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2023 Predictions & Forecasts: Universal Robots outlines automation trends for the year ahead

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The collaborative robot pioneer and market front runner Universal Robots has announced January as ‘National Cobot Awareness Month’, spearheading new products and initiatives prompting manufacturers to address hiring woes and production challenges

Gone are the days of manufacturers buying a robot arm only to struggle figuring out how to integrate it in an application cell, according to Universal Robots, which adds that turnkey robotic solutions, complete with all hardware, software, sensors and interfaces, will be powerful automation drivers in 2023.

Joe Campbell, senior manager of applications development and strategic marketing at Universal Robots (UR), says: “In 2023, cobot automation will become more sophisticated yet more straightforward to use.

“We are going to continue seeing phenomenal growth within complete robotic systems for applications such as welding, palletizing and machine tending, propelled by UR partners creating full solutions powered by our collaborative robot arms.” [Read more…] about 2023 Predictions & Forecasts: Universal Robots outlines automation trends for the year ahead

ABB launches new industrial collaborative robot

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ABB has launched the Swifti CRB 1300 industrial collaborative robot, bridging the gap between industrial and collaborative robots.

Combining “class-leading” speed and accuracy with expanded load handling capability of up to 11 kg, the Swifti CRB 1300 can be used in a wide variety of production and product handling applications – from machine tending and palletizing to pick-and-place and screwdriving.

Andrea Cassoni, managing director for global general industry robotics at ABB, says: “Our customers are looking to robotic automation to make their processes more flexible, efficient and resilient, helping to counter labor shortages by enabling their employees to perform more value-added work. [Read more…] about ABB launches new industrial collaborative robot

Techman Robot launches ‘all-in-one’ AI collaborative robot series

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Techman Robot has launched its “TM AI Cobot” series, describing it as a “collaborative robot which combines a powerful and precise robot arm with native AI inferencing engine and smart vision system in a complete package”.

The company says the new machine is ready for deployment in factories and can accelerate the transition to Industry 4.0.

Techman says the TM AI Cobot works on the principle of being smart, simple and safe. By combining visual processing in the robot arm, the AI Cobot can perform fast and precise pick and place, AMR, palletizing, welding, semi-conductor and product manufacturing, automated optical inspections (AOI) and food service preparation, among many other applications that can be accelerated by AI-Vision. [Read more…] about Techman Robot launches ‘all-in-one’ AI collaborative robot series

Universal Robots reaches 1,000 employees

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Seventeen years after it was founded by three visionary young researchers in a basement, Universal Robots has just reached a 1,000-employee milestone.

10th November, Odense, Denmark. Universal Robots, the biggest company in a fast-growing Danish robotics hub, has become the cluster’s first organisation to reach 1,000 employees – one of only a few Danish companies founded in this millennium to hit this milestone.

Since its first collaborative robot (cobot) was launched in 2008, Universal Robots has grown to be a global market leader in cobots with offices in more than 20 countries worldwide. [Read more…] about Universal Robots reaches 1,000 employees

Smart Robotics launches new robotic merchandise picker

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Smart Robotics, a specialist developer of pick and place solutions for warehouses and logistics processes, has launched its newly engineered Smart Merchandise Picker.

The launch comes just as the festive season kick-offs, with warehouses experiencing a sharp increase in seasonal demand and the need to keep up with order sorting and shipping.

Designed as a collaborative robot (cobot), the Smart Merchandise Picker is able to handle an array of lightweight products, such as stationery and office supplies, handheld devices like smartphones and tablets, and a variety of toys in boxes. [Read more…] about Smart Robotics launches new robotic merchandise picker

Stratom demonstrates new autonomous pallet loader vehicle

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Stratom, a developer of autonomous ground vehicles and robotic systems for logistics and operational applications, says it has successfully completed field demonstration of its patent-pending ATLAS vehicle, Stratom’s advanced autonomous pallet loader.

Whether operated via tethered remote control or preprogrammed with repeatable operations, Stratom’s ATLAS platform reduces crew needs while loading, unloading and transporting cargo in military and commercial applications, ultimately increasing speed, flexibility, efficiency, dependability and safety.

Last June, Stratom announced that the US Marine Corps awarded the company a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 2 contract to develop a prototype autonomous pallet loader. [Read more…] about Stratom demonstrates new autonomous pallet loader vehicle

igus acquires majority stake in Commonplace Robotics

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Motion plastics specialist igus is investing in growing its low cost automation activities and has now acquired the majority stake in robot integrator Commonplace Robotics, based in Bissendorf near Osnabrück.

Commonplace Robotics specialises in intuitive control and software as well as power electronics for robotics, in the industrial and educational sectors.

Both companies have worked together closely for six years and have jointly developed the iRC igus Robot Control, which complements igus’s low cost kinematics parts which are made of high-performance plastics. [Read more…] about igus acquires majority stake in Commonplace Robotics

Smart Robotics unveils collaborative robotic system to pick fashion items

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Smart Robotics, a provider of picking automation as a service for warehouses and logistics processes, has launched its latest collaborative robotic system – the Smart Fashion Picker.

The company says “the reliability of the cobot, and its ability to run continuously, ensures quicker return on investment – whilst answering the labour crisis in logistics and bettering the physical and mental health of warehouse employees”.

The Smart Fashion Picker addresses the pain point of transformation within warehouse automation. The need arises from the notion that the warehouse sector is quite late to automation, compared to other industries, and is now looking at a rapid transition to modern processes. [Read more…] about Smart Robotics unveils collaborative robotic system to pick fashion items

Acieta unveils new collaborative robotic system for welding

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Acieta has unveiled a new collaborative robotic system for welding. The company says the new “FastARC” cobot can pay back customers’ investment “in as little as six months”.

Acieta says that “everyone is struggling to hire and retain good laborers, especially those with welding skills”. But when the position is unfilled, a welding system sits idle and doesn’t make a profit.

Companies simply cannot afford to wait for the next skilled welder to walk through the door. The labor pool is dwindling and there’s fierce competition to attract those individuals. [Read more…] about Acieta unveils new collaborative robotic system for welding

Cross Company partners with Doosan Robotics

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Cross Company, a 100 percent employee-owned industrial technology company, is partnering with Doosan Robotics Americas to bring its collaborative robot (cobot) technology to the south-eastern United States.

Doosan Robotics was founded in South Korea in 2015 and following three years of research and development they developed a range of four cobot models that use their proprietary technology.

With the launch of six additional cobot models in 2020, Doosan now offers the most diversified line of collaborative robots on the market. [Read more…] about Cross Company partners with Doosan Robotics