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Smart factories to drive industrial robot market, says report

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An increasing number of industrial robots will find their way into factoring which themselves will be more well-connected, according to a new report. 

The industrial internet of things will “catalyze new business models, adoption of industrial robotics, and return on investment”, says Frost & Sullivan’s industrial automation and process control team.

Driven by the IIoT, the global market for robotics in manufacturing is steadily gathering pace, according to the study.  [Read more…] about Smart factories to drive industrial robot market, says report

Job-stealing robots a growing concern for world leaders

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A “RoboThespian” humanoid robot at the Tami Intelligence Technology stall at the World Robot Conference in Beijing, China. Picture: Reuters
A “RoboThespian” humanoid robot at the Tami Intelligence Technology stall at the World Robot Conference in Beijing, China. Picture: Reuters

By Martinne Geller and Ben Hirschler, Reuters

Open markets and global trade have been blamed for job losses over the last decade, but global CEOs say the real culprits are increasingly machines.

And while business leaders gathered at the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos relish the productivity gains technology can bring, they warned this week that the collateral damage to jobs needs to be addressed more seriously.

From taxi drivers to healthcare professionals, technologies such as robotics, driverless cars, artificial intelligence and 3D printing mean more and more types of jobs are at risk.  [Read more…] about Job-stealing robots a growing concern for world leaders

Biopharmaceuticals manufacturing: Strict but supple

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Robert Harrison, pharmaceutical industry manager of industrial software expert Copa-Data, explains how industrial automation solutions could change the face of biopharmaceutical manufacturing in the years to come

Despite producing innovative drugs that save millions of lives, the pharmaceutical sector is one of the most conservative areas of industry. This cautious approach to new technologies is particularly clear in pharma’s less matured subsectors, including biopharmaceuticals.

Biopharmaceuticals represent the fastest growing sector of the pharmaceutical industry, making up about 20 per cent of the market. Annual growth rates of the biopharma subsector are around eight per cent – double that of more traditional pharmaceutical sectors.  [Read more…] about Biopharmaceuticals manufacturing: Strict but supple

SAP logistics boss says ‘robotics and automation are the future’

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trenitalia

The head of logistics at software giant SAP says the future of the digital supply chain is robotics and automation. 

SAP is one of the world’s largest software companies in any sector, with more than 300,000 clients in around 190 countries, and its logistics division has customers such as luxury automaker Porsche, and large transport operations such as Trenitalia.

In an interview with em360tech.com, Hans Thalbauer, SVP of extended supply chain and IoT at SAP, says industries are becoming smarter because of these technologies.

However, Thalbauer adds that robotics and automation needs to be effectively integrated into the overall business processes, otherwise they won’t work.  [Read more…] about SAP logistics boss says ‘robotics and automation are the future’

Auto interiors company hires Rethink’s collaborative industrial robots

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Yanfeng Automotive Interiors is utilising collaborative industrial robots from Rethink Robotics to “improve accuracy, and output” 

Yanfeng has put two of Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer robots to work in its Monroe, Michigan-based facility.

By introducing Sawyer, Yanfeng Frenchtown says it is improving two production processes, while freeing up employees to be used at positions where they can add more value.

Both Sawyer robots are being utilized to perform packaging tasks. One robot is removing trapped labor by packing parts from a conveyor onto a rack, handling 180 parts every 54 minutes. The second robot is counting parts from a conveyor as it places them into a tote, precisely packaging each tote with 80 parts.  [Read more…] about Auto interiors company hires Rethink’s collaborative industrial robots

Obama warns of divisiveness of automation technology

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In his farewell address to the nation, US President Barack Obama warned of the dangers of automation technology. 

Obama said: “The next wave of economic dislocations won’t come from overseas. It will come from the relentless pace of automation that makes a lot of good, middle-class jobs obsolete.”

The Obama administration has been looking the whole issue of robotics, automation and artificial intelligence, and consulting on the possible impact of those technologies on the US economy.  [Read more…] about Obama warns of divisiveness of automation technology

Large industrial robots finding their way into smaller enterprises, says Acieta

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acieta Welding_Am120i

Mark Sumner, national sales manager for Acieta, a provider of industrial automation solutions, says large robots which used to be the preserve of mega corporations are gradually finding their way into smaller enterprises

Robots benefit manufacturers in many ways: improved quality, increased capacity and a safer workplace. That’s why sales of robot handling systems increase year after year, and it’s not just high-volume manufacturers that are buying them.

Dramatic advances in robotic technologies and lower costs are reducing barriers to implementation, making them effective in medium- and low-volume environments.  [Read more…] about Large industrial robots finding their way into smaller enterprises, says Acieta

President Barack Obama appoints GM CEO Mary Barra to advisory panel on self-driving cars

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General Motors CEO Mary Barra.
General Motors CEO Mary Barra

US President Barack Obama has appointed General Motors chief executive Mary Barra to a newly created advisory committee on self-driving cars, and critics are already saying she should be the first person to whom the incoming president, Donald Trump, should say: “You’re fired.” 

Consumer advocates called on President-elect Donald Trump to make Barra his first firing and remove her as co-chairman of the newly created Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation.

In a letter to Trump, Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, John Simpson, the group’s privacy project director, and Joan Claybrook, chair of Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways, wrote: “As you know, robot cars, trucks, drones and other technology threaten to replace tens of millions of American jobs, pose a danger to the safety of our roads and public spaces, and come with significant privacy and security threats.

“We should not allow the robot makers alone to oversee the safety of vehicles coming out of robot factories, but the Obama Administration’s eleventh hour appointments do just that.”  [Read more…] about President Barack Obama appoints GM CEO Mary Barra to advisory panel on self-driving cars

TMEIC to supply Virginia port with world’s largest automated cranes system in deal worth $670 million

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port of virginia
Port of Virgina. Picture courtesy PortStrategy.com

Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation has been selected to provide industrial drive and automation solutions for The Port of Virginia’s historic expansion project, totaling 86 Konecranes Automated-Stacking Cranes (ASC) at the Norfolk International Terminal (NIT) and Virginia International Gateway (VIG) facilities.

This is the largest ASC order TMEIC has received to date and the largest single ASC order ever placed by a port.

“TMEIC has been a longtime, proven partner with Konecranes and The Port of Virginia, including the construction of VIG and the original ASC implementation there in 2007,” TMEIC president and CEO Dale Guidry said.  [Read more…] about TMEIC to supply Virginia port with world’s largest automated cranes system in deal worth $670 million

Universal Robots signs up Cimtec Automation as US distributor

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Partnership augments Cimtec’s automation component offering to southeast US  

Cimtec Automation has been selected as Universal Robots’ distribution partner for collaborative robots serving the US southeastern region.

The partnership augments Cimtec’s automation components and will provide even more advanced automation tools to “improve its customers’ manufacturing quality and efficiency”, says a statement from Cimtec.

Dan Keenan, president of Cimtec Automation, says: “We are excited about this new partnership with Universal Robots.

“Having built our reputation on providing state-of-the-art automation products and industry solutions, we are eager to bring this advanced robotic technology to our customers.”  [Read more…] about Universal Robots signs up Cimtec Automation as US distributor