Where Innovation Meets Imagination
There’s always been a lot of hype surrounding robotics and automation, and it’s been the subject of many a classic work of science fiction.
What’s fascinating about sci-fi is that often what is fiction today ends up being fact of life tomorrow.
Whatever the hype, however, this year is likely to be an extremely important year for the robotics and automation industry. [Read more…] about After the hype of 2017, the real business could be done in 2018
Industrial robotics giant ABB has opened what is said to be the “first-ever” robotics centre in Romania, according to local media.
BusinessReview.eu, an English-language Romanian website, says the new robotics facility is a public-private partnership between ABB and the Polytechnic University in Bucharest.
The centre will offer advanced training in robotics and industrial automation to future engineers and provide support to ABB customers in the future. [Read more…] about ABB opens first-ever robotics training centre in Romania
Fanuc has produced half a million robots, and plans to nearly double its robot production capacity in 2018
Fanuc, the world’s leading supplier of robotics, CNC and factory automation has announced the production of its 500,000th robot.
Mike Cicco, president and CEO, Fanuc America, says: “Automation and robotics are key drivers of manufacturing competitiveness.
“More companies are using automation to overcome inefficiencies, lower costs, increase productivity, and gain market share. [Read more…] about Fanuc marks production of 500,000th industrial robot
Japan is the world’s predominant industrial robot manufacturer, according to new analysis by the International Federation of Robotics.
The production capacity of the Japanese suppliers reached 153,000 units in 2016 – the highest level ever recorded, says the IFR.
“Today, Japan’s manufacturers deliver 52 percent of the global supply,” adds the IFR. [Read more…] about Japan responsible for robots taking over the world, says IFR
Overactive Chinese manufacturers of smartphones and computers have driven Yaskawa to the point of increasing production capacity by 25 per cent.
Yaskawa says it will increase its monthly output from its current 1,200 units per month to 1,500 units per month to meet frenetically increasing demand from Chinese electronics manufacturers, according to a report on Nikkei.
The increase in capacity will be achieved at Yaskawa’s plant in Jiangsu Province, which is set for expansion towards the end of next year. [Read more…] about Yaskawa to increase production capacity by 25 per cent in China
ABB says it will feature “a broad range of advanced robotic welding technology designed to enhance safety, quality and productivity” at FabTech 2017
Metal Fabricators of all sizes are adopting robotic automation to maximize throughput, reduce costs and remove people from repetitive tasks and challenging environments.
The exhibit highlights the elevated level of collaboration, digitalization and simplification unique to ABB, which helps achieve these goals while providing fabricators the flexibility to efficiently adapt production as manufacturing continues to trend from mass production to mass customization.
Collaboration comes in the form of YuMi, ABB’s dual-arm collaborative robot that can operate very closely with humans due to its “inherently safe construction”, according to ABB, and is specifically designed to meet the flexible and agile production needs of small parts assembly and material handling applications. [Read more…] about ABB to showcase ‘broad range’ of welding technologies at FabTech 2017
The world’s largest industrial robot manufacturer, Fanuc, says its profits have increased by more than 40 per cent as a result of strong demand from China, according to a report on Nikkei.
The company is currently reporting its financial performance for the six-month period up to September.
It says its profits for the period were $750 million, which is more than a 42 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. [Read more…] about Fanuc reports more than 40 per cent increase in profits on strength of China sales
Apple suppliers “continue to struggle with low yield rate” because the smartphone giant is integrating advanced technologies, requiring investment in new and expensive manufacturing processes, which affect the suppliers’ profit margins, according to Nikkei.
Apple is planning to launch its $1,000-dollar iPhone X to consumers in the coming months, but the new device includes functions not found in other phones, which is requiring manufacturers to change their processes and invest in new equipment.
Among the features in Apple’s high-end iPhone X will be facial recognition and organic light-emitting diode screens, both of which are new technologies and not found in current Apple devices. [Read more…] about Apple manufacturing partners ‘struggle with low yield rate’
Yaskawa Electric says it has achieved a staggering 150 per cent growth in net profit for the period from April to September, compared with the same period last year, according to a report on Nikkei.
Nikkei says Yaskawa’s profits for the period were $184 million, beating its own previous records.
Yaskawa, which also owns the Motoman brand of industrial robot, says most of the growth was due to increased orders for automation equipment from China, Japan and the US. [Read more…] about Yaskawa Electric reports stunning 150 per cent more profits with robotics and automation leading the way
The Robotics Industries Association is partnering with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to create a new standards body for robotics and other relevant industries.
RIA is the main industrial robotics association in the US and was established in 1974.
OSHA and NIOSH are both government agencies – OSHA is under the Department of Labour, and NIOSH is under the Department of Health and Human Services. [Read more…] about RIA partners with OSHA and NIOSH to create unpronounceable robot group
