Robotics & Automation News

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Photoneo Brightpick raises additional $19 million to complete $40 million in Series B funding

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Photoneo Brightpick Group, the parent company of Photoneo, a provider of robotic vision sensors and intelligence software, and Brightpick, a provider of warehouse automation solutions for ecommerce and grocery order fulfillment, has raised an additional $19 million to complete a $40 million Series B.

Taiwania Capital led this most recent round, which also included follow-on investments by prior Series B lead investors IPM Group and Alpha Intelligence Capital.

Additional investors in this round include H&D Asset Management, Venture to Future Fund and Kolowrat Group. This round brings the company’s total capital raised since inception to $53 million. [Read more…] about Photoneo Brightpick raises additional $19 million to complete $40 million in Series B funding

DB Schenker to open highly automated logistics center in the Czech Republic

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DB Schenker, one of the world’s largest logistics service providers, will be opening a new site in the Prague region next year.

The “highly automated” fulfillment warehouse will expand the company’s logistics capacities and shortens delivery times.

Along with retail operations, the new distribution center will also manage B2C e-commerce activities, including an extensive value added services area addressing the demand for personalized products requested by consumers. [Read more…] about DB Schenker to open highly automated logistics center in the Czech Republic

Startup company Foamplant launches ‘world’s first sustainable foam’

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A startup company called Foamplant, based in the Netherlands, is launching what it claims is “the world’s first and only fully circular, sustainable open cell foam”.

Branded “Moorefoam”, the product will be officially launched at Foam Expo Europe (8-10 November, Stuttgart, Germany).

Patented Moorefoam technology enables circular production in the bedding, furniture, automotive and avionics sectors, says the company. Moorefoam is available to order now, with initial deliveries in mid-April 2023. [Read more…] about Startup company Foamplant launches ‘world’s first sustainable foam’

Autonomous truck maker Einride launches in Germany

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Autonomous truck startup Einride has launched into Europe’s largest transportation market – Germany. In conjunction with the official launch, Einride has signed an impressive list of local partners including global appliance leader Electrolux.

Robert Falck, founder and CEO of Einride, says: “Germany is in the driving seat of Europe; where it goes others follow suit.

“We have the opportunity and technology to bring the biggest change to the freight industry since the invention of the internal combustion engine and are ready to join forces with local partners to make transportation history.” [Read more…] about Autonomous truck maker Einride launches in Germany

Deutsche Bahn and Kia give used electric car batteries a second life as stationary energy storage systems

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Korean carmaker Kia and Deutsche Bahn have partnered up to increase the useable life of batteries used in electric mobility. Their solution is to re-use used lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles to create efficient and cost-effective energy storage systems for green electricity.

These second-life battery energy storage solutions are modular and can be used in a wide variety of different applications.

For example, they can save surplus electricity from photovoltaic systems or, as part of a distributed system, can supply power throughout the day to DB maintenance depots and depots where trains are prepared for operations. [Read more…] about Deutsche Bahn and Kia give used electric car batteries a second life as stationary energy storage systems

Ottonomy closes $3.3 million seed funding round

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Ottonomy has closed its seed funding round of $3.3 million, bringing its total funding to date to $4.9 million.

The funding is planned to support the scale of Ottobots for fully autonomous airport, retail and restaurant deliveries with its robots.

The funding round is led by Pi Ventures who back deep tech startups. Connetic Ventures and Branded Hospitality Ventures and the Founder & CEO of Addverb Technologies, Sangeet Kumar, also joined this round; making the group a dynamic mix from retail, food and robotics industry investors for Ottonomy’s seed round. [Read more…] about Ottonomy closes $3.3 million seed funding round

Volkswagen enters global electric vehicle battery business

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Volkswagen has broken ground for its first battery production factory in Salzgitter, Germany last week in the presence of Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Production will start in 2025. With immediate effect, responsibility for global battery business is to be held by the newly created company “PowerCo”. In addition to cell production, the new company will be responsible for activities along the entire battery value chain.

Up to 2030, PowerCo is to invest more than €20 billion together with partners in the development of the business area, to generate annual sales in excess of €20 billion and to employ up to 20,000 people in Europe alone. [Read more…] about Volkswagen enters global electric vehicle battery business

Geek+ and Reesink Logistic Solutions partner to implement robots in warehouses

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Geekplus, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots for warehouses, has agreed a new partnership with one of Europe’s top system integrators, Reesink Logistic Solutions.

The two companies are entering a non-exclusive cooperation covering the entire Geekplus product range and targeting primarily Northern Europe, with a focus on the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland.

Gert Bossink, vice-president of Royal Reesink and division director of Reesink Logistic Solutions, says: “The warehouse automation market is becoming increasingly competitive and dense. [Read more…] about Geek+ and Reesink Logistic Solutions partner to implement robots in warehouses

automatica event to showcase future-ready production through robotics and automation

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How can global supply chains be made less vulnerable? How can we make production more sustainable and conserve resources?

And how to implement a quick transition towards digital production so that the European economy will be powerful and fit for the future?

Around 600 exhibitors from all over the world will provide answers to these questions and present solutions for the entire range of automation topics at automatica, the world’s leading robotics and automation exhibition, which will be held in Munich from June 21 to 24. [Read more…] about automatica event to showcase future-ready production through robotics and automation

Lenovo opens first European manufacturing facility in Hungary

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Computer giant Lenovo has officially opened the doors to its first in-house manufacturing facility in Europe.

Based in Ullo, Hungary, the factory focuses primarily on building server infrastructure, storage systems and high-end PC workstations used by customers throughout the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region.

Extending Lenovo’s international manufacturing operations, the investment represents significant economic potential for both the private and public sectors in Hungary, with increased production capacity, greater potential for collaboration with local vendors, and the creation of new job openings. [Read more…] about Lenovo opens first European manufacturing facility in Hungary