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Comau designs and implements advanced automation solutions for global automaker’s Brazil factory

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Industrial automation specialist Comau says it has designed and implemented its advanced automation solutions at a Stellantis Automotive facility in Brazil. Stellantis owns auto brands such as Fiat, Vauxhall and Jeep, among many others.

Comau’s installation at Stellantis Automotive Plant at Betim, Minas Gerais is part of a comprehensive retooling project to produce both the Fiat Pulse, the brand’s first SUV model in Brazil and the Fiat Fastback, its first SUV Coupe and one of the company’s main launches for the local market.

As part of the comprehensive project, Comau has enhanced an existing manufacturing platform to provide high-speed body assembly solutions for the main body, the body sides and the respot operations such that the two distinctly different SUVs could be produced on the same line. [Read more…] about Comau designs and implements advanced automation solutions for global automaker’s Brazil factory

Comau and Fincantieri unveil ‘first’ mobile robot shipbuilding system

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Industrial automation specialist Comau and shipbuilder Fincantieri, two of Italy’s largest and most well-known industrial companies, have unveiled the first result of their joint collaboration: the MR4Weld (Mobile Robot for Welding) mobile robot.

The companies describe the robotic system as “an innovative outdoor automation solution to improve quality, performance and well-being during labor-intensive welding activities”.

The companies have also renewed their strategic agreement to apply technology, digitalization, and innovation within cutting-edge, mobile robotic solutions that will increase production speed and worker well-being, by automating traditionally manual processes. [Read more…] about Comau and Fincantieri unveil ‘first’ mobile robot shipbuilding system

Comau unveils robotic system for constructing solar farms

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Comau has launched its patented Hyperflex mobile factory, which it describes as “a new paradigm in solar blade deployment that facilitates faster photovoltaic plant construction for a time to market savings of up to 25 per cent on new installations”.

Designed in-house and featuring proprietary Comau robotics, lifting equipment and other technology enablers, Hyperflex automatically assembles the entire solar blade, which can measure up to 48 sq m, directly in the photovoltaic field.

In doing so, the robotized temporary mobile factory lowers overall operating costs while granting better operator well-being, process quality and overall productivity when expanding an existing plant or installing a new one. [Read more…] about Comau unveils robotic system for constructing solar farms

Comau unveils new ‘perception-based’ robotic picking solution

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Robotics and automation specialist Comau has launched what it calls the “MI.RA/Picker”, describing as an intelligent advanced automation solution for perception-based random bin picking.

Adaptable to any brand of commercial robot, customized bin or customized gripper, the fully automated picking solution uses two high-resolution laser sensors and a central camera to autonomously recognize, locate and grasp randomly placed objects at a rate of up to 40 pieces per minute (PPM).

Furthermore, its streamlined virtual simulation tools and predictive algorithms guarantee optimal path management and collision-free trajectories, for precise and reliable performance while lowering costs and potential risks. [Read more…] about Comau unveils new ‘perception-based’ robotic picking solution

Comau developing fully automated system for battery recycling

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Comau has renewed its commitment to the EU’s Flexible Battery Dismantling (Flex-BD) project for the second year, to help deliver a fundamental pillar on the path towards a truly circular economy.

Flex-BD is a robotized system that automates the entire process of dismantling worn-out electric batteries using a highly flexible, repeatable and standardizable process.

Now, having validated the proof-of-concept, Comau has expanded the scope to include second life repurposing of automotive batteries. [Read more…] about Comau developing fully automated system for battery recycling

Google’s industrial robotics business unit Intrinsic chooses Comau as first project partner

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Comau, a specialist maker of industrial robotics and automation products and systems, has been unveiled as the first industry partner of Intrinsic, a business unit of Alphabet, which is the stock market name for Google.

Intrinsic says it is on a mission to make industrial robotics accessible and usable for millions more businesses, entrepreneurs, and developers.

At the launch presentation, Pietro Gorlier, Comau’s CEO, demonstrated how the company has recently used Intrinsic’s new Flowstate developer product and underlying platform to create a modular solution to enable the assembly of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) supermodule – just one of many possibilities for new applications made possible through the platform. [Read more…] about Google’s industrial robotics business unit Intrinsic chooses Comau as first project partner

Comau equips John Deere with wearable exoskeletons

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Comau has equipped John Deere, the world’s largest farm machinery maker, with multiple Mate-XT wearable exoskeletons to help sustain worker well-being, alleviate physical stress and reduce the ergonomic risk within its parts logistics operations.

Mate-XT accurately replicates all movements of the shoulder, helping employees perform their jobs comfortably by reducing muscle fatigue without limiting mobility or adding bulk.

Its ergonomic design can be easily adjusted to fit different people with different body types – changing the length of the shoulder straps and the required level of assistance based on the worker or the job at hand is quickly achieved in a few simple steps. [Read more…] about Comau equips John Deere with wearable exoskeletons

Comau supplies ‘highly intelligent’ welding robots for electric automaker

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Comau has supplied Hycan Automotive Technology with a “highly intelligent” welding solution for its framing line. The innovative system ensures multi-model manufacturing of new energy vehicles, high jobs per hour (JPH) and a concrete reduction in production losses. 

Deployed at the Hycan Hangzhou manufacturing base, the flexible automated production system can randomly switch between four different platforms, is fully compatible with the existing manufacturing platforms and is mass producing the brand’s smart, pure electric A06 sedan and stylish, intelligent-driving, pure electric SUV Z03 at a cycle efficiency of 60 JPH.

Hycan Automotive specializes in the development of electric vehicles, with a strategic focus on attracting young generations in the Chinese market. Given the diverse preferences of its target users, the need to develop a rich product range in a short period of time, and the rapid iteration of its offer, Comau engineers made sure the highly flexible welding assembly line could keep pace with the automaker’s evolving manufacturing needs. [Read more…] about Comau supplies ‘highly intelligent’ welding robots for electric automaker

Comau developing new mobile robot solution for three EU projects

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Comau is designing a “powerful mobile robotics platform” as part of an open, highly collaborative production environment, in the context of three different European Projects.

The integrated solution, which leverages Comau’s proven expertise in IoT-enabled technologies and collaborative robotics, is a natural evolution of the company’s automated workflow optimization systems.

Modular, scalable and completely re-configurable, the platform can be easily adapted to different applications without changing the system’s underlying software or hardware architecture. [Read more…] about Comau developing new mobile robot solution for three EU projects

Comau builds robotic welding solution for Daimler Trucks China operation

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Comau has built an advanced, automated welding solution for Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive, a joint venture between Daimler Trucks and the Chinese truck manufacturer Foton Motor.

In doing so, Comau is helping support Mercedes-Benz’s first localized heavy-duty truck for the Chinese market, the “Actros”, which is based on the Mercedes-Benz global platform and uses Daimler’s most advanced truck technology.

Featuring 100 percent process automation, the Comau-designed production line is engineered to be completely flexible in order to handle complex model management and variable output management. [Read more…] about Comau builds robotic welding solution for Daimler Trucks China operation