Audi has been demonstrating its advanced manufacturing technologies, much of which went into building its newly opened smart factory in Mexico, where the automaker’s Q5 vehicle is being produced. [Read more…] about Audi shows off its smart factory technologies
Manufacturing
OR Laser launches new metal additive manufacturing system
OR Laser has launched a new direct metal additive manufacturing system which it says is “more accessible and more affordable for more companies”.
The company says the Orlas Creator metal additive manufacturing platform is “smarter, simpler, faster and more cost effective than any other metal additive manufacturing system currently available on the market”.
OR Laser says the system uses a “unique” circular build-platform design, which enables up to 30per cent faster production speeds compared with comparable platforms. These speeds are facilitated by a proprietary, rotation-led precision coater blade. [Read more…] about OR Laser launches new metal additive manufacturing system
How to make the most of robotics and automation in your manufacturing business
Barry Crackett is a product designer at Brushtec, a brushware manufacturer which has benefitted greatly from embracing robotics and automation. In this article, he explains how your business could also benefit from automation.
The UK is falling far behind much of the industrialised world when it comes to embracing robotics and automation, according to The Telegraph.
There are reportedly 500 robots for every 10,000 manufacturing employees in South Korea, 300 in Germany and 200 in Denmark and Sweden.
In stark contrast the UK has just 71 for every 10,000 workers, which means that our manufacturing industry might struggle to catch up if companies don’t start taking stock of the situation and putting more effort into adapting to survive. [Read more…] about How to make the most of robotics and automation in your manufacturing business
Huge reboot: What Trump’s aversion to trade blocs could mean for the US robotics, automation and manufacturing industries
The US automotive manufacturing industry is probably going through some angsty times right now, what with president-elect Donald Trump reiterating his campaign pledge to repeal or at least renegotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and any other free-trade deal previous administrations have signed up to.
For a highly globalised industry like the automotive sector, which sources parts from all over the world and may assemble its vehicles in any number of countries simultaneously based on a common platform, this is perhaps one election promise which it would rather not be kept.
However, Trump has already produced a presidential address style video in which he says: “I am going to issue a notification of intent to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a potential disaster for our country.
“Instead, we will negotiate fair, bilateral trade deals that bring jobs and industry back onto American shores.” [Read more…] about Huge reboot: What Trump’s aversion to trade blocs could mean for the US robotics, automation and manufacturing industries
‘Believe it or not, automation may bring jobs back to the US’
One of the major concerns among blue collar workers is the fear that robotic automation will take jobs that are sorely needed by the average working Joe who simply wants to provide for his or her family.
While it is understandable to think this way since automation can do the work in less time and with more efficiency, it may not necessarily be true that automation is going to replace human jobs.
A study emanating from the UK’s prestigious Oxford University indicates that automation may actually be a very good thing in that it will not only bring factories back home, but it will stimulate the economy, creating more jobs in the process. [Read more…] about ‘Believe it or not, automation may bring jobs back to the US’
Deco Lighting increases production speed ‘by 1,200 per cent’ using Rethink’s Sawyer industrial robot
Smart lighting manufacturer claims collaborative robot makes assembly 1,200 percent faster
Deco Lighting, a lighting technology manufacturer, is planning to deploy Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer industrial robots to reduce production time with precision sub-assembly on each line.
By introducing Sawyer into this process, Deco Lighting hopes to reduce assembly time on its products from about an hour per unit to less than five minutes.
Based in Commerce, California, Deco Lighting marks a paradigm shift in the LED lighting industry through optimization in design and manufacturing. [Read more…] about Deco Lighting increases production speed ‘by 1,200 per cent’ using Rethink’s Sawyer industrial robot
Daimler sets its sights on vision of smart factory
At Daimler, the “smart factory” is the centrepiece of the digitalisation of the entire company. In the smart factory, the products, machines and the entire environment are networked with each other and connected to the internet. Integration of the real world into a functional, digital world enables a so-called “digital twin” to be created, which allows the real-time representation of processes, systems and entire production shops.
“Digitalisation enables us to make our products more individual, and production more efficient and flexible. The challenge is to plan for the long term while remaining able to respond rapidly to customer wishes and market fluctuations,” says Markus Schäfer, executive board member Mercedes-Benz cars production and supply chain management.
“The working environment in the automobile industry is facing major and very rapid changes,” says Michael Brecht, chairman of the Daimler works council. “We want to be actively involved in shaping these changes. One key to this is undoubtedly the systematic, far-sighted training of the current and future workforce.” [Read more…] about Daimler sets its sights on vision of smart factory
The Toyota Corolla at 50: The best-selling car of all time
The Toyota Corolla is by far the best-selling model of car ever made, with close to 50 million units sold since its launch in 1966.
The company commemorated the 50th anniversary last month of “the car for everyone” by producing a video and other content looking back on its success in putting Toyota on the global automaking map.
One notable story told of how one owner has been driving his first-generation Corolla since he bought it in 1969 at the age of 24. [Read more…] about The Toyota Corolla at 50: The best-selling car of all time
The Rubik’s Cube phenomenon: One for the all-time pop charts
lockTo date, more than 400 million Rubik’s Cubes have been sold around the world. As such, the puzzle game is one of the biggest-selling products in history.
Not bad for a toy which its inventor, Hungarian architect Ernő Rubik, says he didn’t even plan to make.
He was working as a professor of architecture at the Budapest College of Applied Architecture at the time, in 1974, and built the cube with the intention of “searching to find a good task for my students”. [Read more…] about The Rubik’s Cube phenomenon: One for the all-time pop charts
US will regain top spot from China in manufacturing by 2020, says report
The United States will regain its lead as the world’s most competitive manufacturing nation by the year 2020, according to a report by economic analyst Deloitte.
Deloitte made its forecast after surveying the opinions of manufacturing industry executives for its 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index.
Deloitte says “executives expect the US to assume the top position before the end of the decade”. [Read more…] about US will regain top spot from China in manufacturing by 2020, says report