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Neolix inaugurates factory for manufacturing autonomous vehicles

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Neolix, a maker of small autonomous delivery vehicles, has laid the foundation stone to mark the start of building a factory for manufacturing driverless vehicles. 

The company says the new facility in Changzhou will be the first unmanned vehicle mass-production base in the region, and possibly the world.

The plant will produce vehicles which have “Level 4” autonomation, which is described as “full autonomy with human driver” by the SAE. [Read more…] about Neolix inaugurates factory for manufacturing autonomous vehicles

Bright Machines launches ‘first software-defined microfactory’

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Bright Machines has launched what it says the “first software-defined microfactory”.

The term “software-defined” is often used in computer networking and implies that a system is less dependent on specific – perhaps expensive – hardware and more defined by the software.

Bright Machines says it is delivering its vision of integrating software and artificial intelligence into every phase of the manufacturing cycle with the introduction of Bright “Microfactories”. [Read more…] about Bright Machines launches ‘first software-defined microfactory’

Panasonic ramps up its smart factory solutions business in India

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Panasonic has announced its plans to ramp up its smart factory solutions business in India.

The company has integrated its welding business and SMT (Surface Mount Technology) equipment business to consolidate its software and hardware capabilities and become an end-to-end integrated Smart Manufacturing Solutions company.

The smart factory solutions proposition will enable Panasonic to deliver broader, high value-added, smart solutions and services along with hardware to manufacturing industry.

[Read more…] about Panasonic ramps up its smart factory solutions business in India

Haltian launches 5G-ready smart factory solution with AWS IoT

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Haltian has launched what it says is a 5G-ready smart factory solution with AWS IoT Greengrass edge computing capabilities.

Haltian says the new solution is an end-to-end smart factory service that reduces factory costs up to 90 percent, compared to traditional automation techniques, by providing a straightforward and secure asset and process digitalization for industrial enterprises.

This solution sees Haltian combine their Thingsee IoT platform and industry-grade retrofit sensors with AWS IoT Greengrass Edge Computing, and private LTE technology and paves the way for 5G. [Read more…] about Haltian launches 5G-ready smart factory solution with AWS IoT

ABB and Ericsson partner to accelerate wireless automation for flexible factories

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Industrial automation provider ABB and telecommunications equipment company Ericsson have strengthened their commitment to accelerate the industrial ecosystem for flexible wireless automation, which will enable enhanced connected services, industrial IoT and artificial intelligence technologies in the future. 

The partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Hannover Messe 2019, establishing their joint vision for future flexible production with automation and wireless communication.

The collaboration comes during the Industry 4.0 era and 5G connectivity which allow businesses to realize increased productivity, with the help of automation and digitalization. [Read more…] about ABB and Ericsson partner to accelerate wireless automation for flexible factories

Mitsubishi Electric to acquire US software company Iconics

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Mitsubishi Electric Corporation is to acquire the remaining shares of Iconics, Inc., a U.S. software company focused on SCADA, IoT, mobile, analytics and cloud software products for the manufacturing, industrial and building-automation markets.

The acquisition makes the company a 100% subsidiary within the Mitsubishi Electric Group.

Mitsubishi Electric aims to enhance its software product lineup to realise e-F@ctory, including edge-computing, by combining Iconics’ software-developing capabilities and Mitsubishi Electric’s factory-automation technology.

e-F@ctory is an integrated solution based on factory automation (FA) and information technologies to reduce the total cost of developing, producing and maintaining products.

[Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric to acquire US software company Iconics

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

Panasonic says it has sold 100 million household refrigerators

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Panasonic says its production of household refrigerators reached a grand total of 100 million in 2018, 65 years since the company first began to manufacture them in 1953.

Panasonic began working on refrigerators as well as televisions and washing machines in anticipation of the approaching electrical age after the Second World War.

In 1952 an alliance was formed with Nakagawa Kikai Company, a specialist machine tool manufacturer that had made refrigerators. [Read more…] about Panasonic says it has sold 100 million household refrigerators

A new type of robotic ‘brain’ could transform modern factories

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By Richard van Hooijdonk

Industrial robots like the ones that assemble Tesla vehicles or Nokia’s 5G base stations are a sight to behold.

They’re critical for manufacturing automation and lead to improved product quality, shorter cycle times, and decreased production costs.

So, it’s no surprise that the global industrial robotics market is expected to reach a whopping $97.41 billion by 2026 as investments in this technology ramp up. [Read more…] about A new type of robotic ‘brain’ could transform modern factories

Elisa and NVision partner to provide IIoT and AI for manufacturers

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Elisa and NVision Czech Republic have launched a reseller and customer agreement to bring actionable, real-time insights to customers in manufacturing and industrial process businesses based on Elisa’s Smart Factory solution.

The solution automates customer data collection and integration, creates a 3D visualization of the factory and detects failures and bottlenecks in production.

Kari Terho, general manager, Elisa Smart Factory, says: “We are taking the complex process of messy industrial data into rich insights and visualizing it in a compelling, easy-to-understand way for factory management, production supervisors and operators. [Read more…] about Elisa and NVision partner to provide IIoT and AI for manufacturers