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Activ Surgical secures $45 million in Series B funding led by Cota Capital

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Activ Surgical, a digital surgery pioneer, has raised $45 million in a Series B financing round. The Series B round was led by Cota Capital, a multi-stage investment firm focused on private and public modern enterprise technology companies.

Seven new investors, including BAM Funds, Magnetar Capital, Mint Ventures, Castor Ventures, Dream One Vision and Nvidia, join existing investors DNS Capital,Tao Capital Partners, LRVHealth, Rising Tide VC, GreatPoint Ventures and ARTIS Ventures to close out the Series B round of financing.

To date, Activ Surgical has raised a total of $77 million. [Read more…] about Activ Surgical secures $45 million in Series B funding led by Cota Capital

Berkshire Grey valued at $2.7 billion after merger with Revolution Acceleration

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Berkshire Grey, a developer of integrated artificial intelligence and robotic solutions for e-commerce, retail replenishment, and logistics, has entered into a definitive agreement with Revolution Acceleration Acquisition, a special purpose acquisition company, to create a leading publicly listed robotics and automation solutions company with a post-transaction equity value of up to $2.7 billion.

Founded in 2013 by the current chief executive officer, Tom Wagner, PhD, the former chief technology officer at iRobot, BG is a pure-play robotics company offering fully integrated, AI-based software and hardware solutions to automate business operations in warehouses and logistics fulfillment centers.

The company’s solutions help retailers and logistics companies meet the exponential growth of e-commerce and ever-increasing consumer demands. BG’s management, engineering, and commercial teams each have extensive robotics expertise and deep industry experience. [Read more…] about Berkshire Grey valued at $2.7 billion after merger with Revolution Acceleration

Gerald Vogt appointed new CEO of Stäubli Group

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Stäubli is starting the new year with a new chief executive officer – and it’s someone this website has interviewed before. (See video below.)

Gerald Vogt, previously responsible for the global business of the Robotics Division, will take over as CEO from retiring Rolf Strebel on January 1, 2021.

With Gerald Vogt, an experienced manager from within the company’s own ranks will take over the management of the diversified and growing family-owned company. [Read more…] about Gerald Vogt appointed new CEO of Stäubli Group

Arrow Electronics and Exor launch IoT edge platform for smart factories

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Arrow Electronics has collaborated with Exor Embedded to create gigaSOM gS01, a full production design and an additional development kit featuring a high-performance, energy-efficient system on module (SOM) for IoT edge deployments.

The SOM combines the power and efficiency of the Intel Atom E3900 processor series with the flexibility of an Intel Cyclone 10 GX FPGA, connected with a high-bandwidth dual-lane PCIe interface to create a unified high-performing engine.

gigaSOM gS01 is a combined X86 CPU and Intel high-speed FPGA design on a single system on module. [Read more…] about Arrow Electronics and Exor launch IoT edge platform for smart factories

Mitsubishi and NTT take 30 per cent stake in HERE Technologies

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HERE Technologies says Mitsubishi Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation have completed their joint acquisition of a 30 per cent ownership stake in the company, after receiving regulatory approvals.

HERE welcomes Mitsubishi and NTT as strategic investors. The two companies have co-invested in HERE via their recently established, jointly owned holding company COCO Tech Holding in the Netherlands.

As a result, HERE now has nine direct and indirect shareholders: Audi, Bosch, BMW Group, Continental, Intel Capital, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, NTT and Pioneer.​ [Read more…] about Mitsubishi and NTT take 30 per cent stake in HERE Technologies

DB Schenker invests in Volocopter as drone startup builds funds up to €87 million

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DB Schenker, a global logistics company, has invested in Volocopter, a startup developing a new type of passenger-carrying drone which can also be used for good distribution.

DB Schenker says its investment shows that it is “a pioneer of urban air mobility”. With the new investment, Volocopter has extended its Series C funding to now a total of €87 million.

Besides DB Schenker, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group, MS&AD Ventures, and TransLink Capital (Japan Airlines and Sompo Japan Insurance) join the round as new investors, existing investors Lukasz Gadowski and btov also invested. [Read more…] about DB Schenker invests in Volocopter as drone startup builds funds up to €87 million

Continental opens new tire plant in Mississippi

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Continental, technology company and manufacturer of premium tires, celebrated what it describes as “a major milestone” for its new tire plant near Clinton, Mississippi, with a grand opening ceremony last week.

The celebration marks the completion of the construction process, which began in 2016. Approximately 300 guests, including state and local officials, along with community members, customers, and suppliers as well as 250 Continental employees joined the event.

The new plant is located on a 1,000-acre greenfield site in Clinton, close to Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, United States. [Read more…] about Continental opens new tire plant in Mississippi

DB presents ‘world’s first autonomous electric truck’

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DB Schenker has presented the world’s first autonomous electric truck, the T-Pod, to a wide industry audience in Germany for the first time at a transport logistics trade show in Munich in June.

The T-Pod was developed in cooperation with Einride, a Swedish startup. It is the world’s first truck approved for commercial use on public roads.

Alexander Doll, member of the management board for finance, freight transport and logistics, says: “We want to be a reliable partner for our customers in the logistics, freight transport and infrastructure segments now and in the future. We have set out to implement new ideas and innovative technology to become better, day after day.”

Volkswagen to invest €1 billion in new battery cell production facility

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Volkswagen is planning to move into the battery cell manufacturing market with an investment of €1 billion in a new production facility in Europe.

The automotive giant will set up the battery cell production facility in the Lower Saxony region of its native Germany.

The company is working with the local government to choose a suitable location for the factory complex, and is likely to partner with businesses from relevant sectors.

[Read more…] about Volkswagen to invest €1 billion in new battery cell production facility

ABB powers tourists to the Niagara Falls with first US-built all-electric vessels

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Visitors to Niagara Falls will soon be able to experience one of the US’s top landmarks emission-free.

Two new Maid of the Mist passenger vessels will be powered entirely by high-capacity battery packs, becoming the first all-electric vessels ever built in the US.

The new vessels will benefit from ABB’s zero-emission technology when they start operating later this year, allowing guests to experience Niagara Falls undisturbed by engine noise, vibration or exhaust fumes from a conventional diesel engine.

[Read more…] about ABB powers tourists to the Niagara Falls with first US-built all-electric vessels