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German engineering companies losing massive market share due to subtle trade barriers

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German engineering companies are losing massive market share due to trade barriers around the world, according to a new report.

Globally its most successful sector, and represented by industry association VDMA, Germany’s engineering companies say they have lost between 70 and 100 percent of export markets in some countries.

The VDMA blames “egoism” and a climate of protectionism, according to Die Welt, which notes that subtle instruments such as localization initiatives and regulations, as well as the traditional blunt ones such as tariffs and subsidies, are being used to obligate companies to avoid buying from overseas machine builders. [Read more…] about German engineering companies losing massive market share due to subtle trade barriers

Hyundai Robotics establishes Europe office to expand robot business

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Hyundai Robotics has established a new Europe office in Ismaning, Germany.

Germany occupies about 37 percent of the robot demand in Europe and it has an advantageous location because it is close to four countries in Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, Spain) with an “overwhelming robot demand” compared to other regions.

The decision to establish an office in Germany was also based on convenient transportation to Czechia and Slovakia, where the first and second vendors of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors are located. [Read more…] about Hyundai Robotics establishes Europe office to expand robot business

Robots provide opportunities for restart after coronavirus pandemic, say industry leaders

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Robots provide opportunities for a restart of the economy after the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to industry leaders surveyed by Automatica, one of the largest industrial automation trade shows in the world.

Messe Munchen, which owns Automatica, says it did a survey and found the following:

  • 84 percent of decision-makers expect more robot automation in German SMEs;
  • 77 percent of decision-makers rely on mobile robotics to convert production quickly; and
  • 76 percent of employees in SMEs want robotics training.

Even before the corona pandemic, the manufacturing industry in Germany was highly automated according to figures from the International Federation of Robotics and ranked third in robot density worldwide behind Singapore and South Korea. [Read more…] about Robots provide opportunities for restart after coronavirus pandemic, say industry leaders

Alstom considers the implications of its first order for battery trains

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In February 2020, Alstom received an order for 11 battery powered regional trains for the Zweckverband Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen in Germany.

These are the first battery trains to be ordered from Alstom.

Offering both hydrogen and battery is an important milestone for the Alstom, as it expands its role in the emission-free mobility market. [Read more…] about Alstom considers the implications of its first order for battery trains

ASTI Mobile Robotics wins European Technology Award for automation

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ASTI Mobile Robotics has won the “European Technology Award” in the category of “Automation”.

The European Awards are organised by the Professional and Business Excellence Institute and were presented in a ceremony at the Ritz Hotel in Paris recently.

The CEO of the company, Verónica Pascual, together with Jean-Michel Beghin, president of Keensight Capital, and Jean-Louis Menu, ASTI MR France country manager, collected the award which consolidates ASTI as a leader in mobile robotics and automation within the European market. [Read more…] about ASTI Mobile Robotics wins European Technology Award for automation

Autoware aims to make advanced AI available to small manufacturers

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Autoware says it aims to make advanced AI and related technologies available to small- and medium-sized enterprises that would otherwise not be able to afford or implement it.

The EU-funded project calls its offering “cognitive manufacturing”, which includes the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies.

Basicaly, Autoware is a research and development project that helps manufacturing SMEs to integrate new digital technologies in their production processes. [Read more…] about Autoware aims to make advanced AI available to small manufacturers

Kassow Robots adds three ports to its collaborative robots for end of arm tools

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Kassow Robots, a startup which launched a new collaborative robot last year, has adding ports into its machines to provide integration with end-of-arm tools.

The Danish robot manufacturer, which develops and produces its 7-axis collaborative robots in Copenhagen, says the ports provide “easy connection of end-of-arm tool directly to a Kassow Robot without cable on the outside of the robot”.

Dieter Pletscher, head of sales at Kassow Robots, says: “All our cobots have three ports with various I/Os and power supply signals. Two of the ports are for digital or analogue input/output. [Read more…] about Kassow Robots adds three ports to its collaborative robots for end of arm tools

Volkswagen initiates system changeover to e-mobility as production of the ID.3 starts

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Volkswagen has initiated a system changeover to electric mobility as production of the ID.3 starts in Zwickau

Volkswagen’s electric offensive is picking up speed: This months sees the official start of series production of the ID.3.

The first car in the new generation of electric vehicles (EVs) – a white ID.3 – rolled off the assembly line watched by Federal Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel and Group CEO Dr Herbert Diess.

The Volkswagen Group aims to sell some 22 million EVs worldwide by 2028, helping EVs make the breakthrough to the mainstream. [Read more…] about Volkswagen initiates system changeover to e-mobility as production of the ID.3 starts

Mobile Industrial Robots opens new office in Germany

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Mobile Industrial Robots, a supplier of warehouse automation technologies, has opened a new office in Frankfurt, Germany. 

The company says Germany and the Benelux countries are “very important markets with a huge potential for MiR”, so the opening of its Frankfurt office today is also important.

Distributors from the DACH region – Germany, Austria and Switzerland – came to celebrate opening of MiR’s Frankfurt office. [Read more…] about Mobile Industrial Robots opens new office in Germany

Metalworking event EMO opens amid news of greater investment

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One of Germany’s leading metal-working events, EMO, has opened today amid news of greater investment in the sector, as well as a greater emphasis on “smart” technologies – which usually refers to higher levels of automation and digitalisation. 

Organisers claim EMO to be “the world’s leading metalworking trade fair”, and had a line-up of prominent figures for the launch, including:

  • Andreas Scheuer, Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure;
  • Lower Saxony’s First Minister Stephan Weil;
  • Member of the Board of Management of Deutsche Telekom Adel Al-Saleh;
  • Cecimo President Dr Roland Feichtl; and
  • EMO General Commissioner Carl Martin Welcker.

EMO lasts for six days, and is located in the northern German city of Hannover. [Read more…] about Metalworking event EMO opens amid news of greater investment