Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

machinery

ThyssenKrupp claims ‘breakthrough’ in digital transformation and connecting machinery ​

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ThyssenKrupp says it has achieved a breakthrough in the area of digital transformation and connecting machinery ​in industry.

ThyssenKrupp says it has reached a “milestone” for the digital transformation of industry and connecting the machinery of its materials services division through a new digital platform.

The company’s new internet of things platform is call Toii, or toii, as the company prefers to write it.  [Read more…] about ThyssenKrupp claims ‘breakthrough’ in digital transformation and connecting machinery ​

Got milk? How a Swiss company builds filling and packaging systems for milk, coffee and other products

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swiss can machine matic127TwinFP_01 crop
A piece of equipment manufactured by Swiss Can Machinery

Scaled technology and functioning interfaces are essential for Swiss Can Machinery, which is why the company’s filling and packaging systems have a modular design throughout, and why it uses a product program with a scaled structure for the drive technology. 

The filling and packaging systems at Swiss Can Machinery – which was established by brothers Marc and Michael Grabher – shows how this objective can be achieved.

The company turns to stainless steel motors for the actuators; for example, when these systems are used for filling and packaging pharmaceutical products.  [Read more…] about Got milk? How a Swiss company builds filling and packaging systems for milk, coffee and other products

Video: Dassault Systèmes to launch integrated new platform for 3D printing

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Dassault Systèmes is planning to launch an integrated 3D printing platform in the next few months, according to a senior executive at the company. 

In an interview with RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com, Philippe Bartissol, vice president, industrial equipment industry, Dassault Systèmes, says the the initiative will be announced in the next two months.

The initiative will “address the complete ecosystem of 3D printing”, says Bartissol, adding: “It will not be only one customer using our platform extensively.

“It will be several players from several fields jointly working on one platform, with payment possibilities and delivery possibilities as well.”  [Read more…] about Video: Dassault Systèmes to launch integrated new platform for 3D printing

Predictions for the future of manufacturing

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industrial trends

Martyn Williams, managing director of industrial software expert Copa-Data UK, examines three of the most prominent automation trends of 2017 and discusses how these trends are changing manufacturing operations

As manufacturing facilities incorporate greater levels of automation, the demand for new technologies continues to grow.

Recent years have seen several trends create a shift in the way the industry operates.  [Read more…] about Predictions for the future of manufacturing

Robots emerging as agricultural co-workers

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The technology is mature and ready for the field, say experts

Advanced engineering could be the solution for the sustainable intensification of agriculture, as technology for producing service robots reaches maturity.

Experts in robotics from University of Cambridge, University of Lincoln and Harper Adams University will be discussing the latest developments during Agri-Tech East’s Pollinator event on 11 October 2016.

So what exactly is a robot?  [Read more…] about Robots emerging as agricultural co-workers

Emerson drives streamline port crane application

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crane at the DB Port Szczecin container terminal

Measuring over 100m wide and over 60m high and with a lifting capacity of 45t, the port crane used for loading and unloading containers is one of the many items of equipment that have been modernised during the current year by Apator Control engineers.

The crane at the DB Port Szczecin container terminal has undergone a thorough electrical and mechanical refit.

As part of the electrical overhaul, Apator Control used systems from the company Control Techniques: Unidrive M AC and Mentor MP DC drives controlled by the Simatic S7 Programmable Logic Controller (PLC).  [Read more…] about Emerson drives streamline port crane application

Bosch combines Industrie 4.0 and Industrial Internet Consortium standards in ‘truly global approach’

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bosch automatic production assistant robot arm
At a Bosch plant in Germany, an associate works together with an automatic production assistant, or APAS. Its robot arm is furnished with a sensor skin that detects human operatives in the close vicinity. If someone comes too close, the assistant stops immediately, without touching the operative

Bosch has combined what it calls its ‘Industrie 4.0 platform’ with Industrial Internet Consortium standards for the first time, calling it ‘an international breakthrough for connected industry’

Connected industry is now becoming an international reality. In a new project, Bosch is working together with partners to combine the technical standards of Germany’s “Industrie 4.0” platform and of the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) for the first time. This combination of the two approaches allows the exchange of data between central areas of connected industry.

“Industry 4.0 is not so much a national as an international issue. Only a truly global approach – without competing company standards or differing national regulations – will allow it to develop to its full potential,” said Dr Werner Struth, a member of the Bosch management board, at the Bosch ConnectedWorld IoT conference in Berlin. [Read more…] about Bosch combines Industrie 4.0 and Industrial Internet Consortium standards in ‘truly global approach’

‘Ergonomic design saves time and money, and is less annoying’

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industrial ergonomic design

Robert Holloway, head of order fulfilment at industrial automation parts supplier European Automation discusses the importance of ergonomics for facilities using industrial automation.

Kettles that release red hot steam onto their handles, cupboard drawers that don’t quite slot in and of course, those pesky USB sticks that take three or four attempts to insert before realising you had right the first time. These niggles are part of everyday life and albeit annoying, their poor design is usually pretty easy to ignore.

But in industry, the bad design of manufacturing environments and equipment is much more significant than a few seconds wasted twisting a USB stick.

As part of the modernisation of manufacturing facilities, industrial automation has become invaluable. The undeniable benefits of increased productivity, improved efficiency and reduction in costs have meant that automation has quickly secured its place as a reigning champion of manufacturing operations.  [Read more…] about ‘Ergonomic design saves time and money, and is less annoying’