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ABB robot enhanced with protection for harsh and cleanroom applications

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ABB says its 6-axis IRB 1300 industrial robot now includes new protection elements that enable it to be used in tough industrial applications and contamination-free production processes.

The company says the enhancements open up new opportunities for increased productivity, improved product quality and reduced cycle times in a variety of industries including electronics assembly, automotive and metals fabrication, among others.

Originally launched in 2020, the IRB 1300 is now available in IP67, Foundry Plus 2 and cleanroom ISO 4 versions. This will expand its use in tough environments, with high levels of liquids and dust. [Read more…] about ABB robot enhanced with protection for harsh and cleanroom applications

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

ABB’s new collaborative robot GoFa wins prestigious Best of the Best Red Dot award

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ABB’s GoFa cobot has been awarded the prestigious Red Dot Best of the Best design award in recognition of its unique design concept to make the new robot appealing and accessible to users.

The global Red Dot Design Awards recognize achievements in product design, with the jury assessing thousands of entries every year.

Red Dot’s “Best of the Best” award is for groundbreaking design and is the highest award in the competition, reserved for the most aesthetically appealing, functional, smart or innovative design. [Read more…] about ABB’s new collaborative robot GoFa wins prestigious Best of the Best Red Dot award

ABB says its robots have boosted productivity at Nestlé’s Brazilian plants by ‘over 50 percent’

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ABB says its robots have boosted productivity at Nestlé’s Brazilian plants by more than 50 percent. The company says its SafeMove collaborative robot technology “enhances employee safety while increasing efficiency at Nestle’s confectionary factories”. (See video below.)

ABB robots are supporting Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company, to improve the productivity of pallet loading in its chocolate manufacturing facilities in Brazil “by 53 percent”, using a new ABB palletizing robot solution.

While the company currently uses ABB Robotics palletizing solutions, the latest requirement was for a more compact cell that could fit into a smaller area and easily be replicated at other sites. An important requirement was for the robot to safely interact with employees, who occasionally need to enter the palletizing area to speed up pallet changes. [Read more…] about ABB says its robots have boosted productivity at Nestlé’s Brazilian plants by ‘over 50 percent’

ABB and ETH extend partnership to advance research into the future of robotics

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Building on their long-term relationship across several disciplines, ABB and ETH Zurich, a leading research university in Switzerland, have expanded their partnership into robotics research as part of ETH’s RobotX strategic initiative.

Launched in 2019, RobotX aims to position ETH among the top robotics research institutions worldwide.

As part of RobotX’s industry affiliation program, ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation business will support ETH’s ambitious initiative with its leading in-house robotics expertise to combine competence into a platform aimed at training new talent and attracting worldwide experts to advance a range of future technologies, including mobile robotics. [Read more…] about ABB and ETH extend partnership to advance research into the future of robotics

ABB launches new range of ‘next generation’ collaborative robots

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ABB is expanding its collaborative robot portfolio with the new GoFa and SWIFTI cobot families, offering higher payloads and speeds, to complement YuMi and Single Arm YuMi in ABB’s cobot line-up.

These stronger, faster and more capable cobots will accelerate the company’s expansion in high-growth segments including electronics, healthcare, consumer goods, logistics and food and beverage, amongst others, meeting the growing demand for automation across multiple industries.

GoFa and SWIFTI are intuitively designed so customers need not rely on in-house programming specialists. This will unlock industries that have low levels of automation, with customers able to operate their cobot within minutes of installation, straight out of the box, with no specialized training. [Read more…] about ABB launches new range of ‘next generation’ collaborative robots

ABB launches podcast about robotics and automation

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ABB is introducing a new series of podcasts that explore the world of robotics and automation, and their benefits to society in what the company describes as “the greatest shift in automation in a generation, brought on by the pandemic”.

Whether it’s collaborative robots working alongside humans in laboratories and SME businesses, or industrial robots working in large factories producing the next generation of electric vehicle, robots of all shapes and sizes are making work safer and more efficient for people and companies the world over.

Each episode of The Robot Podcast features a panel of experts and takes an in-depth look at some of the most interesting global case studies. [Read more…] about ABB launches podcast about robotics and automation

OLA to install ABB robotics and automation solutions at its mega-factory for electric scooters

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Ola, India’s largest mobility platform and one of the world’s largest ride-hailing companies, has selected ABB as one of its key partners for robotics and automation solutions for its mega-factory in India that will roll out the Ola electric scooter.

Ola’s scooter mega-factory, billed to be the world’s largest scooter manufacturing plant, is expected to be ready and operational in the coming months.

The facility is also expected to be the country’s most automated, with about 5,000 robots and automated guided vehicles in use once the factory is fully operational to its full capacity. [Read more…] about OLA to install ABB robotics and automation solutions at its mega-factory for electric scooters

ABB to power South Korea’s first domestic zero-emissions ferry

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ABB has secured a contract with Haemin Heavy Industries shipyard to provide a complete power and propulsion solution for Busan Port Authority’s first all-electric passenger ferry.

The new ferry represents the first commitment by South Korean authorities to a plan which will see 140 state-owned conventionally powered vessels replaced with those operating on cleaner alternatives by 2030, in line with environmental legislation.

Sustainable transportation, including marine vessels, will play an important role in South Korea’s plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, set out in the country’s Green New Deal, announced in 2020. [Read more…] about ABB to power South Korea’s first domestic zero-emissions ferry

ABB unveils weird magnetic levitation system for ‘multi-dimensional manufacturing’

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ABB has expanded its flexible manufacturing portfolio with the launch of an innovative magnetic levitation shuttle system.

The solution is the result of a strategic partnership with Planar Motors (PMI), which enhances ABB business unit B&R’s adaptive machine offering, integrating PMI’s new production technology milestone in open, adaptive manufacturing.

ABB says it is partnering with Canada’s PMI to expand its machine automation offering: The integration of PMI’s magnetic levitation technology into the company’s machine automation division’s (B&R) portfolio will accelerate industry’s transition from strictly linear production to an open, adaptive manufacturing space. [Read more…] about ABB unveils weird magnetic levitation system for ‘multi-dimensional manufacturing’