Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

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Ant Group prepares for ‘biggest IPO in history’

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Ant Group, the online payments provider that could be described as the Asian equivalent of PayPal, is preparing for what some are predicting will be the biggest initial public offering in history.

Parent company Alibaba Group is set to float the company on the Hong Kong Stock exchange early next month, according to Reuters.

Ant’s Alipay app has more than 700 million users across Asia and processed $17 trillion in transactions in the 12 months to June this year, reports Bloomberg. [Read more…] about Ant Group prepares for ‘biggest IPO in history’

German citizens to be given €1,200 a month for doing nothing

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German citizens are to be given €1,200 a month, or about $1,400, for doing nothing in an experiment to evaluate the effects of a concept called “universal basic income”.

Universal Basic Income, or UBI, is an idea that has been around for many years, and has many supporters and advocacy groups around the world, but was never really taken seriously in the past.

The notion of the government giving everyone in society a fixed regular amount of money whether they work or not sounds like a communist plot to take over the world. [Read more…] about German citizens to be given €1,200 a month for doing nothing

ThyssenKrupp sells its elevator business for more than $17 billion

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Giant industrial conglomerate ThyssenKrupp says it has successfully completed the sale of its elevator business, marking a further important milestone in the transformation of the company.

The transaction closed after all the responsible authorities had approved the sale to a bidding consortium led by Advent International and Cinven.

ThyssenKrupp had reached an agreement with the consortium on the purchase of the elevator business earlier this year. With the closing, the company has received the contractually agreed purchase price, which was reported to be $17.2 billion. [Read more…] about ThyssenKrupp sells its elevator business for more than $17 billion

Japanese government to develop common standards for robots in workplaces

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The Japanese government is planning to develop common standards for robots in workplaces such as offices, shops and other environments where they would be working with humans, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.

The country’s industry ministry will lead the initiative and will establish a public-private partnership under the working name Robot Revolution & Industrial IoT Initiative, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.

The group will define common telecommunications standards as well as produce guidelines on creating object shapes that are easier for robots to grip, pick up, hold, move and so on. [Read more…] about Japanese government to develop common standards for robots in workplaces

ifm and CloudRail agree strategic partnership to provide IIoT solutions

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Sensor and automation specialist ifm and the IIoT expert CloudRail have agreed a strategic partnership to pool their skills to improve their positions on the strongly growing market for professional IIoT and cloud solutions. (See video below.)

Industry 4.0, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) or digitisation – there are many terms to describe the inexorable trend of networking machines, processes and people. What they all have in common is that they refer to interdisciplinary processes.

Felix Kollmar, CEO of CloudRail, says: “The IIoT has long ago ceased to be an exclusive topic of operation technology (OT).” [Read more…] about ifm and CloudRail agree strategic partnership to provide IIoT solutions

HRG Robotics holds its first startup competition

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HRG Robotics has held its first startup competition, attracting more than 50 investment and technology companies and organisations.

The company says it wants to provide a platform to support innovation and startups.

HRG says startup competitions help connect companies of “great potential” within HRG system with top venture capitalists. [Read more…] about HRG Robotics holds its first startup competition

Country Garden builds ‘world’s first’ robot restaurant in China

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Country Garden says it has built what it claims is “the world’s first-ever robot restaurant complex” in Guangdong, China.

The modern eaterie was opened on June 22 by Qianxi Robot Catering Group, a subsidiary of Country Garden. The location is Shunde, a city in China’s Guangdong province.

Powered by the latest in advanced technologies, the restaurant has separate sections for Chinese food, hot pot and fast food and features a wide selection of dishes, each one of which is delivered to the waiting diner within seconds. [Read more…] about Country Garden builds ‘world’s first’ robot restaurant in China

Eni to co-host Automa 2020 and to show ‘most powerful supercomputer in the world’

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An Italian major oil and gas company and BGS Group have recently announced their partnership in the run-up to Automa 2020 – Automation and Digitalization Congress that will be held in Italy, Milan, on October 19-20.

Regina Chislova, project director of Automa 2020, says: “Eni middle and senior management have been attending the congresses organized by BGS Group for a few consecutive years, flying to different European countries.

“This year we bring Automa to Eni’s home and, therefore, decided that it will be a mutually beneficial partnership.” [Read more…] about Eni to co-host Automa 2020 and to show ‘most powerful supercomputer in the world’

Mitsubishi and NTT take 30 per cent stake in HERE Technologies

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HERE Technologies says Mitsubishi Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation have completed their joint acquisition of a 30 per cent ownership stake in the company, after receiving regulatory approvals.

HERE welcomes Mitsubishi and NTT as strategic investors. The two companies have co-invested in HERE via their recently established, jointly owned holding company COCO Tech Holding in the Netherlands.

As a result, HERE now has nine direct and indirect shareholders: Audi, Bosch, BMW Group, Continental, Intel Capital, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, NTT and Pioneer.​ [Read more…] about Mitsubishi and NTT take 30 per cent stake in HERE Technologies

Volkswagen invests €450 million in battery manufacturing joint venture with Northvolt

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Volkswagen is to construct buildings and infrastructure for the battery cell factory it has agreed to build with Northvolt. The automotive giant has made initial investment of some €450 million.

The joint venture between Volkswagen Group and the Swedish battery producer Northvolt is gaining further momentum.

It has been decided that Volkswagen itself will erect the buildings and infrastructure for the joint venture’s “Northvolt Zwei” factory that is to produce lithium-ion battery cells, in order to leverage synergies at the Salzgitter site – based on the existing Center of Excellence for Battery Cells. [Read more…] about Volkswagen invests €450 million in battery manufacturing joint venture with Northvolt

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