Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

automation

Plus Automation wins its first robotics-as-a-service contract

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Logistics and supply chain technology startup Plus Automation has won its first robotics-as-a-service contract with Jun Co, a Japanese company with diversified interests including fashion, food and fitness products. 

The company was jointly established in June 2019 and is 60 per cent owned by Mitsui, a Japanese conglomerate, and GLP Japan, said to be the largest Japanese logistics company but also has real estate and other interests.

The contract between Plus and Jun consists of a standard annual subscription together with the option to add robots when cargo volumes increase, making it “a highly convenient service package”, says Plus. [Read more…] about Plus Automation wins its first robotics-as-a-service contract

Massive growth in mobile robots expected as 6 million forecast to be shipped in 2030

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The robotics industry is set for “seismic change”, according to a report by ABI Research, which says that, of the 8 million robots forecast to be shipped in 2030, nearly 6 million will be mobile.

ABI says it has released its “most comprehensive robotics tracker yet”, and it shows that the robotics market is “set to transform over the next 10 years”.

There will be enormous growth across all sub-sectors, highlighted in a total market valuation of $277 billion by 2030, says ABI. [Read more…] about Massive growth in mobile robots expected as 6 million forecast to be shipped in 2030

Can robots save the e-commerce holiday season?

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It’s getting close to Christmas and that means it’s time for e-commerce fulfillment managers to start getting worried about the availability of labor for the holiday season.

According to a recent article in Supply Chain Dive, “this year’s peak season promises additional challenges in recruiting new hires as the pool of available labor shrinks”.

As the article points out, the US unemployment rate hit a 50-year low in September 2019. [Read more…] about Can robots save the e-commerce holiday season?

Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry, says DHL

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DHL, the world’s largest logistics company, has highlighted technologies such as robotics and digitalisation in a new strategy, which it unveiled at its Bering Technology Campus – or “Smart Warehouse” – in the Netherlands.

“Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry”, says DHL, and these technologies are central to the company’s Strategy 2025, launched by Oscar de Bok, CEO DHL Supply Chain last week amid ever-greater challenges facing the logistics industry.

DHL Supply Chain already runs one of its Smart Warehouses and serves customers across Europe with “highly automated and digitalized” contract logistics solutions. [Read more…] about Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry, says DHL

Rockwell Automation and Ansys agree strategic partnership

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Rockwell Automation and Ansys have agreed a strategic partnership aimed at driving quicker time to market and operational efficiency for customers.

The two companies – market leaders in industrial automation and design simulation – help customers realize better business outcomes through simulation-based digital twins.

Rockwell and Ansys say that their initiative means that industrial companies now have “access to a streamlined, holistic, end-to-end solution for design, automation, production and lifecycle management”. [Read more…] about Rockwell Automation and Ansys agree strategic partnership

Mitsubishi launches ‘smallest, most compact’ programmable logic controller

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Mitsubishi Electric has released the company’s smallest and most powerful compact programmable logic controller to date – the FX5UC series Premium Micro PLC.

The company says the new PLC’s diminutive size is set to help machine builders and manufacturers pack “ever more functionality into a smaller space”, while also providing the web access and network connectivity demanded by the latest smart factory applications.

Mitsubishi Electric launched its first range of micro controllers, the FX family of PLCs, over 35 years ago as part of the MELSEC-F series. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi launches ‘smallest, most compact’ programmable logic controller

Delta Electronics and JTC Corporation agree initiative to develop smart manufacturing systems in Singapore

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Delta Electronics, a provider of power and thermal management solutions, and JTC Corporation, the lead government agency responsible for developing industrial infrastructure, have signed an agreement to collaborate to drive adoption of Industry 4.0 technology.

Delta will set up an Industry 4.0 Solutions and Training Center to support JTC customers, upskill small- and medium-sized business partners and provide advanced automation solutions to tackle problem statements in Singapore’s manufacturing industry.

Jackie Chang, vice president, Southeast Asia and India of Delta Electronics, says: “Delta is greatly looking forward to collaborating with JTC to support its customers with our deep domain knowledge in electronics. [Read more…] about Delta Electronics and JTC Corporation agree initiative to develop smart manufacturing systems in Singapore

ABB and B&R launch ‘first fully integrated machine-centric robotics’ solution

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B&R, a unit of ABB’s robotics and discrete automation business unit, has unveiled an initiative which involves the integration of ABB robots into its automation portfolio.

B&R says the move will enable it to offer “unprecedented levels of machine flexibility and precision”, merging robotics with machine control into one unified architecture will enable manufacturers to “embrace the trend of mass customization and optimize their lot size one processes”.

Fully integrating ABB’s robots into its automation systems means that B&R will now be able to supply machine builders with machine automation and robotics from a single source. [Read more…] about ABB and B&R launch ‘first fully integrated machine-centric robotics’ solution

Autoware aims to make advanced AI available to small manufacturers

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Autoware says it aims to make advanced AI and related technologies available to small- and medium-sized enterprises that would otherwise not be able to afford or implement it.

The EU-funded project calls its offering “cognitive manufacturing”, which includes the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies.

Basicaly, Autoware is a research and development project that helps manufacturing SMEs to integrate new digital technologies in their production processes. [Read more…] about Autoware aims to make advanced AI available to small manufacturers

How robotics and AI are changing the fashion industry and warehousing sector

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The fashion industry is investing huge amounts of money in artificial intelligence systems that can provide what is called “sentiment analysis”, which is similar to customer feedback, except that it’s indirectly acquired.

Typically, sentiment analytics systems can gather information from social media pages as well as through natural language processing, perhaps through listening to customer phone calls.

A massive number of data points can be collated and analysed – a quantity of information that only an AI system can process. And after processing it all, conclusions can be drawn. [Read more…] about How robotics and AI are changing the fashion industry and warehousing sector