Robotics & Automation News

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conveyor

The Workhorse of Manufacturing: Pallet Conveyor Systems

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Pallet conveyor systems have been the backbone of efficient material handling in countless manufacturing facilities for decades. They offer a simple yet powerful solution for transporting pallets loaded with workpieces between different stages of production.

This article explores the key benefits of pallet conveyor systems, their various configurations and how they can empower manufacturers to achieve greater efficiency and productivity. [Read more…] about The Workhorse of Manufacturing: Pallet Conveyor Systems

Exotec opens new hub for its automated conveyor range

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Exotec, a provider of robotic solutions for warehouses, has opened a new production space in Croix, France. The new space will house the production of Exotec’s Skypath conveyor range, producing an average of thirty modules per day.

Located in Rue du Creusot in Croix, near Exotec’s headquarters, the new 2,500 sq m space marks a strategic milestone in the company’s rapid growth.

The building will house production workshops for the Skypath range, as well as acting as a dedicated service centre for the maintenance of Skypod robots, with thirty collaborators initially contributing to the developments. [Read more…] about Exotec opens new hub for its automated conveyor range

Ambi Robotics launches ‘most configurable high-speed’ robotic parcel sorting system

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Ambi Robotics, the industry leader in AI-powered robotic parcel sorting systems, today introduces AmbiSort B-Series, a modular parcel induction and sorting solution that redefines speed, flexibility, and scalability in the shipping logistics market.

This powerful solution empowers shippers and ecommerce companies to revolutionize their sorting operations while reducing operating costs.

AmbiSort B-Series automates the process of inducting and sorting parcels into gaylord destinations, addressing the challenges of labor-intensive manual sorting throughout high-speed supply chain operations. [Read more…] about Ambi Robotics launches ‘most configurable high-speed’ robotic parcel sorting system

Machine Vision: Pick and place with FLIR thermal imaging cameras

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Machine vision inspections using visual cameras can occasionally cause recognition problems if the product and background have too little color contrast. In such cases, thermal imaging cameras can be a practical solution – especially if the product has a different temperature than the transport medium.

In many cases such temperature differences are caused by the production process. Injection molding applications are ideal for this, for example, because the produced parts come out of the machine here at a relatively high temperature.

A few years ago, at the German Rubber Conference DKT in Nuremberg, two Austrian companies presented a possible solution in this area. [Read more…] about Machine Vision: Pick and place with FLIR thermal imaging cameras

Soft Robotics using Nvidia simulation technology to develop its gripping system

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Soft Robotics has applied Nvidia Isaac Sim’s synthetic data to food processing automation in efforts to improve safety and increase production.

Developers have been striving to close the gap on robotic gripping for the past several years, pursuing applications for multibillion-dollar industries. Securely gripping and transferring fast-moving items on conveyor belts holds vast promise for businesses.

Soft Robotics, a Bedford, Massachusetts startup, is harnessing Nvidia Isaac Sim to help close the sim to real gap for a handful of robotic gripping applications. One area is perfecting gripping for pick and placement of foods for packaging. [Read more…] about Soft Robotics using Nvidia simulation technology to develop its gripping system

Exotec expands warehouse automation product range

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Exotec, a warehouse robotics provider, has expanded its product portfolio with three solutions: a new conveyor system, an improved picking solution, and new proprietary warehouse software.

As inflation, economic headwinds, and labour shortages continue to place mounting pressure on supply chains, businesses around the world are looking for ways to address their immediate needs while also positioning themselves for an unpredictable future. Increasingly, this means doing more with less.

To help meet these needs, Exotec is releasing a new conveyor system, updated robotic picking solution, and proprietary warehouse software that all perfectly integrate with the Skypod system. [Read more…] about Exotec expands warehouse automation product range

SICK launches new photoelectric sensor

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SICK has unveiled its new Roller Sensor Bar (RSB) as an addition to its extensive portfolio of photoelectric sensors. This sensor provides the logistics and production markets a reliable solution to accommodate the ever-increasing variety of packaging shapes and sizes, and that provides a quick and easy installation experience.

Traditional sensors are mounted above the side frame and require installers to align and teach the sensor to a reflector at the end consumer, leading to high costs.

SICK offers the RSB as a solution to high installation costs and packaging variations to help logistics and production processes run more smoothly and efficiently. [Read more…] about SICK launches new photoelectric sensor

iFollow boosts capacity of its mobile robot range to 1500 kg

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iFollow has expanded its iLogistics autonomous mobile robot range to include a unit with a 1500 kg capacity.

Made at iFollow’s state of the art facilities outside Paris in France, The iL 1500 tops the range that includes units with capacities of 300 kg, 600 kg and 1000 kg.

And with a unit height of just 17 cm, iFollow claims it is “the thinnest mobile robot in the world that can carry 1.5 tons”. [Read more…] about iFollow boosts capacity of its mobile robot range to 1500 kg

Columbia/Okura celebrates shipping 1,000th palletizing system

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Columbia/Okura marked the milestone of shipping its 1,000th robotic palletizer. We’ve designed and commissioned many successful palletizing systems, handling a massive range of products across dozens of industries worldwide.

From bag palletizing systems in abusive and harsh environments to high-speed, multi-robot, multi-picking case applications, Columbia/Okura has handled almost any type of product packaging in virtually any application.

To celebrate the occasion and thank employees for their hard work, Columbia/Okura supplied lunch from Smokin’ Oak, a local barbeque restaurant in Vancouver, Canada. [Read more…] about Columbia/Okura celebrates shipping 1,000th palletizing system

Robot-ready conveying optimizes pick-and-place

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By Ken Tinnell, vice president, general manager, Shuttleworth, a division of ProMach

From a machine builder’s point of view, robots can solve many processing and packaging line problems, but the chosen material handling systems supplying the line can reduce the robot’s performance. Smart Robot-Ready conveying solutions, such as Slip-Torque roller technology, DASH Dynamic Accumulation, SmartFeed, and flexible product control devices, engineered by Shuttleworth, enable precision robotic pick-and-place, maximizing system uptime and virtually eliminating product damage.

Flexibility, speed and accuracy make robotic technology ideal for pick-and-place applications in a wide range of industries. Tremendous gains in productivity are realized through the application of pick-and-place robotic technology. These robots also eliminate the risk of fatigue and injury that human labor is subjected to in these types of applications.

Robotic pick-and-place systems are low maintenance, flexible and reconfigurable, and especially beneficial in manufacturing and packaging applications when dealing with sterile, hazardous and potentially injury-causing materials. [Read more…] about Robot-ready conveying optimizes pick-and-place