Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

additive manufacturing

Siemens uses additive manufacturing to produce gas turbines

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Siemens says that additive manufacturing has the potential to become a new key technology, opening up new attractive prospects in the manufacture of gas turbines. The company has been investing in this technology right from its inception, and is now driving the industrialization and commercialization of these processes.

Additive manufacturing is a process that builds parts layer-by-layer from sliced CAD models to form solid objects, which enables highly precise solutions to be formed from powdered high-performance materials.

Siemens is a pioneer in additive manufacturing and already uses the technology for rapid prototyping. The company is now developing solutions ready for series-production for manufacturing gas turbine burner nozzles and repairing burner heads.

[Read more…] about Siemens uses additive manufacturing to produce gas turbines

Fast-growing sectors within robotics and automation

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If we were to think of robotics and automation as one industry – which we at this website in fact do – we could argue that it’s one of the fastest-growing industries in the world right now.

Certainly if we were to include software automation systems – such as robotic process automation – it would probably be the biggest.

But Robotics and Automation News tends to concentrate on physical machines – such as robotic arms or autonomous vehicles – which can be seen in a typical manufacturing or logistics facility.

And we try and understand what other sectors are most closely related to robotics and automation – manufacturing and logistics being two obvious ones.

[Read more…] about Fast-growing sectors within robotics and automation

OR Laser launches new hybrid metal additive and subtractive manufacturing platform

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OR Laser has launched its new hybrid metal additive and subtractive manufacturing platform, the ORLas Creator Hybrid, and unveiled its new cloud manufacturing services at this year’s FormNext event.

FormNext, is into its final day in Frankfurt, and it’s where the great and the good of the 3D printing and additive manufacturing industry congregate.

Traditionally the latest additive manufacturing developments are unveiled at FormNext, and this year has been bigger and better than years gone by, according to some visitors.  [Read more…] about OR Laser launches new hybrid metal additive and subtractive manufacturing platform

MarkForged raises $30 million in new funding from Siemens and Porsche for 3D printing system

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A company called MarkForged has raised $30 million in Series C funding to further develop its additive manufacturing – or 3D printing – technology. 

The company is said to use materials and methods which can produce components which are as strong as steel, and produce them 10 times faster.

The latest backers of MarkForged include Next47, which is the Siemens venture capital firm, Porsche, and Microsoft Ventures.  [Read more…] about MarkForged raises $30 million in new funding from Siemens and Porsche for 3D printing system

Additive manufacturing: It’s a matter of finding the right composition

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The terms “additive manufacturing” and “3D printing” are used interchangeably, although it seems additive manufacturing suggests an industrial context whereas 3D printing has become so widespread that it could be considered a consumer technology now. 

The majority of those who use such processes are, however, makers or manufacturers, meaning they’re on the supply side of the economy rather than the demand side.

Perhaps the reason why 3D printers are not yet completely in the consumer domain is that they’re not totally perfect. The high-end machines can probably get close to perfection, but not at a price point which can unlock consumer markets.  [Read more…] about Additive manufacturing: It’s a matter of finding the right composition

EMO Hannover opens to high-power audience

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The annual showcase for metalworking, EMO Hannover, has been ceremonially opened by President FrankWalter Steinmeier. 

In his opening remarks, Steinmeier (main picture, centre) said: “An open society and prosperous economy rest on a foundation of communication and trust.

“Trade fairs like EMO embody this in a concrete and tangible way. Fortunately, this tradition continues to flourish, even in an age of digital catalogs, video conferences and just-in-time production.”  [Read more…] about EMO Hannover opens to high-power audience

HP and Deloitte partner to provide digital technologies for industrial companies

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HP, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of computer technology, and Deloitte Consulting have partnered to provide a range of products and services intended to help industrial companies to digitise their operations. 

The idea of digitalisation is still something many industrial companies are getting used to, and it’s something that has yet to be fully realised.

Many large industrials, such as Siemens and GE Digital, have demonstrated various facets of what digitisation means, but the reality may be that it’s too big and complex to even describe in a short time.  [Read more…] about HP and Deloitte partner to provide digital technologies for industrial companies

New aircraft manufacturer Boom Supersonic building superfast plane using Stratasys 3D printing systems

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A new aircraft manufacturer called Boom Supersonic is developing aeroplanes which can fly at speeds of almost 1,500 miles per hour. 

The design of Boom’s planes are reminiscent of the Concorde, the world’s first supersonic commercial jet airliner, operational from 1969 to 2003.

But unlike the Concorde, Boom Supersonic’s planes are likely to feature numerous components produced using 3D printing, a technology which didn’t exist when Concorde was flying.  [Read more…] about New aircraft manufacturer Boom Supersonic building superfast plane using Stratasys 3D printing systems