Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

labor

How Automation is Disrupting All Kinds of Manufacturing in 2020

by Leave a Comment

We are entering an era of smart factories and automated manufacturing. While many speculate it to be the end of manual labor as we know it, the evidence points in a different direction.

Industrial automation has ushered new ways that machines and human effort can collaborate to increase efficiency and drive down complexity.

This is especially true for the emerging automation technologies which, in the past few years, are disrupting all kinds of manufacturing. [Read more…] about How Automation is Disrupting All Kinds of Manufacturing in 2020

Dexai Robotics raises $5.5 million to develop commercial kitchen automation solutions

by Leave a Comment

Dexai Robotics, an artificial intelligence and robotics company focused on commercial kitchen automation, says it has raised $5.5 million in an oversubscribed seed round, led by Hyperplane Venture Capital.

New investors Rho Capital, Harlem Capital, Contour Venture Partners, and NextView Ventures also participated in this financing round. Vivjan Myrto, a managing partner at Hyperplane, joined Dexai’s board of directors.

The company will use the funding to expand its engineering, sales, and product teams, allowing it to serve new cuisines and fuel its growth in the foodservice space. [Read more…] about Dexai Robotics raises $5.5 million to develop commercial kitchen automation solutions

MWES develops robotic system to increase case packing speed

by Leave a Comment

With good labor getting harder to find and retain, Midwest Engineered Systems has found that automating the more redundant production processes has become a necessity.

Automating these tasks allows the transfer of valuable labor resources to more important tasks.

MWES’s robotic case packing solution does just that for bagged products that have previously proven difficult to automate. [Read more…] about MWES develops robotic system to increase case packing speed

Fanuc invests in Soft Robotics as startup raises $23 million in oversubscribed funding round

by Leave a Comment

Soft Robotics has raised $23 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding round.

The round was co-led by Calibrate Ventures and Material Impact and includes additional existing investors Honeywell, Hyperplane, Scale, Tekfen Ventures, and Yamaha.

With this round Soft Robotics also adds Fanuc, the world’s largest industrial robot manufacturer, as a new investor. [Read more…] about Fanuc invests in Soft Robotics as startup raises $23 million in oversubscribed funding round

Zebra Technologies unveils new robot for retail operations

by Leave a Comment

Zebra Technologies has introduced SmartSight, a robot for mass merchants, grocers, and supermarkets and hypermarkets.

The company is showcasing the new machine at NRF 2020, the retail technology show currently being held in Chicago, USA.

SmartSight leverages the computer vision, machine learning, workflow automation and robotic capabilities of Zebra’s EMA50 enterprise mobile automation system to accurately identify out-of-stock conditions, pricing inconsistencies and planogram issues on the shelf. [Read more…] about Zebra Technologies unveils new robot for retail operations

IAM Robotics to open new HQ and showroom in Pittsburgh

by Leave a Comment

IAM Robotics, inventor of an autonomous mobile manipulation robot, is opening a new, headquarters and showcase innovation center.

The new 30,000 square foot facility will be located in the emerging high tech area of Pittsburgh known as Robotics Row, a stretch of land that has become a hotbed for robotics and technology companies along the Allegheny River.

The IAM Robotics Showcase Innovation Center will feature a distribution center environment where visitors will experience the company’s high tech robotic labor system in action. [Read more…] about IAM Robotics to open new HQ and showroom in Pittsburgh

Can robots save the e-commerce holiday season?

by Leave a Comment

It’s getting close to Christmas and that means it’s time for e-commerce fulfillment managers to start getting worried about the availability of labor for the holiday season.

According to a recent article in Supply Chain Dive, “this year’s peak season promises additional challenges in recruiting new hires as the pool of available labor shrinks”.

As the article points out, the US unemployment rate hit a 50-year low in September 2019. [Read more…] about Can robots save the e-commerce holiday season?

Honeywell establishes robotics innovation hub for distribution centres

by

Honeywell has established an advanced technology center of excellence focused on innovating and developing artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision and advanced robotics for use across supply chains – calling it Honeywell Robotics.

Based in Pittsburgh, Honeywell Robotics will help shape the warehouse and distribution center of the future, particularly as companies look to automated solutions, software and robotics to deliver increased speed, accuracy and throughput in complex material handling environments.

Pieter Krynauw, president of Honeywell Intelligrated, says: “Honeywell has been at the forefront of warehouse automation technology for more than 25 years helping customers improve productivity and efficiency. [Read more…] about Honeywell establishes robotics innovation hub for distribution centres

Going ‘smart’ helps factories make 12 per cent gains, says new report

by

Implementing smart technologies has enabled factories make gains of up to 12 percent, according to an authoritative new report by Deloitte and the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation.

The areas in which the gains were achieved include: manufacturing output – an important US economic indicator; and factory utilization; and labor productivity.

Looking ahead, smart factory initiatives could lead manufacturers to experience labor productivity increases of 4 percent, which represents a three-fold improvement over the past decade’s average annual growth rate of 0.7 percent (2007-2018). [Read more…] about Going ‘smart’ helps factories make 12 per cent gains, says new report

US manufacturing output reaches ‘all-time high’

by

Manufacturing output in the US has reached an “all-time high”, signaling the industry’s strength, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.

For the past two years, manufacturers have been setting new records when it comes to manufacturing output, and through the first quarter of 2019, the industry has continued to reach new heights.

Four out of five manufacturers remain positive about their company’s outlook, according to the National Association of Manufacturers’ latest Outlook Survey, and new Bureau of Economic Analysis data find that manufacturers’ level of output hit an all-time high once again. [Read more…] about US manufacturing output reaches ‘all-time high’

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close