Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Materials

Why material selection mistakes in corrosive environments still lead to avoidable operational risk

by

Corrosive environments continue to create challenges across many industrial sectors. Components may be exposed to moisture, chemicals, heat, pressure, or aggressive media for long periods of time, and that places constant demands on material performance.

In these settings, operational risk does not only come from equipment failure or process instability. It can also start much earlier, with the wrong material choice.

A product may look suitable on paper, yet still prove to be a weak fit once real operating conditions begin to take effect. That is why material selection remains an important part of risk control in corrosive environments. [Read more…] about Why material selection mistakes in corrosive environments still lead to avoidable operational risk

Jurassic bag: From dinosaur DNA to designer goods – how biofabrication and automation could reshape materials

by

A luxury handbag made from Tyrannosaurus rex protein sounds like a publicity stunt. In some ways, it is.

But behind the spectacle lies something more significant: a glimpse of how materials themselves may soon be designed, grown, and manufactured through a combination of synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, and automated systems.

The handbag – developed by a collaboration between VML, The Organoid Company, and Lab-Grown Leather – was unveiled at the Art Zoo Museum in Amsterdam, where it is currently on display before auction. [Read more…] about Jurassic bag: From dinosaur DNA to designer goods – how biofabrication and automation could reshape materials

Hexcel materials used in ‘business aviation’s first all-composite wing’ on Dassault Falcon 10X

by

Advanced composites manufacturer Hexcel says it supplied key structural materials for the wing of Dassault Aviation’s newly unveiled Falcon 10X, a next-generation ultra-long-range business jet featuring what the company describes as “business aviation’s first all-composite wing”.

The aircraft was rolled out at Dassault’s Bordeaux-Mérignac facility in France before an audience of more than 400 customers, partners, and aviation industry leaders, marking a major milestone in the Falcon 10X development program.

Hexcel was selected in 2022 to provide structural prepreg composite materials for the entire wing of the aircraft, highlighting the growing importance of lightweight carbon-fiber composites in modern aircraft design. [Read more…] about Hexcel materials used in ‘business aviation’s first all-composite wing’ on Dassault Falcon 10X

Thermal Insulators Explained: Why Mica Outperforms Alternatives

by

The thermal insulation landscape is crowded with options: fiberglass, ceramic wool, aerogel, foam composites, and mineral-based materials. Yet when engineers need reliable insulation in demanding environments like aerospace applications, industrial furnaces, and high-temperature equipment, mica emerges as the best choice. The reason isn’t marketing. It’s performance in the real world.

Understanding why mica outperforms alternatives requires comparing not just thermal conductivity numbers, but overall performance across temperature range, durability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. When you understand the full picture, mica sheets and mica components become the logical choice, not the expensive alternative. [Read more…] about Thermal Insulators Explained: Why Mica Outperforms Alternatives

Europe begins major push to standardize materials terminology across industry

by

Europe is trying to fix a major problem in digital manufacturing: everyone uses different terminology to describe materials and processes, and as a result, industrial data is fragmented, incompatible and difficult for software, AI systems and simulations to interpret. That inconsistency has become a major barrier to scaling advanced digital technologies across European manufacturing.

To address the issue, the EU-funded DiMAT project is contributing its expertise to a new initiative aimed at standardising how materials terminology is defined and used.

The initiative is being carried out in partnership with DIN, Germany’s national standards body, and Fraunhofer IWM, which is contributing its expertise in materials data structures and ontology development.

The effort is being developed through the newly launched CEN Workshop “Terminology Definition for Domain Ontologies in Materials Science” (CEN/WS OntoWF), which has now published a draft agreement and opened it for public comment. [Read more…] about Europe begins major push to standardize materials terminology across industry

Technology company NaturePlast invents biodegradable plastic fishing nets

by

In the heart of Normandy, where fishing and industry have long shaped the regional economy, NaturePlast is using artificial intelligence and digital innovation to build a more sustainable future.

The Caen-based company is proving that even traditional sectors like fishing and construction can benefit from cutting-edge technology by applying advanced digital modeling and AI-based tools from the EU-funded DiMAT project to design stronger, greener, and more sustainable materials faster than ever before.

NaturePlast, a French leader in bio-based and biodegradable plastics, is developing new-generation bioplastic formulations for the production of technical filaments used in fishing and construction nets. [Read more…] about Technology company NaturePlast invents biodegradable plastic fishing nets

BASF and Carlyle to form €7.7 billion standalone coatings company with QIA investment

by

BASF has signed a binding agreement with global investment firm Carlyle and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to create a new standalone coatings company valued at €7.7 billion.

The deal covers BASF’s automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinish coatings, and surface treatment businesses, collectively known as BASF Coatings. Under the agreement, Carlyle and QIA will take a majority stake, while BASF will retain a 40 percent equity stake in the new company.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals. BASF says it will receive approximately €5.8 billion in pre-tax cash proceeds at closing. [Read more…] about BASF and Carlyle to form €7.7 billion standalone coatings company with QIA investment

The end is nigh for smelly socks: Heraeus invents material that eliminates bad odours

by

Heraeus Precious Metals has developed an antimicrobial technology called AGXX, which the company says eliminates bacteria, fungi, viruses, and algae through a catalytic reaction rather than by releasing metal ions or other potentially harmful substances.

Unlike conventional antimicrobial coatings, which often rely on silver or copper ion release and lose effectiveness over time, AGXX operates continuously using humidity and oxygen from the surrounding air.

The process generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that destroy microorganisms and prevent biofilm formation. [Read more…] about The end is nigh for smelly socks: Heraeus invents material that eliminates bad odours

HydroGraph awarded new US patent for ‘fractal graphene’-based actuator technology

by

HydroGraph Clean Power, a producer of ultra-pure graphene, has been granted a US patent for a novel actuator technology that uses electrically conductive porous carbon materials, including HydroGraph’s proprietary “Fractal Graphene”, to generate controlled mechanical force.

This marks the first US patent granted for an invention developed in HydroGraph’s laboratories, part of the Company’s strategy to expand its intellectual property portfolio beyond its foundational graphene synthesis patents licensed from Kansas State University.

Additionally, HydroGraph now has 11 additional patent applications pending covering various material innovations and applications. [Read more…] about HydroGraph awarded new US patent for ‘fractal graphene’-based actuator technology

Urban mining: Europe turns to AI-driven robotics to tackle critical raw materials shortage

by

As Europe accelerates its transition to a green and digital economy, securing a stable supply of critical raw materials (CRMs) has become a pressing concern.

Materials like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are indispensable for technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, and semiconductors.

However, with a significant portion of these resources imported from a limited number of countries, including China, the EU faces vulnerabilities in its supply chains. [Read more…] about Urban mining: Europe turns to AI-driven robotics to tackle critical raw materials shortage