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Festo electric drive automation achieves ‘perfect’ Easter egg flavour combinations for Mondelez

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Mondelez, a multinational confectionery, food and beverage company, has chosen Festo electric drive technology for a new automated chocolate Easter egg mixing installation at its site in Herentals, Belgium.

The egg mixing line uses an ingenious system of conveyors to ensure that everyone finds a nice mix of flavours in their pack of chocolate eggs at Easter.

Electric drives were chosen over pneumatics because they offer lower energy consumption, higher safety and more flexibility in controlling speeds and positions. [Read more…] about Festo electric drive automation achieves ‘perfect’ Easter egg flavour combinations for Mondelez

Cimcorp promotes sustainable supply chains through automation

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Cimcorp, a specialist in robotic handling solutions, is helping customers in its core sectors, the fresh food and tire industries, achieve their sustainability goals through automation.

When installed within tire factories and grocery distribution centers, Cimcorp’s automated material handling solutions enable greater energy efficiency, significantly reduce waste, and support greener overall supply chain operations.

Adam Gurga, national manager of grocery and retail partnerships, Cimcorp, says: “Sustainability is increasingly important in both of our key sectors: grocery retail and tire manufacturing. [Read more…] about Cimcorp promotes sustainable supply chains through automation

Sabarot says it has ‘doubled throughput’ of its AS/RS

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Sabarot, a French family business specialising in dried legumes, cereals and wild mushrooms, says it has “doubled the throughput” of its Mecalux automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) to boost its operational capacity.

Sabarot achieved the milestone at its historic centre in Chaspuzac, France. The company says it is noe “forging ahead with expansion and further enhancing its logistics capabilities” with the assistance of Mecalux, a warehouse automation specialist.

Under the leadership of Antoine Wassner, CEO of Sabarot, this initiative aims to support the continued growth of the organisation’s business. [Read more…] about Sabarot says it has ‘doubled throughput’ of its AS/RS

Saudi Arabia announces spectacular $100 billion investment to establish industrial robotics and automation business

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Alat – a PIF company launched on February 1, 2024 by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alat – has announced the establishment of a strategic partnership with SoftBank Group to establish a next generation industrial automation business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that will manufacture groundbreaking industrial robots.

PIF is short for the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. PIF is one of the largest investment funds in the world, with approximately $776 billion in assets.

Alat, headquartered in Riyadh, has been established to create a “global champion” in electronics and advanced industrial segments and mandated to create world class manufacturing enabled by global innovation and technology leadership. [Read more…] about Saudi Arabia announces spectacular $100 billion investment to establish industrial robotics and automation business

Contextant agrees warehouse automation partnership with SVT Robotics

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Contextant, a systems integration provider of innovative warehouse automation solutions, has formed a strategic partnership with SVT Robotics, a software provider specializing in empowering IT teams to seamlessly integrate, monitor, and scale automation through its tech-agnostic platform.

Under the partnership, Contextant will be a reseller of SVT’s SoftBot Platform, enhancing its capabilities to deliver cutting-edge automation integration and multi-agent orchestration solutions to customers across industries.

The partnership leverages the strengths of both companies, combining Contextant’s material handling and robotics systems integration expertise with SVT Robotics’ advanced warehouse automation integration platform. [Read more…] about Contextant agrees warehouse automation partnership with SVT Robotics

ABB acquires R&D engineering company Meshmind

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ABB has agreed to acquire a majority of software service provider Meshmind to expand its research and development capabilities in AI, Industrial IoT and machine vision.

Through this acquisition ABB will integrate engineering talent, AI and software knowledge to form a new global R&D hub to further accelerate the development of innovative automation solutions within its machine automation division, B&R – which is part of the ABB group.

Sami Atiya, president, ABB Robotics and Discrete Automation, says: “AI-powered robotics and automation have the power to transform industries, providing businesses with greater flexibility and intelligence amidst critical global trends and workforce challenges. [Read more…] about ABB acquires R&D engineering company Meshmind

Industrial and packaging specialist Coesia acquires Automation & Modular Components

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Coesia, through its company FlexLink, has closed the acquisition of 100 percent of the share capital of Automation & Modular Components.

Automation & Modular Components, is a manufacturer of material handling automation systems with integrated controls, as well as conveyors for integration into assembly systems and production lines, headquartered in Davisburg, Michigan, USA.

Thanks to its higher load applications, AMC serves a multitude of industries including, Automotive, Food packaging, Medical, Appliance, Metalworking, Electronics, Glass, Pharmaceutical, Alternative Energies, Household Products. [Read more…] about Industrial and packaging specialist Coesia acquires Automation & Modular Components

Reliable Robotics continues momentum towards certification of its autonomous flight system

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Reliable Robotics, a developer of autonomous aircraft automation systems, has announced further certification progress with FAA acceptance of requirements for Reliable’s advanced aircraft navigation and autopilot systems.

These systems provide continuous autopilot engagement throughout all phases of flight including automatic taxi, takeoff, and landing.

In an industry-leading first, Reliable Robotics and the FAA established agreement on the testing and analysis that will be performed to show that these highly automated systems satisfy FAA safety and performance requirements for operations throughout the conterminous United States and Alaska. [Read more…] about Reliable Robotics continues momentum towards certification of its autonomous flight system

2023 North America robot orders down 30 percent from record high in 2022

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After record orders in both 2021 and 2022, robot sales in North American declined by 30 percent in 2023, according to the latest report from the Association for Advancing Automation (A3).

Companies purchased 31,159 robots in 2023, compared to 44,196 ordered in 2022 and 39,708 in 2021. These 2023 orders were divided almost equally among automotive (15,723 robots sold) and non-automotive companies (15,436 robots sold), a 34 percent drop in sales to automotive OEMs and automotive suppliers over 2022 and a 25 percent total decrease in all other industries.

Jeff Burnstein, president of A3, says: “While robot sales naturally ebb and flow, the return to more typical robot sales after the last two record years can likely be attributed to a few obvious issues: a slow US economy, higher interest rates and even the over purchasing of robots in 2022 from supply chain concerns. [Read more…] about 2023 North America robot orders down 30 percent from record high in 2022

Warehouse automation scale-up Exotec to move into LabCampus at Munich Airport

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LabCampus strengthens its position as an innovation campus for issues of the future such as AI, new mobility, and tech expertise with the addition of Exotec as one of the companies based at the site.

LabCampus says it “welcomes Exotec, a global company that offers scalable robotic systems for the logistics sector”. Exotec is already the fourth company to secure office space on the campus. The scaleup is set to establish its new headquarters for the entire DACH region in LAB 48 and further expand its position as a technology leader in the robotics industry.

In Exotec, LabCampus says it has “gained another cutting-edge tenant for the innovation hub”. As a pioneer in scalable robotic systems, Exotec not only brings a great deal of software and technology expertise to the table but also a network-oriented entrepreneurial spirit. This fits in perfectly with the vision of LabCampus as a hub that supports the concept of new work, exchange, and collaboration. [Read more…] about Warehouse automation scale-up Exotec to move into LabCampus at Munich Airport