Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

assembly

MHI produces first shipment of new Pratt & Whitney engines

by

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines (MHIAEL) has completed its assembly and first shipment of a Pratt & Whitney GTFTM PW1200G engine at the MHIAEL facility in Komaki, Japan．

The engine was shipped on November 13 to Mitsubishi Aircraft’s Moses Lake Flight Test Center in Moses Lake, Washington.

It will later be installed to support on-going aircraft testing of the SpaceJet regional passenger jet being developed by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. [Read more…] about MHI produces first shipment of new Pratt & Whitney engines

AGCO completes Maryland assembly, distribution, training facility

by

AGCO Corporation, a worldwide distributor and manufacturer of agricultural equipment, has completed expansion of its Edgewood, Maryland assembly and distribution facility.

The facility will be used to build Fendt high horsepower tractors and Massey Ferguson compact and utility tractors and equipment.

The location also now includes a training center to provide dealers in the region a more cost-effective, time-efficient location for product and service training. [Read more…] about AGCO completes Maryland assembly, distribution, training facility

RND Automation integrates Epson Robots into hydraulic valve assembly

by

RND Automation, a provider of robotic packaging solutions, has integrated Epson Robots into its “unique” hydraulic valve assembly process. (See video below.)

RND is using the Epson T3 All-in-One and G3 SCARA robots, as well as the C8 compact 6-Axis robots in the process, and says it offers customers a “fully customized and complete automation solution for demanding assembly operations at an affordable price”.

RND, a Platinum level Epson AutomateElite System Integrator partner, incorporates the Epson SCARA and 6-Axis robots with rotary and linear indexers and machine vision for its Hydraulic Valve Assembly Machine, a “turnkey solution” for the most demanding assembly operations. [Read more…] about RND Automation integrates Epson Robots into hydraulic valve assembly

Epson Robots to launch new parts feeding solution at Assembly Show

by

Epson Robots will demonstrate its latest robots that benefit a wide variety of parts assembly applications at the upcoming Assembly Show event.

The company will also announce an IntelliFlex Feeding System line expansion with a new feeder size that can accommodate part sizes between 30-150 mm.

In addition, Epson’s Rick Brookshire will lead a discussion on Introduction to Parts Feeding: Parts Singulation for Robotic Automation. [Read more…] about Epson Robots to launch new parts feeding solution at Assembly Show

Factories yet to realise full potential of robotics

by

Download our new white paper, Smart Factory: Material Handing in the Factory of the Future

The way manufacturers set up their production lines hasn’t fundamentally changed much in decades. For example, automakers use a linear assembly line where the bodies of cars are sometimes suspended above a linear production line and moved along slowly as robots or workers perform various tasks all the way along the line.

This method has been the main method of assembly for around a century, but autonomous mobile robots are now challenging this status quo.

Instead of using what could be described as an ground-based or overhead conveyor to move the cars along the assembly line, autonomous mobile robots could carry them along instead. [Read more…] about Factories yet to realise full potential of robotics

Special feature: Tour of Airbus’ advanced manufacturing facility in Germany

by

Airbus is in the midst of revolutionary changes that may lead the aerospace giant to spend more than $1 billion on robotics, automation and digitalisation technologies across its global operation in the next few years – that’s if the advances at the company’s Hamburg, Germany facility are duplicated in all its facilities worldwide. 

The multinational consortium could end up spending a lot more: for example, the final stages of its internal assembly is labour-intensive, with all equipment – seats and luggage compartments – installed by humans. If this stage is roboticised, as the company’s chief operating officer has suggested, it would fundamentally change the current production process, something which he is envisaging anyway.

Robotic technologies have already transformed the way Airbus manufactures the exterior shell of its planes. Whereas, in the past, human workers would have drilled the 6,000 or more external holes in the fuselage of a typical commercial airliner, now, robots not only drill them, they also rivet or fasten them.

Perhaps surprisingly to some readers, the drilling was done by humans all these years until now, and even now, it’s only at the Hamburg facility that robots have been brought in.

Last week, Airbus provided more insight into its highly automated aircraft manufacturing facility in Hamburg – a place called Finkenwerder, to be precise, at what’s described as a “private airport”.

The aerospace jumbo invited a small group of journalists, including one from Robotics and Automation News, for a visit to the vast, sprawling complex, and a detailed, guided tour of Hangar 245, the advanced manufacturing facility in which aircraft belonging to the “A320 Family”, as Airbus describes them, are currently being assembled.  [Read more…] about Special feature: Tour of Airbus’ advanced manufacturing facility in Germany

Airbus inaugurates ‘highly automated’ assembly line in Germany

by

Airbus has inaugurated its “highly automated” fuselage structure assembly line for A320 Family aircraft in Hamburg, showcasing an evolution in Airbus’ industrial production system.

With a special focus on manufacturing longer sections for the A321LR, the new facility features 20 robots, a new logistics concept, automated positioning by laser measurement as well as a digital data acquisition system.

These will further support Airbus’ drive to improve both quality and efficiency while bringing an enhanced level of digitalisation to its industrial production system. [Read more…] about Airbus inaugurates ‘highly automated’ assembly line in Germany

Geek+ Robotics provides innovation insights at technical forum on sidelines of IMHX

by

Geek+ Robotics, the world’s leading supplier of warehouse robots, has been providing technical insights into its latest innovations at a forum on the sidelines of IMHX, the ongoing intralogistics technology show being held in the UK.

Senior executives from Geek+, which has sold more than 7,000 warehouse robots since its inception five years ago, presented a variety of solutions that will add completely new functionalities to its current offerings.

Some of the ideas are still at the idea stage, while others are being developed in partnership with clients in the logistics and manufacturing industries. [Read more…] about Geek+ Robotics provides innovation insights at technical forum on sidelines of IMHX

Ford installs team of collaborative robots on Fiesta assembly line

by

Automaker Ford has for the first time introduced a team of collaborative robots that works alongside engineers in Cologne, Germany, to ensure every Ford Fiesta has a perfect finish.

The six cobots complete a choreographed sequence to sand the entire body surface in just 35 seconds. The initiative does not replace employees but allows operators to use their time on more complex tasks and avoid suffering the strains associated with performing repetitive tasks.

Dennis Kuhn, senior manufacturing engineer, paint shop, Ford of Europe, says: “The cobots can feel when more force needs to be applied, just like we can, and they can more easily get to hard-to-reach places, like the centre of the roof.” [Read more…] about Ford installs team of collaborative robots on Fiesta assembly line

GM to invest $150 million in Flint truck assembly plant

by

General Motors has announced the second major expansion of its full-size pickup production capacity this year: a $150 million investment at Flint Assembly to increase production of the all-new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups.

This news follows GM’s announcement last month to expand light-duty, full-size pickup production capacity in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in response to strong customer demand.

GM has invested more than $1.6 billion in the Flint Assembly since 2013, enabling an increase in the truck plant’s production capacity of the all-new Chevrolet and GMC HD pickups by about 40,000 vehicles annually, including more crew cab models and diesels. [Read more…] about GM to invest $150 million in Flint truck assembly plant