility

5 Ways Automating the Manufacturing Process can Save you Money

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When technological advancements began, the global population worried that it would eliminate the need for employees. That being true, it also brought along easy ways of production and reduction of operational costs.

Manufacturing is an industry that is growing fast and becoming more competitive. Manufacturers keep an eye out for methods that accelerate production, lower costs, and maintain quality.

Automating the manufacturing process can save you business funds in the following ways. [Read more…] about 5 Ways Automating the Manufacturing Process can Save you Money

Nissan uses robotic and 3D printing technologies to expand heritage parts range

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Nissan says it will utilize its new technologies to bring to the Japan market additional parts in its NISMO Heritage Parts program, a series of genuine repair and replacement parts for discontinued vehicles.

The new technologies include dual-sided dieless forming for body panels and 3D printing for resin parts.

Nissan unveiled dual-sided dieless forming technology in 2019 as a method to produce body panels in low volumes. [Read more…] about Nissan uses robotic and 3D printing technologies to expand heritage parts range

Global EV battery production needs ‘significant boost’ to meet growing global demand

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An ABB-sponsored report predicts that plans for 80 new electric vehicle battery gigafactories will be “insufficient” and that battery production needs a “significant boost” to meet growing global demand. 

The report highlights role of automation in meeting demand as EVs are predicted to overtake internal combustion engine-powered vehicles by 2036. [Read more…] about Global EV battery production needs ‘significant boost’ to meet growing global demand

Volkswagen expands production of battery systems

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The Volkswagen Group Components plant in Braunschweig is significantly expanding its production of battery systems for the latest electric vehicle generation. Following the first expansion stage with a maximum capacity of 250,000 battery systems, the second expansion stage has started up with the same capacity.

This means that once the site is fully ramped up it will now be able to fit up to 500,000 batteries a year for models based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) – in this case for the fully electric Volkswagen ID.31 and ID.42, as well as the Škoda Enyaq iV3, which should soon be quietly and powerfully cruising the streets of Europe with a battery heart from Braunschweig.

In addition to that, up to 100,000 battery systems for the beloved models e-up!4, SEAT Mii electric5, Škoda Citigoe iV6 and as well as for hybrid vehicles such as the Volkswagen Golf GTE7. [Read more…] about Volkswagen expands production of battery systems

Fanuc forms alliance with Doosan on workforce development

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Fanuc America and Doosan Machine Tools America have formed a partnership to better prepare future machine operators.

The Fanuc Certified CNC Training Program now offers manufacturing skills development using Doosan machine tools.

The new offering adds to the depth and breadth of Fanuc’s CNC training tools as well as allows operators a hands-on experience with Doosan’s high performance CNC machines, which have been used in manufacturing for over 40 years. [Read more…] about Fanuc forms alliance with Doosan on workforce development

Mitsubishi Electric Automation unveils new LoadMate robot work cell

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Mitsubishi Electric Automation has launched its LoadMate Plus engineered solution, a mobile robot cell.

The machinery is targeted towards manufacturers in CNC machine tool applications who find themselves facing a labor crunch, while needing to be more efficient and improve their production.

It creates a path to introduce automation to high-mix, low-volume facilities and is designed with mobility and flexibility in mind. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric Automation unveils new LoadMate robot work cell

Robotic 3D metal printing startup MX3D raises €2.25 million in new funding

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Innovative robotic 3D metal printing company MX3D has raised €2.25 million to scale up and launch its M1 Metal Additive Manufacturing System.

DOEN Participaties, PDENH and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency took part in the investment round in MX3D, which is based in Holland and is famous for building a 3D printed bridge across a canal.

The funds will be used to launch the M1, a complete robotic metal AM system, including a welding robot, software and control system to 3D print metal parts in-house. [Read more…] about Robotic 3D metal printing startup MX3D raises €2.25 million in new funding

Mercedes-Benz and Siemens partner to further digitize and automate manufacturing

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Mercedes-Benz and Siemens plan to cooperate on advancing digitalization and automation in the automotive industry, supported by the State of Berlin.

Mercedes-Benz aims to digitize its production processes. Siemens, a leading supplier in the field of automation, industrial software and smart infrastructure, will bring its expertise and technologies to the partnership to develop highly flexible, efficient and sustainable automotive production together with Mercedes-Benz.

Jörg Burzer, member of the board of Mercedes-Benz, production and supply chain management, says: “Mercedes-Benz takes digitalization to the next level in the global Mercedes-Benz Cars production network. Together with Siemens, we are driving forward the development of sustainable future technologies – from Berlin for the whole world.”

In this context, the Mercedes-Benz Berlin-Marienfelde site in Germany will be transformed into a competence centre for digitalization with a focus on the development and implementation of the digital Mercedes-Benz Cars ecosystem MO360, in addition to the redesign of production activities. In the future, e-mobility components will also be assembled in Berlin. [Read more…] about Mercedes-Benz and Siemens partner to further digitize and automate manufacturing