Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

collaborative robots

4 reasons why collaborative robotics is the answer to SME automation

by

With technology becoming an integral part of business operations, several organizations are investing in robotics and automation to streamline their processes, create a safe work environment, and boost profitability.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, are increasingly relying on automation to gain a significant increment in their process-and-workforce efficiency.

However, most SMEs are reluctant to invest in robotics as conventional industrial robots are complex, expensive, and require large shop floor space for deployment. Moreover, the payback period for these robots is extremely long, making them expensive for SMEs.  [Read more…] about 4 reasons why collaborative robotics is the answer to SME automation

IMTS: World’s largest industrial technology show to highlight automation trends

by

The world‘s largest industrial technology show will highlight key automation trends with a view to helping visitors understand how they will affect manufacturing and other sectors.

Organisers of the International Manufacturing Technology Show – scheduled to take place in Chicago, in the US, from September 10th to 15th – say the event will bring people and automation closer together – literally – with exhibits highlighting the benefits of collaborative robots, or “cobots”.

Mike Cicco, president and CEO, Fanuc America and a board member of the Association for Manufacturing Technology, which owns and produces IMTS, says: “Automation suppliers have made tremendous leaps with software, control and sensor technology that enable quantifying what the robot ‘feels’.  [Read more…] about IMTS: World’s largest industrial technology show to highlight automation trends

ESIT demonstrates new collaborative robot at FabTech Canada

by

ESIT has been demonstrating its new collaborative robot at the recent FabTech Canada event.

The company says its “GCIR” robot platform has successfully passed the “M-phase” review panel, which is probably to do with manufacturing.

“Now, we are going to process the small-quantity phase,” says the company on its website, adding that “our cobot … officially enters the market at the end of August”.  [Read more…] about ESIT demonstrates new collaborative robot at FabTech Canada

OnRobot and OptoForce target 250 per cent growth in Southeast Asia

by

Robotic solutions providers OnRobot and OptoForce – which are both now part of one single company – are aggressively targeting Southeast Asia, aiming to grow 250 per cent in the region this year.

Executives at the companies believe the increased demand will come from the electronics, automotive and CNC machining industries.

This new assessment follows the appointment of Niels Ole Sinkbæk Sørensen as sales manager, Asia Pacific, who oversees business expansion in the region for both companies, based in Kuala Lumpur.  [Read more…] about OnRobot and OptoForce target 250 per cent growth in Southeast Asia

Kassow Robots to launch lightweight collaborative robot at Automatica

by

Kassow Robots, the Denmark-based brainchild of robotics engineer Kristian Kassow and his two co-founders, is set to launch itself on a global stage at the Automatica trade fair in Munich in June 2018.

The Danish start-up, whose motto is “strong, fast, simple,” has been developing uniquely efficient 7-axis industrial lightweight robots since it was founded in 2014. Kassow robots are extremely fast and powerful, and are suitable for use in small spaces.

The company says its robots’ “user-friendly interface” provides businesses with greater flexibility, enabling smaller businesses without their own robotics specialists to achieve complex automation and programming cost-effectively and independently.  [Read more…] about Kassow Robots to launch lightweight collaborative robot at Automatica

Opinion: The intersection of paperless work instruction and IIoT cobots

by

By Randy Blaylock, VP of sales for eFlex Systems

Interoperability has arrived and the ability of machines, devices, sensors, and people to connect and communicate with each other via the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is no longer conceptual.

It is practised every day on plant floors worldwide. Information systems can create a virtual copy of the physical world by enriching digital plant models with sensor data.

This requires the aggregation of raw sensor data to higher-value context information.  [Read more…] about Opinion: The intersection of paperless work instruction and IIoT cobots

Automatica preview: Robotics innovations of today for the smart production concepts of tomorrow

by

Automatica is probably the world’s leading showcase event for the robotics and automation industry.

This time around, Robotics and Automation News is highly pleased to announce that we are an official media partner for the biennial trade show.

Event organisers are previewing some of the main robotics innovations for smart production concepts that will be at the show next month.  [Read more…] about Automatica preview: Robotics innovations of today for the smart production concepts of tomorrow

The collaborative robotics revolution: A panacea for low productivity and an ageing work force?

by

By Andrew Dyer, investment manager at Baird Capital

Industry 4.0, the catch-all phrase to describe industry’s embrace of Big Data, the internet of things and robotics, tends to inspire equal feelings of excitement and anxiety.

Excitement for the manufacturers who dream of lower costs, greater efficiencies and faster and greater outputs, anxiety for the millions of workers around the world who fear that the robotic revolution will leave them without a job.

A new study by the OECD suggests, however, that they needn’t be too worried. Whereas previously pundits warned that close to 50 per cent of American jobs would soon be lost to automation, the OECD now predicts just 14 per cent of jobs in OECD countries could now be lost to robots.  [Read more…] about The collaborative robotics revolution: A panacea for low productivity and an ageing work force?

Opinion: Robots help close the gap between designing and making

by

Andrew Watts, CEO Newtecnic, discusses the construction industry’s move towards robotics and mass-customization that brings designers and makers together for positive disruption within and beyond the industry

Digitalization, robotics and automation, have produced significant quality and productivity benefits in manufacturing over several decades.

In construction, however, while digitalization has very successfully automated design, the disconnect between designing and making is ripe for an industrial revolution.

And while innovative product manufacturers use technology to move from mass-production to mass-customization, the construction industry is only just picking up on DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) for repetitive mass production of standardized components.

This use of what can be considered an outmoded idea seems to be a retrograde step because the opportunity now exists for construction to deploy the very latest technology and thereby take the lead in manufacturing.  [Read more…] about Opinion: Robots help close the gap between designing and making

South Korean government to expand robotics and automation sector to $6 billion

by

The South Korean government has decided to invest significant resources into expanding the country’s production of industrial robotics and automation systems so that it’s worth $6.15 billion by 2022.

This is according to BusinessKorea.com, which says the plan is intended to increase the number of small and mid-size robot makers with sales of more than $46 million to 25.

The report says government-backed organisations, academic and research institutions, as well as private enterprise will take part in the new initiative.  [Read more…] about South Korean government to expand robotics and automation sector to $6 billion