Robotics & Automation News

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Walmart installs drinks-making robot from Richtech Robotics

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Richtech Robotics, a Nevada-based provider of AI-driven service robots, has installed its advanced robotic beverage system, ADAM, at a One Kitchen in a Rockford, Illinois Walmart.

This milestone marks the second installation as part of a planned rollout across 240 One Kitchen locations in the US.

One Kitchen restaurants feature multiple national and local brands using a single kitchen. The Rockford Walmart will also have a Richtech Robotics’ Matradee L and DUST-E S installed. [Read more…] about Walmart installs drinks-making robot from Richtech Robotics

Wieland unveils $500 million modernization and expansion project in Illinois

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Wieland, a global supplier of high-quality copper and copper alloy solutions, says it plans to make a “landmark $500 million capital investment” to re-equip, expand, and modernize its facility located in East Alton, Illinois.

The investment is subject to the approval of state and local incentives.

The comprehensive expansion project intended in East Alton, signifies Wieland’s commitment to technological advancement, long-term sustainability, and its extensive and valued customer base in North America. [Read more…] about Wieland unveils $500 million modernization and expansion project in Illinois

Premier Design + Build breaks ground to expand manufacturing facility for Sumitomo

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Premier Design + Build Group has broken ground on a building expansion project for Sumitomo Drive Technologies in Glendale Heights, Illinois.

The work is designed to meet the evolving needs of the client, whose Midwest-manufactured products are in high demand from customers across a range of industries.

The company’s Glendale Heights location is used for light manufacturing of gearmotors, also known as “speed reducers”. Gearmotors are designed to regulate the speed at which motors run to match the speed needed for a customer’s application. [Read more…] about Premier Design + Build breaks ground to expand manufacturing facility for Sumitomo

mHUB investing $50 million to build ‘largest independent manufacturing center in America’

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Historic 80,000 sq ft facility in Chicago Near West Side Opportunity Zone will expand to make mHUB the ‘largest independent manufacturing center in US’

Manufacturing and “hardtech” innovation center, mHUB, is investing $50 million in the acquisition and build-out of a historic manufacturing facility within Chicago’s Kinzie Industrial Corridor on the city’s Near West Side.

The building is located within a designated Opportunity Zone and planned manufacturing district on a 2-acre site that will increase mHUB’s prototyping and testing facilities and office and convening spaces to become the largest independent manufacturing innovation center in the country.

Launched in 2017, mHUB has supported over 500+ startups and 200 manufacturers from all over the world that have created 5,000+ jobs and generated over $2.6 billion of economic activity. [Read more…] about mHUB investing $50 million to build ‘largest independent manufacturing center in America’

Formic supplies 58-year-old family-run factory Compact Industries with its first robotic system

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Formic, a supplier of automation technology on a pay-as-you-go basis, has supplied 58-year-old family-run factory Compact Industries with its first robotic system.

Located in St Charles, Illinois, Compact faced challenges of a shrinking labor pool, high worker turnover, and supply and wage inflation; struggled to meet the increasing demands of the Fortune 500 companies it serves.

Formic’s robots-as-a-service model activated a cobot within hours of delivery, cut costs on hiring and re-training temporary workers, and enhanced safety. [Read more…] about Formic supplies 58-year-old family-run factory Compact Industries with its first robotic system

Wynright aims to double sales after opening new $26 million manufacturing facility

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Wynright, a wholly-owned subsidiary of material handling giant Daifuku, says it aims to double sales after it opens its new $26 million manufacturing facility at the end of this year.

Wynright plans to expand its North American US manufacturing capabilities in the Greater Chicago area. The company will consolidate its existing factories in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, and Oak Lawn, Illinois into a new, larger facility in Hobart, Indiana, in phases, by the end of December 2019.

In line with the completion of the new factory, the existing factories in Elk Grove and Oak Lawn in Illinois will close. Daifuku Wynright has offered all employees at both sites the opportunity to continue with the company at the new facility. More than 80 percent of current employees have confirmed their intention to do so. [Read more…] about Wynright aims to double sales after opening new $26 million manufacturing facility

UTC begins work on hybrid electric aeroplane

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United Technologies (UTC) has recently launched the advanced projects group within the company, which moves at speed to build and pilot ambitious product and service demonstrators.

The group’s first product demonstrator is a hybrid-electric X-plane under the project name, Project 804.

The number “804” represents the straight-line mileage between the Pratt & Whitney facility in Longueuil, Québec, and the Collins Aerospace facility in Rockford, Illinois.

[Read more…] about UTC begins work on hybrid electric aeroplane