Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

equipment

Built Robotics raises $33 million for its autonomous construction vehicles

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Built Robotics has closed a $33 million Series B investment round led by Next47, the new global venture fund backed by Siemens. This brings Built’s total funding to $48 million.

The startup has now raised more than $100 million in customer commitments for its autonomous construction solutions.

Built Robotics says it will use the capital to scale its fleet of autonomous robots, expand into new construction verticals, and develop tools to support the next-generation of equipment operators. (See video below.) [Read more…] about Built Robotics raises $33 million for its autonomous construction vehicles

Yamaha taps into its $100 million fund to invest in Advanced Farm Technologies

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Yamaha is using part of its $100 million investment fund to buy a stake in Advanced Farm Technologies.

Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley led the Series A funding round for the startup.

Yamaha says this latest investment reflects the company’s “core interest in businesses driving innovation in the agricultural sector. [Read more…] about Yamaha taps into its $100 million fund to invest in Advanced Farm Technologies

Sportamore opts for Swisslog to expand automated warehouse

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Sportamore, one of the largest and fastest-growing online vendors of sports clothing and equipment in the Nordic countries, has expanded its automated central warehouse in Eskilstuna in cooperation with Swisslog.

The expansion began in February 2018 and was finished according to plan in February 2019.

Sema Söderhäll, chief logistics officer at Sportamore, says: “Together with Swisslog, we were able to complete the expansion without disrupting our regular production, something we’re very grateful for.” [Read more…] about Sportamore opts for Swisslog to expand automated warehouse

Ultimation reaches out to vertical farming sector with its conveyor systems

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Ultimation is targeting the new and growing market of vertical farming sector with its conveyor systems, technology it has been supplying for more than 30 years.

The company says that sustainable agricultural operations such as vertical and indoor farms are becoming more prevalent, and “conveyor technology systems can be part of the solution”.

Ultimation says vertical farms can potentially achieve higher yields for the surface area dedicated to production by controlling the light, temperature, humidity, water and nutrients the plants receive. [Read more…] about Ultimation reaches out to vertical farming sector with its conveyor systems

John Deere in exclusive partnership with Wentworth Club to supply golf course maintenance equipment

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Wentworth Club and John Deere have agreed a new, exclusive partnership for the supply of golf course maintenance equipment to the world famous West, East and Edinburgh Championship Courses at Virginia Water in Surrey, from spring 2019.

The deal includes automated and autonomous vehicles and equipment.

Wentworth Club has been the host venue since 1984 for the PGA Championship tournament, which is regarded as the flagship event on the European Tour. [Read more…] about John Deere in exclusive partnership with Wentworth Club to supply golf course maintenance equipment

ABB and Hewlett Packard Enterprise expand industrial internet partnership

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ABB and Hewlett Packard Enterprise have expanded their partnership in the industrial internet space and say they will “bring scalable connectivity to large industrial customers” by integrating ABB Ability Smart Sensor technology with Aruba Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled access points.

ABB and Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, will collaborate to deliver a scalable, high-performance wireless connectivity solution for large industrial customers.

Customers will be able to capture valuable data and insights from their equipment via ABB Ability Smart Sensor technology and access it via a web portal, a cloud interface or a mobile phone application, say the companies. [Read more…] about ABB and Hewlett Packard Enterprise expand industrial internet partnership

355 welding robots at new Byton car plant in China

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Byton, the electric vehicle maker, has announced it will complete its Round C fundraising in mid-2019 with support from multiple investors and shared further details of its Nanjing factory.

Construction of the plant, which started in September 2017, is nearing completion and trial production of the M-Byte SUV will start in the third quarter of 2019.

The installation and commissioning of key equipment has already begun in the five major workshops: stamping, paint, welding, battery, and assembly.

[Read more…] about 355 welding robots at new Byton car plant in China

FEIMEC 2020 launches its new sales cycle as the ‘largest exhibition in the industry in Latin America’

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The third edition of the machinery and industrial equipment trade show FEIMEC will have even more exhibition space than in previous years. Its official launch occurs within a moment of positive expectations for the Brazilian market.

Within the marketplace’s positive expectations for economic growth, the third edition of FEIMEC 2020 – Brazil International Machinery and Equipment Exhibition has been launched.

The exhibition will take place in Sao Paulo on May 5-9, 2020 and will have 62,000 sq m of exhibition space, 700 exhibitors and will receive over 65,000 industry professionals.

[Read more…] about FEIMEC 2020 launches its new sales cycle as the ‘largest exhibition in the industry in Latin America’

Exoskeleton market projected to grow to $6 billion

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The current robotics limelight tends to focus on the ability of new innovations to automate tasks, but a less publicized development is taking place whereby passive exoskeletons have been slowly deployed and adopted to help augment the capability of human workers.

Exoskeleton popularization through passive suits will provide a base for increased resources for powered suits, which will eventually provide significant augmentative capability to the industrial workforce.

By 2028, global Exoskeleton revenues will reach $5 billion with hundreds of thousands of active exoskeletons being deployed, according to ABI Research. The research consultancy’s findings are on its report, Exoskeletons for Industrial Use Cases.

[Read more…] about Exoskeleton market projected to grow to $6 billion

Komatsu develops electric mini excavator

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Komatsu Ltd has unveiled its electric mini excavator, based on its accumulated technological expertise of hybrid construction equipment and electric forklift trucks.

Equipped with an in-house developed new charger, high-voltage converter and other devices, it offers excavation performance on a par with the internal combustion model of the same power output, while achieving zero exhaust gas emissions and a dynamic reduction in noise levels.

Komatsu expects a wider range of applications for this machine, including construction work near hospitals or schools or in residential areas, where contractors pay special attention to exhaust gas and noise during work, as well as inside tunnels or buildings.

[Read more…] about Komatsu develops electric mini excavator