Robotics & Automation News

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factory automation

igus showcases humanoid robots and AGVs through RBTX marketplace

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RBTX, the robotics marketplace operated by igus, used this year’s Hannover Messe 2026 to highlight what it described as the world’s widest range of humanoid robots available through a single robotics platform, alongside a growing portfolio of autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

Presented during igus’ annual corporate press conference at the event, the company positioned RBTX as a platform designed to simplify access to industrial automation by allowing manufacturers to explore, compare, test, and deploy robotics systems tailored to their operational requirements.

The marketplace combines humanoid robots, collaborative systems, and mobile automation technologies within a unified platform aimed at reducing the complexity traditionally associated with robotics integration. [Read more…] about igus showcases humanoid robots and AGVs through RBTX marketplace

Horse Powertrain installs Siemens AI inspection system to automate engine quality checks

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Horse Powertrain, an innovator of low-emission powertrain systems, has deployed the Siemens Inspekto Visual Inspection system at its Skövde engine production plant through its Aurobay Technologies division.

Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the system automates quality checks at the engine inspection station, replacing a process previously performed by hand.

Engines arrive at the AI-powered inspection station via automated guided vehicles. A vision camera mounted on a collaborative robot performs defect analysis in a few seconds, storing all images to support traceable, searchable records across the production line. [Read more…] about Horse Powertrain installs Siemens AI inspection system to automate engine quality checks

Interview with Intrinsic’s Stefan Nusser: Traditional automation is ‘too expensive and too inflexible’

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For years, industrial automation followed a relatively stable formula: high-volume production, long product lifecycles, and robotic systems designed to repeat the same process millions of times with minimal variation.

That model helped transform industries such as automotive manufacturing, where fixed production lines and highly specialized robots delivered extraordinary efficiency at scale.

But manufacturing is changing. Product cycles are shorter, customization is increasing, and factories are under pressure to adapt more quickly to shifting demand and supply chain volatility. In many facilities, the traditional economics of automation no longer work as neatly as they once did. [Read more…] about Interview with Intrinsic’s Stefan Nusser: Traditional automation is ‘too expensive and too inflexible’

Humanoid and Schaeffler strike deal to deploy thousands of humanoid robots in factories

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Humanoid, a UK-based AI and robotics company, has signed a binding, phased deployment and supply agreement with Schaeffler, a leading motion technology company, to integrate humanoid robots directly into live manufacturing operations.

The first systems go live in Germany before the end of 2026. Humanoid will also purchase actuators from Schaeffler as a preferred supplier.

The agreement is one of the largest disclosed humanoid robot rollouts ever announced and positions Humanoid, founded by Artem Sokolov in 2024, among the youngest companies to secure a large-scale contract at this level. It targets deployment of a four-digit number of wheeled units across Schaeffler’s global facilities by 2032. [Read more…] about Humanoid and Schaeffler strike deal to deploy thousands of humanoid robots in factories

How Industrial Automation Services Are Modernizing Legacy Facilities

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Many older plants still produce dependable output, yet the systems behind that output often show their age. Support teams are asked to meet modern production goals using control systems built for a slower operating model. The gap becomes obvious when downtime rises, and fault detection arrives too late.

Luckily, expert industrial automation services are helping these facilities modernize without forcing every asset into an expensive rebuild. The best projects are careful rather than dramatic. A good plan adds modern control where it creates value. It also protects proven equipment when that equipment still performs. [Read more…] about How Industrial Automation Services Are Modernizing Legacy Facilities

Dürr launches new robots with optimized arm geometry for painting tasks

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With the EcoRP4, Dürr is introducing a new generation of robots used to paint car bodies. The compact painting robot features an asymmetric architecture that improves access to the body for the applicator, enabling it to reliably reach even hard-to-access interior areas.

Its reduced number of components also lowers maintenance requirements and operational costs, especially benefiting car manufacturers with high production volumes.

Since 1998, Dürr has shipped almost 20,000 painting robots from the Ecopaint robotic family worldwide. The latest addition to the family, the EcoRP4, has been developed as the successor to the six-axis EcoRP E/L x33iC robot, and is specifically designed for painting lines that handle high volumes and standardised applications. [Read more…] about Dürr launches new robots with optimized arm geometry for painting tasks

Manufacturing with robot cells and machine tending solutions

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Robot cells and machine tending solutions are transforming manufacturing by driving higher efficiency and adaptability in production lines.

These technologies play a significant role in Modern manufacturing environments, supporting seamless automation across industries.

Their adoption addresses longstanding challenges, streamlining processes and elevating quality standards throughout manufacturing operations. [Read more…] about Manufacturing with robot cells and machine tending solutions

Comau partners with Omron to accelerate advanced industrial automation across high-growth manufacturing

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Comau and Omron Robotics have signed a strategic collaboration agreement aimed at accelerating the adoption and deployment of advanced industrial automation solutions for manufacturers worldwide.

The collaboration will focus on high-growth sectors including electronics, semiconductors, medical manufacturing and light industrial intralogistics – markets that continue to see strong demand for flexible, easily deployable automation.

The partnership responds to rising customer needs for scalable and adaptable automation solutions that integrate seamlessly into both existing production lines and next-generation manufacturing environments. [Read more…] about Comau partners with Omron to accelerate advanced industrial automation across high-growth manufacturing

Factory Automation: Bridging Promise and Real-World Production

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Walk into a modern shop floor and the contrast is immediate. Bright collaborative robot arms move with practised precision next to conveyors that have been running since the 1990s.

Touchscreen dashboards glow above workstations where an operator still keeps a grease-stained notebook with the real setup parameters.

That juxtaposition is the current state of factory automation: a layered environment where each new capability has to coexist with what came before. [Read more…] about Factory Automation: Bridging Promise and Real-World Production