Robotics & Automation News

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Adapting Robotic Production Lines for a Titanium-Focused Economy

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With the post-pandemic recovery well on its way, the new jobs market has placed a clear focus on hygiene.

According to CNBC, 66 percent of workers want cleaner, even sterile, working conditions, and that’s independent of their industry. Creating the tools and surfaces required to meet this demand will fall on factories and robotic, or automated, machining.

In turn, this will require innovation to work with materials that are conducive to that sterile environment – which poses a challenge to manufacturers and their robotic factory lines. [Read more…] about Adapting Robotic Production Lines for a Titanium-Focused Economy

ABB to deliver ‘multiple’ robotic systems to large vehicle maker Scania’s highly automated battery assembly plant

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ABB has entered into an agreement with Scania, one of world’s largest truck and bus manufacturers, to provide “a comprehensive range of robotic solutions” for Scania’s new highly automated battery assembly plant in Sweden.

The new facility will be a key milestone on Scania’s journey towards the electrification of heavy vehicles. Scania will invest more than SEK 1 billion ($108 million) in the facility over several years and the new Södertälje plant is expected to be fully operational by 2023.

Joerg Reger, managing director of ABB Robotics’ automotive business line, says: “We are delighted to work with one of our longest-standing clients to help deliver their electrification roadmap. [Read more…] about ABB to deliver ‘multiple’ robotic systems to large vehicle maker Scania’s highly automated battery assembly plant

Humans and robots find synergy working at Hyundai Card factory

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When you think of robots, what comes to mind? Big factory machinery or humanoids from a science fiction movie?

At the Hyundai Card headquarters located in the finance center of Seoul, employees and robots work together to create synergy. As a leading financial technology company, Hyundai Card has continuously increased robots within the work place. [Read more…] about Humans and robots find synergy working at Hyundai Card factory

Kuka to build smart factory for digital construction company Admares

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Industrial automation giant Kuka is to build a smart factory for digital construction company Admares.

The two companies say the project will “revolutionize the construction of buildings”.

Admares is said to be “the world’s leading provider of alternative real estate and pioneering construction methods”. And the company is pursuing the vision of future-oriented smart factories. [Read more…] about Kuka to build smart factory for digital construction company Admares

What are smart factories? 7 misconceptions and a definition

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By Sharmila Annaswamy, IoT Analytics

IoT Analytics, a provider of market insights and competitive intelligence for the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0, has published a 163-page Smart Factories Insights Report 2021 discovering 80 smart factories, portraying 10 of them in detail, and highlighting commonalities and best-practices.

Our analysis of these also uncovered some common misconceptions about what it takes to realize a smart factory. [Read more…] about What are smart factories? 7 misconceptions and a definition

Bright Machines introduces Brightware Studio to ‘liberate factory automation’

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Bright Machines, a provider of software for intelligent, software-defined manufacturing, has launched its Brightware Studio, a new software offering that the company says “liberates manufacturers from the constraints of traditional factory automation and introduces a new self-service capability that enables flexible automation at greater speed and lower cost”.

Brightware Studio provides additional functionality to the Bright Machines Microfactory – the company’s flagship solution which combines intelligent software and modular building blocks to automate repetitive assembly and inspection tasks.

Based on a modern, low/no code workflow, Brightware Studio is operated using an intuitive user interface, giving production line operators and technicians the ability to easily program, run, analyze and debug the assembly process on the factory floor. [Read more…] about Bright Machines introduces Brightware Studio to ‘liberate factory automation’

Unikie and Valmet implement automated parking solution at factory

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Finnish technology company Unikie and the automotive service provider Valmet Automotive are testing and validating an automated parking solution at a factory.

The two companies say the “Automated Factory Parking” technology, developed by Unikie, is being assessed in a “business-critical factory environment”, and is an important step in taking the new technology to the production stage.

Describing it as an “innovative logistics solution”, the technology is being applied at Valmet’s car plant site in Uusikaupunki, Finland. [Read more…] about Unikie and Valmet implement automated parking solution at factory

IDS unveils new camera models for special requirements in factory automation

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IDS Imaging Development Systems has unveiled new industrial camera models for special requirements in factory automation. The uEye FA camera series integrates new sensors – the 12 and 20 MP Sony Starvis and 5 MP polarisation sensor.

uEye FA industrial cameras are particularly robust and therefore ideally suited for demanding environmental conditions, for example in factory automation. Starting in August, IDS will offer three new sensors in the family.

The 12 MP (IMX226) and 20.44 MP (IMX183) Sony sensors are true high-performers with high resolution and low noise. For special requirements, the company will also integrate the 5 MP polarisation sensor IMX250MZR. [Read more…] about IDS unveils new camera models for special requirements in factory automation

IDS introduces AI-complete industrial vision solution: ‘Even more functions thanks to free upgrade’

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The recently released software update for the IDS NXT platform provides users of the all-in-one AI solution IDS NXT ocean with many new features.

It extends the system’s AI capabilities to include object detection, offers turnkey solutions with vision apps and, with a new development environment, ensures that users can program their own image processing tasks and execute them as vision apps on their cameras.

Using OPC UA, AI-based image processing can also be integrated directly into factory automation without writing a single line of code. The update is free and can be used with all IDS NXT cameras. [Read more…] about IDS introduces AI-complete industrial vision solution: ‘Even more functions thanks to free upgrade’

Vention and OnRobot partner to offer ‘one-stop shop’ for cobot applications to manufacturers

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Vention, an online software application that offers manufacturing capabilities, is partnering with OnRobot, which makes tools for collaborative applications.

This partnership combines Vention’s online-first manufacturing automation platform with OnRobot’s library of plug-and-play end-of-arm tools to accelerate the design and deployment of end-to-end cobot applications.

Vention’s MAP provides users with the engineering software and modular hardware they need to design, automate, order, and deploy factory equipment in a single digital environment. [Read more…] about Vention and OnRobot partner to offer ‘one-stop shop’ for cobot applications to manufacturers