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uShip raises $25 million to fund logistics automation plan

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uship

uShip, the online shipping marketplace and freight automation software provider, has closed a $25 million Series D round led by DB Schenker, one of the world’s largest logistics companies and an existing uShip partner.

DB Schenker’s funding comes on the heels of unprecedented investment in logistics and supply chain technology.

Since 2015, top pure-play logistics corporations have made 26 investments and/or acquisitions – totalling 13 each year – while logistics tech startups were on pace to raise $5 billion through over 300 deals in 2016, according to CB Insights.  [Read more…] about uShip raises $25 million to fund logistics automation plan

US President Donald Trump orders reduction of manufacturing and construction bureaucracy

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Newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump has signed an order aimed at reducing the amount of bureaucracy involved in getting permissions and licences in the manufacturing and construction sectors. 

Trump got elected partly on a platform to rejuvenate manufacturing and industry – or his “make it in America” mantra – and these first few days have seen some big changes proposed.

The order he signed is designed to streamline the administrative process, which Trump said was “incredibly cumbersome, long, horrible”.  [Read more…] about US President Donald Trump orders reduction of manufacturing and construction bureaucracy

Siemens to invest $133 million in Canadian operations

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siemens and seneca college canada
Last year, Seneca College and Siemens Canada opened what they said was Ontario’s first Mechatronics Simulation and Demonstration Centre

Siemens plans to invest $110.6 million in research and development activities at its plant in Dorval, Canada to design and make improvements to aero-derivative gas turbines.

These turbines are used for, among other things, the production of electricity, and serve as a backup source in the event that the existing network is unable to meet the demand.

The engineering company also plans to invest $22 million to launch a platform of expertise related to Industry 4.0 and the implementation of a training system integrated into the workplace.  [Read more…] about Siemens to invest $133 million in Canadian operations

ABB to invest $90 million in new research centre in Canada

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abb montreal

Engineering giant ABB is to invest another $90 million into a research and development centre in Canada. 

The Swiss company, which also is one of the world’s biggest industrial robot manufacturers, is to establish its new North American research and development facility in Montréal.

As a result of the investment, Canadians will develop next-generation solutions for electric vehicles, says the government in a statement. [Read more…] about ABB to invest $90 million in new research centre in Canada

General Motors to invest an extra $1 billion in US manufacturing

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gm building

General Motors says it will invest an additional $1 billion into its manufacturing operations in the US, adding to the $2.9 billion of investment it announced last year. 

And in a what may have been an extra comment aimed at President-elect Donald Trump, GM says it has invested a total of $21 billion in its US manufacturing operations since 2009.

Like virtually all other automakers and large manufacturing companies, such as Apple, GM has been the target of some criticism from Trump, who wants to fulfil his campaign promise to bring back manufacturing jobs to the US.  [Read more…] about General Motors to invest an extra $1 billion in US manufacturing

Reassuringly expensive gear: Overcoming the challenges of the packaging industry

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Graham Mackrell, managing director of precision gearing specialist Harmonic Drive UK, explains actuators, boots and socioeconomic unfairness 

As a famous fictional policeman once said, “The reason that the rich were so rich… was because they managed to spend less money”. 

What he meant was that although the rich may buy more expensive things, they buy products that will last longer and are therefore a better investment.

Although the policeman in question was referring to boots at the time, the same is true of cars, phones, and even servo actuators used in packaging machines.  [Read more…] about Reassuringly expensive gear: Overcoming the challenges of the packaging industry

Formlabs raises $35 million in funding round led by Foundry Group and Autodesk

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formlabs-setup

Formlabs, the designer and manufacturer of 3D printing systems, has raised $35 million in Series B funding from Foundry Group and Autodesk, and says it plans to collaborate strategically with Autodesk.

The latest investment round, led by Foundry Group, includes participation from existing investors DFJ Growth, Pitango Venture Capital, and Cagni Ventures, bringing Formlabs’ total investment to date to $55 million.

The new investment will enable Formlabs to scale its operations to meet growing customer demand worldwide, grow research and development efforts, and to extend Formlabs’ reach in the market and ecosystem.  [Read more…] about Formlabs raises $35 million in funding round led by Foundry Group and Autodesk

Investing in China: A quick step into the robotics and automation revolution

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shanghai
Shanghai at night. Picture credit: Pixabay

China’s leaders are instituting a new industrial revolution with robotics at the centre, and are inviting investors from outside countries. But what’s it like to enter the dragon with your money? In this article, China-based investment expert Edward Tse, CEO of Gao Feng, outlines some things to consider

Broadly speaking, there are now three distinct groups of multinational companies (MNCs) in China we can classify according to their market views.

The first group includes MNCs who have come to China, made investments and being unsuccessful, decided that China is not their cup of tea. They generally found it difficult to be profitable and some have withdrawn from China.

The second group of companies are those operating in sectors with overcapacity – often quite significant ones – in China. These companies are typically in a wait-and-see mode, waiting to see if and when the overcapacity may be managed away.

The final group of companies are those who have found China to be a major, and often highly profitable, market. For them, China is one of their largest, if not the largest market in the world.  [Read more…] about Investing in China: A quick step into the robotics and automation revolution

Caterpillar, GE and Microsoft invest in Sarcos Robotics exoskeleton

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sarcos guardian exoskeleton

Sarcos Robotics says its Guardian exoskeleton (pictured) will be capable of lifting hundreds of pounds when it is commercially available

Sarcos Robotics, a developer of dexterous industrial robots for use in unstructured environments, has secured $10.5 million in funding from a group of top-tier strategic investors including Caterpillar Ventures, GE Ventures, and Microsoft.

Additionally, Cottonwood Technology Fund and two other private investment firms, together with the company’s three co-founders, Ben Wolff, Dr Fraser Smith and Dr Marc Olivier, invested in the financing round.

The company says the infusion of capital will be used to expand the Sarcos team and to accelerate the production and deployment of Sarcos’ Guardian line of robots that are significantly reducing the risk of injury and the cost of performing many of the world’s most dangerous and difficult tasks.  [Read more…] about Caterpillar, GE and Microsoft invest in Sarcos Robotics exoskeleton

Investing in robotics and automation – part one

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investment
Picture credit: Flickr

Beginning a new series of articles about investing in robotics and automation, Brian Gahsman, managing partner and chief investment officer at GBSfunds.com, explains how his company, Gahsman Branton, approaches the market 

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Source: Gahsman Branton 

Check out realtime stock prices for companies in the robotics, automation and relating computing sectors

Robotics and Automation News: Tell us about GBS Funds and what its aims are. Tell us about the composite and investment fund for the “robotics revolution” as you call it.

Brian Gahsman: GBS Funds is an investment management company which was started by Rob Branton and myself this year. We are launching our first fund, the GBS Global Innovations Fund on October 1st 2016.

The fund’s main focus is investing in companies worldwide which play a critical role in the global robotics and automation revolution. The strategy will also invest in game changing innovations across other diverse industries and sectors.

In early 2014 I began to research the technological evolution of global robotics and automation comparative to capacity and demand which became a sub strategy of a previous fund that I co-managed.  [Read more…] about Investing in robotics and automation – part one