Robotics & Automation News

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Madison College students win industrial robotics competition

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Madison College students Schuyler Bostedt, Garrett Butler and Jonathan Stowell took first place in the Industrial Robotics Competition held during the Wisconsin Manufacturing and Technology Show October 8-10 in Milwaukee.

Bostedt, Butler and Stowell are enrolled in the Electromechanical Technology associate degree program.

The contest tested robotic programming knowledge by challenging students to complete a set of tasks on a Fanuc education robot in three hours. [Read more…] about Madison College students win industrial robotics competition

HRG launches new ‘automated guided vehicle’

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HRG has launched what it describes as an “automated guided vehicle”, although it appears to have the technology that is also found in autonomous mobile robots, which are slightly different.

AGVs are older technology and are limited in their ability to navigate their way round a facility – usually, magnetic strips are fixed to the floor to guide them.

HRG says its AGV integrates “simultaneous localization and mapping”, or SLAM, the navigation technology that gives AMRs their autonomy. [Read more…] about HRG launches new ‘automated guided vehicle’

Fanuc opens new robotics and automation facility

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Fanuc America is planning to open a new 461,000 square-foot North Campus robotics and automation facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The world’s largest industrial robot supplier will hold a grand opening celebration for the new centre later today.

Fanuc has invited customers, local officials, educators, suppliers, and the media to an official program, ribbon-cutting ceremony and facility tour. [Read more…] about Fanuc opens new robotics and automation facility

Honeywell Intelligrated to help Apparel Logistics ‘triple’ daily output using automation

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Honeywell Intelligrated says it is helping Apparel Logistics Group to “triple daily output” from its e-commerce distribution center by using automation technologies.

The two companies signed an agreement to automate third-party logistics company Apparel Logistics Group’s fulfillment services for apparel, footwear and accessories.

Honeywell Intelligrated’s technology and technical support services will help the logistics provider expand its e-commerce parcel shipping capability, increase productivity at the shipping dock, ensure order accuracy and expand its value-added services capacity, which includes returned merchandise management and product customization. [Read more…] about Honeywell Intelligrated to help Apparel Logistics ‘triple’ daily output using automation

Special feature: Tour of Airbus’ advanced manufacturing facility in Germany

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Airbus is in the midst of revolutionary changes that may lead the aerospace giant to spend more than $1 billion on robotics, automation and digitalisation technologies across its global operation in the next few years – that’s if the advances at the company’s Hamburg, Germany facility are duplicated in all its facilities worldwide. 

The multinational consortium could end up spending a lot more: for example, the final stages of its internal assembly is labour-intensive, with all equipment – seats and luggage compartments – installed by humans. If this stage is roboticised, as the company’s chief operating officer has suggested, it would fundamentally change the current production process, something which he is envisaging anyway.

Robotic technologies have already transformed the way Airbus manufactures the exterior shell of its planes. Whereas, in the past, human workers would have drilled the 6,000 or more external holes in the fuselage of a typical commercial airliner, now, robots not only drill them, they also rivet or fasten them.

Perhaps surprisingly to some readers, the drilling was done by humans all these years until now, and even now, it’s only at the Hamburg facility that robots have been brought in.

Last week, Airbus provided more insight into its highly automated aircraft manufacturing facility in Hamburg – a place called Finkenwerder, to be precise, at what’s described as a “private airport”.

The aerospace jumbo invited a small group of journalists, including one from Robotics and Automation News, for a visit to the vast, sprawling complex, and a detailed, guided tour of Hangar 245, the advanced manufacturing facility in which aircraft belonging to the “A320 Family”, as Airbus describes them, are currently being assembled.  [Read more…] about Special feature: Tour of Airbus’ advanced manufacturing facility in Germany

Airbus inaugurates ‘highly automated’ assembly line in Germany

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Airbus has inaugurated its “highly automated” fuselage structure assembly line for A320 Family aircraft in Hamburg, showcasing an evolution in Airbus’ industrial production system.

With a special focus on manufacturing longer sections for the A321LR, the new facility features 20 robots, a new logistics concept, automated positioning by laser measurement as well as a digital data acquisition system.

These will further support Airbus’ drive to improve both quality and efficiency while bringing an enhanced level of digitalisation to its industrial production system. [Read more…] about Airbus inaugurates ‘highly automated’ assembly line in Germany

General Motors opens $65 million parts processing center in Flint

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General Motors has opened a new ACDelco and GM Genuine Parts processing center in the Flint, Michigan, suburb of Burton. The facility will employ more than 800 hourly and salaried employees.

GM now employs more than 9,500 people in Genesee County, including the Grand Blanc headquarters of the company’s Customer Care and Aftersales business and the Flint manufacturing complex.

Barry Engle, GM executive vice president and president, the Americas, says: “This new facility in Burton will help us continue to deliver the industry’s best possible sales, service and ownership experience. [Read more…] about General Motors opens $65 million parts processing center in Flint

Magna opens $50 million electronics facility in Michigan

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Automotive components and parts supplier Magna has formally opened a new electronics manufacturing facility in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.

The facility consolidates three nearby locations into a single “state-of-the-art facility that combines 21st-century manufacturing with people-first workplace design and functionality”, says Magna.

By opening the 230,000-square-foot facility with an investment of nearly $50 million, Magna says it is solidifying its presence in Grand Blanc Township and is positioned to continue its leadership in vision-based driver assistance systems. [Read more…] about Magna opens $50 million electronics facility in Michigan

Magna signs first complete vehicle manufacturing joint venture in China

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Magna, BAIC Group and the Zhenjiang government celebrated the signing of a framework agreement governing their electric vehicle manufacturing joint venture in Zhenjiang, China, which marks another milestone of their continued cooperation.

The transaction, which is pending regulatory approval and other closing conditions, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2019.

The joint venture, which is to be controlled by an affiliate of the BAIC Group, is Magna’s first investment in a complete vehicle manufacturing facility outside Europe.

[Read more…] about Magna signs first complete vehicle manufacturing joint venture in China

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