Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

kuka

China-US trade dispute causing industrial robot makers to forecast lower earnings

by

The ongoing trade dispute between China and the US has caused three of the world’s largest industrial robot makers to lower their earnings forecasts, according to a report on Nikkei.

Yaskawa, Kuka, and Fanuc have all “downgraded their full-year earnings forecasts”, reports Nikkei.

Fanuc predicts net profit of $1.26 billion for the year ending March 2019, which is approximately $26 million lower than its previous forecast.  [Read more…] about China-US trade dispute causing industrial robot makers to forecast lower earnings

Kuka at EuroBLECH 2018: robot-based solutions for sheet-metal working

by

EuroBLECH, where experts and potential customers from the world of sheet-metal working come together, is being held from 23 to 26 October in Hannover, Germany, and Kuka will present its tailored automation solutions for different steps in the process chain there.

From individual robots to preconfigured Kuka “ready2_use” packages and standard cells for laser applications: Kuka is able to offer solutions for the various steps in the sheet-metal working process chain.

Visitors to EuroBLECH 2018 will be able to see two new Kuka ready2_use solutions for the robotic linking of press lines.

[Read more…] about Kuka at EuroBLECH 2018: robot-based solutions for sheet-metal working

Kuka to partner with Canadian university to ‘advance robotics knowledge’

by

Partnership to focus on industrial applications of the latest Industry 4.0 robotics systems

Humber College and Kuka Canada are entering into a five-year partnership agreement focused on bringing the latest robotics technology to Humber and working together on robotics systems integration applications.

Kuka Canada will make significant investments in robotic equipment, advanced software and contribute to curriculum development for Humber, with financial contributions each year for five years.

Humber will receive two Industry 4.0 ready collaborative robots as part of the partnership. These will complement the college’s extensive collection of robotic technology and will be housed within Humber’s Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation, the college’s hub for bringing industry and education together.  [Read more…] about Kuka to partner with Canadian university to ‘advance robotics knowledge’

Kuka launches ‘smart factory as a service’ with partners

by

Industrial robot giant Kuka is partnering with two other companies to offer what it describes as a “SmartFactory as a Service”. 

The two other companies are insurance giant Munich Re and MHP, which is a process supplier and a subsidiary of Porsche, the automotive company.

Kuka says the “revolutionary co-operation opens the door for new ideas”.  [Read more…] about Kuka launches ‘smart factory as a service’ with partners

Kuka generates $1.8 billion in revenues in first half of 2018

by

Kuka has published an interim report of its financial results for the first half of 2018, and sales revenues are just over $1.8 billion.

This is less than the sales revenue Kuka generated in the first half of last year, which was $2 billion, and that seems to be the case for orders received and orders backlog – all slight below figures from last year’s first half.

Kuka’s order backlog has risen to €2.3 billion as at June 30, 2018. The order backlog for the first half of 2017 was €2.2 billion.  [Read more…] about Kuka generates $1.8 billion in revenues in first half of 2018

Swisslog wins multimillion-dollar order from Spritzer in Malaysia

by

Swisslog, a warehouse automation provider and part of the Kuka Group, has won “a major order” from Spritzer, known as the manufacturer of Malaysia’s best-selling natural mineral water.

The company says the order value is in the “double-digit million euro range” and was booked in the second quarter of 2018.

The bottled water products maker Spritzer has allocated €13.8 million to expand its warehousing facilities and production capacity.  [Read more…] about Swisslog wins multimillion-dollar order from Spritzer in Malaysia

Human-robot collaboration combines human and robot strengths, says Schunk

by

Schunk is one of the leading suppliers of components to industrial robotic arm manufacturers and other industrial machinery makers. The company held an open day recently in which it outlined its vision of human-robot collaboration, or collaborative robotics, which the company says combines human and robot strengths. 

Schunk starts by asking, and then seeking to answer, the following questions:

  • How can human-robot collaboration be used in everyday production?
  • What safety concepts are there?
  • How can a successful start be made?

These and other concerns were the focus of the second Schunk user and technology dialog on the topic of “Successfully introducing human-robot collaboration in the company”.  [Read more…] about Human-robot collaboration combines human and robot strengths, says Schunk

Kuka wins multimillion-dollar automotive contract with GAC in China

by

Kuka has received an order to supply industrial robots to Chinese automotive manufacturer GAC NE, subsidiary of GAC Group.

The order value lies in the “high double-digit million euro range”, says Kuka, and was booked in the second quarter of 2018.

The automotive manufacturer GAC Group is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, and is a Fortune “Global 500” company.  [Read more…] about Kuka wins multimillion-dollar automotive contract with GAC in China

Kuka demonstrates ‘flexible matrix production’ system based on robotic work cells and automated guided vehicles

by

Industrial automation specialist Kuka has demonstrated what calls its “flexible matrix production” system, which is primarily aimed at automotive manufacturing sectors.

Kuka says the system is designed to help prepare manufacturers for “the production of tomorrow”.

The versatile and flexible matrix system is becoming reality, says Kuka.  [Read more…] about Kuka demonstrates ‘flexible matrix production’ system based on robotic work cells and automated guided vehicles

Swisslog and Kuka join forces to strengthen CarryPick

by

The CarryPick automated storage and order fulfillment system’s new KMP600 AGV was developed with close collaboration between Kuka and Swisslog, member of the Kuka Group.

Synergies have allowed for a number of technical enhancements that make the AGV suitable for use in multiple industries. The CarryPick solution will be globally supported as part of the Kuka portfolio.

Combining the research and development power of Swisslog and Kuka has resulted in a new CarryPick solution that will deliver the highest performance and reliability through a fully integrated system that includes not only the vehicle but the system software, says the company.

[Read more…] about Swisslog and Kuka join forces to strengthen CarryPick