Robotics & Automation News

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Manufacturing

Apple to invest $1 billion in advanced manufacturing companies in the US

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By Stephen Nellis, Reuters

Apple plans to create a $1 billion fund to invest in US companies that perform advanced manufacturing, chief executive officer Tim Cook said a few days ago, the iPhone maker’s latest effort to show how it is creating US jobs.

The Cupertino, California company will announce the fund’s first investment later in May, Cook said during an interview on CNBC.

Cook also said Apple plans to fund programs that could include teaching people how to write computer code to create apps, and will release more details about the effort this summer.

The announcements were the latest in a series of disclosures to highlight how Apple, the world’s largest company by market valuation, contributes to job creation in the United States. Apple came under fire from President Donald Trump during his campaign because it makes most of its products in China.  [Read more…] about Apple to invest $1 billion in advanced manufacturing companies in the US

Universal Robots partners with Nissan to increase manufacturing productivity through collaborative robots

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Universal Robots says Nissan has simplified processes, reduced relief worker costs and stabilised production output through deployment of the company’s UR10 cobots

Universal Robots says the Nissan Motor Company has successfully deployed Universal Robots’ UR10 robot arms at its Yokohama factory. 

The automaker joins other global automotive manufacturers including BMW and Volkswagen who are using Universal Robots’ collaborative robots (cobots) to automate their processes.

Universal Robots says that through the deployment of its cobots, Nissan has enhanced its production processes, resulting in a higher level of output and stability as well as time and cost efficiencies. Nissan’s ageing workforce also enjoy a reduced workload, and were redeployed to less strenuous tasks.  [Read more…] about Universal Robots partners with Nissan to increase manufacturing productivity through collaborative robots

Aerospace industry places unique demands on holemaking technology

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Boeing_Factory

Plan ahead to get tooling that can handle today’s new materials, say Nate Craine and Greg Torres, of Allied Machine & Engineering

The aerospace industry is bigger than ever. As more and more people rely on air transport, the Airbus Global Market Forecast predicts the need for 33,000 new passenger and freighter aircraft in the next 20 years.

Between recent space endeavors and increasing air traffic, fabricators are constantly faced with new problems to solve.

In aerospace, the parts needed are often unique or newly designed and the deadlines are tight. With materials constantly changing, fabricators must be able to create new ways of safely and effectively drilling through them in as short a time as possible.  [Read more…] about Aerospace industry places unique demands on holemaking technology

World’s oldest consultancy claims new car tech will change auto manufacturing

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Arthur D. Little, which claims to be the world’s first consultancy company, predicts how future mobility solutions will affect automotive manufacturing.

In a new report, The Future of Automotive Mobility, the company says – somewhat surprisingly – that the future vehicle technology will depend less on consumer preferences than government regulations.

The company draws its conclusions on a global survey of 6,500 participants, including customers, industry players and regulators. Its research examines how the megatrends of electric mobility, car sharing and autonomous driving are likely to impact on the global automotive ecosystem and future original equipment manufacturing sales.  [Read more…] about World’s oldest consultancy claims new car tech will change auto manufacturing

ZF opens new technology centre in India

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zf india

ZF Friedrichshafen has opened a new €15 million technology centre in India which the company says reinforces the company’s global research and development network.

†he inauguration of the facility, located in Hyderabad, was attended by KT Rama Rao, India’s Minister for IT of the Telangana Government.

The ZF India Technology Center will focus on developing advanced electronics and software solutions for automotive and industrial applications.

As well as strengthening its global research and development network, ZF says it will expand local product development in India.  [Read more…] about ZF opens new technology centre in India

ZF opens European service center for industrial gearboxes in Witten, Germany

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zf witten plant
ZF’s plant in Witten, Germany

All European service activities of ZF for industrial and large gearboxes will now be concentrated in one place

ZF, one of the world’s leading technology providers to the automotive trade, has been busy expanding its operations lately. 

The company has opened its first consolidated European service centre in Germany, as well as a new technology centre in India.

The opening of the ZF European Service Center in Witten, Germany proves ZF’s focus on service and customer orientation in the industrial drives business, according to the company.  [Read more…] about ZF opens European service center for industrial gearboxes in Witten, Germany

Midea expands in North America

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midea usa building

Midea, which claims to be the world’s leading manufacturer of air conditioners and home appliances, has strengthened its presence in North America by opening new facilities to support what it says is “continued business growth in the region”. 

Midea’s North American locations include a customer service center, expanded corporate office spaces, and research and development facilities. This expansion further enhances Midea’s network of over 280 major product facilities and logistics centers worldwide.

Jim Tomaszewski, president of Midea America, says: “Our physical expansion in North America is a testament to the continued business growth in this important market.

“Not only will these facilities give us the resources and tools we need to meet the fast-growing demand for high-quality products for the home in the US and Canada, but they will also create more jobs in each location, which will help to boost the local economies.”  [Read more…] about Midea expands in North America

BMW shows off its smart factory technologies at its plants worldwide

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bmw worker with collaborative robot

Collaborative robots, smart glasses, exoskeletons and innovative work gloves are among the tech being integrated at plants across the group’s worldwide operations 

German automaker BMW has been providing a glimpse into the advanced manufacturing technologies at several of its factories – in Germany and the US. 

The company says it has been harnessing the potential of innovative automation and flexible assistance systems in production.

In doing so, BMW says it has modernized the work environment and increased the efficiency of its workforce.  [Read more…] about BMW shows off its smart factory technologies at its plants worldwide

ABB buys digital inspection specialist Nub3D

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nub3d

ABB has acquired Spanish startup Nub3D, which specialises in 3D inspection and quality-control solutions.

The company says the acquisition expands the group’s portfolio of ABB Ability solutions that connect customers to the industrial Internet of Things.

ABB Ability builds on the intelligent cloud, using connected devices to generate actionable digital information for a broad range of customers.

The financial value of the transaction has not been disclosed.  [Read more…] about ABB buys digital inspection specialist Nub3D

MRK-Systeme builds Kuka-based automation solution for BMW

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Human-robot collaboration-compliant Kuka robots put to work in quality assurance at BMW facility 

MRK-Systeme has developed an automation solution with human-robot collaboration capability for the BMW Group using Kuka robots for high payloads.

It enables the factory in Landshut, Bavaria to carry out quality assurance for crankshaft housing in an “ergonomically friendly manner”, says the company.  [Read more…] about MRK-Systeme builds Kuka-based automation solution for BMW

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