Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Manufacturing

China’s manufacturing heartland to integrate 20,000 more robots

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Communist Chinese government propaganda mouthpiece Xinhua is reporting that another 20,000 industrial robots will be installed in the country’s manufacturing heartland, Guangdong Province. 

Quoting Guangdong governor, Ma Xingrui, the state news agency says the robots are to be integrated into operations by the end of this year.

The move is part of a drive by the national government to modernise the country’s industrial infrastructure under the “Made in China 2025” policy.  [Read more…] about China’s manufacturing heartland to integrate 20,000 more robots

iQuest releases augmented reality app for manufacturing and industry

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iQagent, app creator for industrial applications, has released iQagent AR for IOS on the App Store. iQagent AR is the next evolution of the award-winning app iQagent, first released in 2012.

This new version leverages Apple’s ARKit to allow off-the-shelf creation of persistent augmented reality scenes containing process data and resources from existing plant systems. Once created, the scenes can be accessed by other devices running iQagent AR.

iQagent uses QR codes as ‘Point Of Interest’ (POI) markers to identify equipment. Users create POIs for equipment and process areas and associate relevant data points and resources.

[Read more…] about iQuest releases augmented reality app for manufacturing and industry

Picosun partners with STMicroelectronics to offer 300 mm atomic layer deposition technology

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Picosun, a supplier of atomic layer deposition (ALD) thin film coating technology for semiconductor manufacturing, is partnering with STMicroelectronics to develop the next-generation 300 mm production solutions for advanced power electronics.

Power electronic components are right at the heart of many core elements of our society, where energy saving, sparing use of natural resources, and CO2 emission reductions are called for to provide for sustainable future.

Energy production with renewables such as wind and solar, clean transportation with electric vehicles and trains, and industrial manufacturing with energy-smart power management and factory automation are key markets where the demand for advanced power components is increasing.  [Read more…] about Picosun partners with STMicroelectronics to offer 300 mm atomic layer deposition technology

3D printed parts keep production flowing at chocolate factory

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Dutch 3D service bureau, Visual First, is using FDM Nylon 12CF carbon-filled thermoplastic, supplied by applied additive technology solutions company Stratasys, to replace metal machine parts for its customer, The Chocolate Factory.

Using 3D print machinery replacement parts has significantly reduced machine downtime, ensuring production line continuity for the company.

Based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, The Chocolate Factory runs a network of packaging machines, with the company’s daily throughput relying on the smooth operation of a simple, yet crucial, hook-shaped metal part that lifts wrapped bars onto a conveyer belt.

[Read more…] about 3D printed parts keep production flowing at chocolate factory

Seat shows off intralogistics robots at Spain factory

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Automaker Seat, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, has been showing off its autonomous and collaborative intralogistics robots at its factory in Martorell, in Spain. 

The company uses 125 automated guided vehicles at the Martorell facility, and the robots share the workspace with 7,000 human employees.

As such, Seat – and others – call these vehicles collaborative robots, because they work alongside humans (video below).

The internal logistics robots were manufactured by a company called Kivnon. Other robotic and autonomous logistics vehicles at the Martorell plant are from Aristeril and Rari.

[Read more…] about Seat shows off intralogistics robots at Spain factory

Sector spotlight: Record growth of semiconductor market good sign for industrial robot manufacturers

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The global semiconductor market is growing at a phenomenal rate, evidence of which can be seen by anyone who cares to look around them.

Almost everyone on Earth either directly or indirectly uses some sort of device or machine which contains semiconductor technology.

And in some ways, this is just the beginning of the semiconductor revolution.

As Kawasaki Robotics notes on its website: “In the space of a generation, the semiconductor industry has evolved from a niche specialty to a fundamental driver of the global economy.”  [Read more…] about Sector spotlight: Record growth of semiconductor market good sign for industrial robot manufacturers

Panasonic to establish new company to strengthen factory solutions business in North America

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Panasonic has established a new company for its North America operations.

Panasonic Corporation today announced the establishment of Panasonic System Solutions North America Company as a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, Panasonic’s Newark, New Jersey-based subsidiary.

The new company will be formally established on April 1, 2018.  [Read more…] about Panasonic to establish new company to strengthen factory solutions business in North America

Saint-Gobain plant reduces injuries with Robotiq force-torque sensor

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Glass production company says it has reduced injuries and improved production using collaborative robot

Saint-Gobain’s plant in Sully-sur-Loire, France, focuses on glass production for the armoured and aeronautical industries, and the civil market.

In their shift towards Industry 4.0, Saint-Gobain’s management has installed collaborative robot cells to free employees from tedious and repetitive tasks.

The company says Robotiq’s FT 300 Force Torque Sensor has proven “essential” to automate the grueling glass polishing process. (See video below.) [Read more…] about Saint-Gobain plant reduces injuries with Robotiq force-torque sensor

Google Brain scientist launches company to bring AI to IIoT

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A former Google Brain scientist has started a company which is developing artificial intelligence systems for the industrial internet of things networks, such as those in the manufacturing sector. 

Andrew Ng, who has previously worked for Google Brain and Baidu’s AI group, and also founded Coursera, is said to be working with Foxconn to develop and test his company’s ideas.

Foxconn is the contract manufacturer used by Apple to make its iPhones and iPads.  [Read more…] about Google Brain scientist launches company to bring AI to IIoT

Harrison Manufacturing increases throughput with Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer

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Harrison Manufacturing, a custom plastics injection molding manufacturer specializing in molded plastics and light assembly, recently installed Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer robot at its Jackson, Mississippi facility and says it saw “immediate tangible benefits”.

Harrison bosses say they were able to integrate Sawyer into their process “within hours”.

The company says it is reducing labor costs and increasing throughput by using Sawyer in ergonomically challenging tasks. (See video below.) [Read more…] about Harrison Manufacturing increases throughput with Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer

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