Robotics & Automation News

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ABB creates ‘intelligent’ football stadium for FK Austria

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ABB was appointed to transform Austria’s Generali Arena, originally built in 1925, into an intelligent, future-proofed venue that incorporates the latest in smart building technology and energy efficient power distribution.

This is also the first sustainable football venue in Austria. It was retrofitted in co-operation with the Austrian Sustainable Building Council, who helped with planning the design and implementation, which includes a photovoltaic system on the roof of the north stand.

The stadium’s entire electrification value chain – from medium-voltage distribution to each individual socket – has been raised to an advanced level.

[Read more…] about ABB creates ‘intelligent’ football stadium for FK Austria

Subsea valve actuator ‘reduces energy consumption by up to 75 per cent’, says Rexroth

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Launched less than a year ago, Bosch Rexroth’s innovative Subsea Valve Actuator (SVA) – an entirely new concept for underwater actuators which offers SIL3 safety levels and up to 75 per cent lower energy consumption – has been granted a Mechanical Engineering Design Award.

The SVA was developed to help address some of the challenges and shortcomings associated with either purely electromechanical or electrohydraulic actuator technology used on the sea floor for oil and gas exploration and production systems.

Until now, underwater actuators required large, central hydraulic power units above water. Designed to supply the actuators with fluid, the fluid-lines themselves can be miles long. [Read more…] about Subsea valve actuator ‘reduces energy consumption by up to 75 per cent’, says Rexroth

Kiwi automation company Aurora shows off its palletizing robot

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New Zealand automation company Aurora demonstrates and describes its robotic palletizing system

Palletizing equipment is a critical component of many end-of-line processes. Without the right system in place, inefficiencies and production downtime can harm your bottom line.

One of Aurora’s popular solutions is the Fuji-Ace Robotic Palletizer. Often cited as the most advanced palletizer in the world, it is a high-capacity, energy efficient, easy-to-use machine that is streamlining the processes of packing and manufacturing facilities across the world.

In the words of one satisfied customer, site engineer Kendell Chapman of Seales Window: “The output of the system has improved capabilities over our last system. [Read more…] about Kiwi automation company Aurora shows off its palletizing robot

HP opens 3D printing and digital manufacturing centre of excellence in Spain

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HP has opened a new 3D printing and digital manufacturing centre of excellence in Barcelona, Spain – one of the world’s largest and most advanced research and development facilities for those technologies.

The new centre brings together hundreds of the world’s leading additive manufacturing experts in more than 150,000 square feet of space.

The 3+ acre facility at HP’s Barcelona campus is dedicated to the development of HP’s industrial 3D printing portfolio and provides a large-scale factory environment to collaborate with customers and partners on digital manufacturing technologies.

[Read more…] about HP opens 3D printing and digital manufacturing centre of excellence in Spain

IBM develops ‘world’s most powerful commercial supercomputer’ for Total

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IBM has built Pangea III, which it claims is the world’s most powerful commercial supercomputer, for Total, a global energy company operating in more than 130 countries.

The new IBM POWER9-based supercomputer will help Total more accurately locate new resources and better assess the potential associated revenue opportunities.

According to Total, Pangea III requires 1.5 Megawatts, compared to 4.5 MW for its predecessor system. Combined with the increased performance of Pangea III, Total has reported that they have observed that the new system uses less than 10% the energy consumption per petaflop as its predecessor.

[Read more…] about IBM develops ‘world’s most powerful commercial supercomputer’ for Total

Six innovative companies nominated for grand prize at microtechnology trade show

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Six innovative companies have been nominated for the grand prize at the microtechnology trade show EPHJ, the leading showcase for watchmaking, jewellery, and micro- and medical technologies sectors.

The jury of experts of the 2019 EPHJ-EPMT-SMT Trade Fair has selected six highly innovative projects for the Exhibitors’ Grand Prix to be voted on by the exhibitors to select and announce the winner at the show, which will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 18-21 June.

Levitation of machines, the green properties of supercritical CO2, machine learning algorithms, new hope for the 16 million people suffering from retinal vein occlusion, a machine that is mightier than a spark and a new fine-layer treatment process are just a few of the spectacular innovations proposed by the six nominees for the 2019 Exhibitors’ Grand Prix selected by the Jury for the EPHJ-EPMT-SMT Trade Show. [Read more…] about Six innovative companies nominated for grand prize at microtechnology trade show

Rigterink Logistikgruppe tests the all-electric eActros truck

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Mercedes-Benz Trucks has sent another fully-electric eActros onto the streets: the heavy-duty truck will now be put through its paces by Rigterink Logistikgruppe in regular operations transporting foodstuffs around Frankfurt am Main and other towns in the Rhine-Main area of Germany.

The daily distance from the Rigterink logistics premises in Flörsheim am Main to supermarket branches and various central logistics centres of supermarket chains is around 200 km.

The route will be driven once a day by the 25-tonne truck, making full use of its range of around 200 km with a single charge. The batteries will be charged overnight.

[Read more…] about Rigterink Logistikgruppe tests the all-electric eActros truck

ABB creates CO2-neutral and energy self-sufficient factory of the future

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ABB’s commitment to combating climate change includes limiting the environmental impact of its own operations.

At its site in Lüdenscheid, Germany, ABB is showing how a sustainable energy transition can succeed with digital energy management.

After a two-year design and construction phase, as part of its “Mission to Zero” project, ABB has opened its first CO2-neutral and energy self-sufficient production site in the world, with the commissioning of a solar power plant at a factory of its subsidiary Busch-Jaeger.

[Read more…] about ABB creates CO2-neutral and energy self-sufficient factory of the future

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

ABB to install 300 painting robots at leading Chinese automaker’s facility

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ABB has signed a formal agreement to install 300 painting robots at a leading Chinese automaker’s facility.

The agreement with SAIC Volkswagen is to provide robotics painting solutions for the first New Energy Vehicle factory of the Volkswagen Group based on the Modular Electric Driver Kit, an automotive platform specifically designed for the mass production of electric vehicles.

Financial details were not disclosed. [Read more…] about ABB to install 300 painting robots at leading Chinese automaker’s facility