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ABB launches new ceiling-mountable SCARA robot

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ABB has launched its new invert-mounted IRB 910INV SCARA robot, the latest addition to its SCARA range, at the China International Industry Fair 2018 held in Shanghai.

By mounting the IRB 910INV on the ceiling, ABB says manufacturers can increase the space efficiency and flexibility of each cell and do more complex tasks even in confined spaces.

The company adds that ceiling mounting also allows the IRB 910INV to collaborate with other robots and machines simultaneously in the same footprint, further boosting productivity.  [Read more…] about ABB launches new ceiling-mountable SCARA robot

ABB completes acquisition of intrion

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ABB announced it has completed its acquisition of intrion, a privately owned company headquartered in Huizingen, close to Brussels, with approximately 120 employees and over a decade of experience in logistics automation solutions and services for the logistics, food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

Distribution and fulfilment centres are increasingly turning to robotic automation solutions to improve their efficiency, workplace safety and scalability to meet soaring demand.

According to the International Federation of Robotics, the market for professional service robots is expected to grow at an annual rate of 20 – 25 percent between 2018 and 2020.

[Read more…] about ABB completes acquisition of intrion

ABB launches its ‘most compact and lightweight 6-axis robot ever’

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ABB has launched what it describes as its “most compact and lightweight 6-axis robot ever”.

The new IRB 1100 “enhances the industry’s most comprehensive offering for fast, accurate small parts assembly solutions”, claims ABB.

ABB introduced the IRB 1100 at the China International Industry Fair 2018 in Shanghai – its smallest, lightest robot to date as part of its growing offering of solutions for small parts assembly.  [Read more…] about ABB launches its ‘most compact and lightweight 6-axis robot ever’

ABB prepares for home automation boom

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With the home automation market predicted to exceed $115 billion by 2026, ABB recently showcased its innovations in digitalisation, safety and security, and interoperability.

The home automation market is set to experience a predicted Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of more than 6 percent between 2017 and 2026, driven by immense interest in energy efficiency as well as the digital control of home lighting, security and other consumer systems.

At IFA 2018, the company showcased its ABB Ability™ portfolio of connected and software-enabled solutions for the smarter home and mobility segments, which span the entire value chain, from the point-of-power generation to socket.

[Read more…] about ABB prepares for home automation boom

ABB installs solar power at its factory in Vietnam

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ABB recently inaugurated a 75 kWp solar photovoltaic (PV) installation at its high voltage and distribution solutions factory in BacNinh province in Vietnam.

The electricity generated is used to power a waste water treatment system, a canteen serving more than 200 people and part of the factory’s lighting.

Earlier this year, ABB also deployed its own smart technologies to commission the wastewater plant at the factory premises. Now the factory has an even lower impact on the surrounding environment, by running on clean energy.

[Read more…] about ABB installs solar power at its factory in Vietnam

IMTS: ABB to showcase robot solutions for ‘high-mix, low volume production’

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ABB says its robots are helping machine shops meet the challenges of high-mix, low volume production – or the “new normal”, as the company puts it.

The company will showcase solutions to increase machine tool utilization and unlock the full potential of the flexible, connected and collaborative factory at IMTS, the world’s largest industrial technology show, due to be held in Chicago next week.

With more efficient and advanced machine tools entering the market, the demand for more intelligent and flexible robotic automation for machining applications is ever increasing.  [Read more…] about IMTS: ABB to showcase robot solutions for ‘high-mix, low volume production’

ABB Ability opens ‘marketplace’ for its electrical and industrial apps

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ABB has launched an app store, or marketplace, in which the company now includes its Electrical Distribution Control System and other industrial apps.

The ABB Ability Marketplace has a European version and a US counterpart, Ability being ABB’s industrial internet of things platform.

The company says that, with the unveiling of the ABB Ability Marketplace, in a primary release, ABB is making available its software services in one central online location, offering customers full flexibility to purchase and tailor their digital solutions portfolio.  [Read more…] about ABB Ability opens ‘marketplace’ for its electrical and industrial apps

ABB claims to have connected 7,000 of its industrial robots to its IIoT platform

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ABB claims to have connected 7,000 of its industrial robots to its industrial internet of things platform, which the company calls “Ability”. 

ABB Ability was launched only last year, but has grown quickly because of the vast number of machines and devices the industrial giant already has in operation out in the world.

The company appears to consider the industrial internet a central part of its business and has been developing a variety of services for application on it.  [Read more…] about ABB claims to have connected 7,000 of its industrial robots to its IIoT platform

ABB Control Technologies and Actemium sign global cooperation agreement

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ABB Control Technologies, the market leader in Distributed Control Systems (DCS) for over 15 years, and Actemium, the Vinci Energies brand dedicated to industry and worldwide major player in industrial processes, signed a global agreement in June to significantly expand their existing relationship.

The purpose of this agreement is to enable customers to access best in class control and automation solutions combining the strengths from both companies: global reach, deep domain expertise, extensive product offering, market leading engineering capabilities and most importantly, a strong portfolio of industrial digital solutions.

The collaboration agreement is focused on industries with a high growth rate, usually characterised by short product cycles and quick launch times.

[Read more…] about ABB Control Technologies and Actemium sign global cooperation agreement

ABB invests in soft robotics to transform pick and place processes

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ABB is backing a new technology which will enable robots to pick up and handle fragile items that would be damaged if current grippers were used. 

ABB Technology Ventures is ABB’s strategic venture capital investment arm. ATV finds the startup partners from which ABB can best benefit, both strategically and financially.

ABB’s partnership with Soft Robotics provides a perfect example of how proactive engagement with a startup can make all the difference when it comes to improving innovation processes.  [Read more…] about ABB invests in soft robotics to transform pick and place processes