Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

manufacturers

US manufacturing output reaches ‘all-time high’

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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’

Universal Robots and Phillips partner to provide integration with Haas machine tools

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Universal Robots and Phillips Corporation have formed a partnership to make it easier to integrate with popular Haas CNC machine tools.

The partnership with Phillips Corporation, the largest global distributor of best-selling Haas CNC machines, offers a fast track to spindle uptime with safe, easy-to-use, and cost-effective cobots

Loading and unloading CNC machines is becoming one of the most popular applications for collaborative robots as manufacturers face significant difficulties in staffing this tedious task. [Read more…] about Universal Robots and Phillips partner to provide integration with Haas machine tools

Innovation in industrial manufacturing taking many forms, finds Deloitte

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Not all types of innovation are created equal when it comes to the transformation taking place today in the industrial manufacturing sector.

A new report series, Innovation in Industrial Manufacturing, by Deloitte about innovation in industrial manufacturing shows that patent-based innovation – in both business process improvement and new product development – has become a key marker for how industrial companies are leveraging their research and development budgets to remain competitive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In the report series, Deloitte reviewed the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) filings and citations of 43 Fortune 100 industrial manufacturers, between 2006-2018, and found important insights into how companies are investing in R&D, how digital technology is developing in the sector – specifically “exponential technologies” such as 3D printing, blockchain, cybersecurity, IoT, and so on – and outlines “winning approaches” to innovation for manufacturers. [Read more…] about Innovation in industrial manufacturing taking many forms, finds Deloitte

Harting and Heilind Electronics enter into global partnership

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The Harting Technology Group and US company Heilind Electronics have entered into a global partnership. The agreement was signed at the “electronica” trade fair in Munich.

Heilind is a leading distributor of connectors and electromechanical components. Featuring over 170 manufacturers, including most leading connector manufacturers, Heilind boasts an extensive product portfolio.

With Heilind, Harting would like to continue the already successful partnership in North America now also in other countries worldwide.

[Read more…] about Harting and Heilind Electronics enter into global partnership

Sensors supplier Sick selected as Top 50 robotics company

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Sick, the sensor specialist, has been named a Top 50 Robotics Company by the Robotics Business Review.

The RBR50 is an annual list of the 50 most innovative and transformative robotics companies that have achieved commercial success in the past year.

Sick provides sensor technology for a number of robotics applications, including navigation for mobile platforms. [Read more…] about Sensors supplier Sick selected as Top 50 robotics company

Super Micro to avoid Chinese components amid US-China trade war

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Super Micro Computer, one of the world’s largest server manufacturers, has decided to avoid using components manufactured in China, according to a report on Nikkei.

Nikkei reports that Super Micro has instructed its suppliers to move production out of China.

Super Micro says the move is a consequence of the trade dispute between the US and China, in which security concerns raised by the US have also affected other Chinese companies such as Huawei.

[Read more…] about Super Micro to avoid Chinese components amid US-China trade war

Food manufacturers are turning to robots to meet customers’ needs, says ING report

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The importance of technology for food manufacturers continues to grow, according to a new ING report, Food tech: technology in the food industry.

The research report revealed the use of robots in the European food industry is becoming more commonplace, with a 50 per cent increase in the sale of robots to the food industry over the last five years.

The research also uncovered the growing demands from retailers and consumers is having an impact on the uptake of technologies like robotics in the industry. [Read more…] about Food manufacturers are turning to robots to meet customers’ needs, says ING report

Opinion: Robotic end-of-arm tools are shaping the manufacturing industry

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By Thomas Knudsen, general manager Northern Europe, OnRobot

Within a diverse and innovative sector like the manufacturing industry, flexibility is key.

Robotics, a key enabler of this, has already taken this industry by storm, allowing factories worldwide to automate more and more tasks, cutting costs and increasing productivity.

However, simple automation is no longer enough. Manufacturers now require unique automation solutions for each specific production environment, to tackle the talent shortage they are facing, but can’t redesign facilities for every different process and application.  [Read more…] about Opinion: Robotic end-of-arm tools are shaping the manufacturing industry

From two months to a few seconds: A brief overview of automotive robotic painting systems

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Painting was one of the first applications for industrial robots, but it didn’t start well. 

When they were first introduced in the 1980s at General Motors’ Michigan plant, the robots initially painted each other, according to an article on industrial robot history, published on Robots.com.

The complexity of painting is probably under-estimated because humans can do such tasks with relative ease.  [Read more…] about From two months to a few seconds: A brief overview of automotive robotic painting systems

Manufacturer adoption of collaborative robots is strong and growing, says report

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New distribution channels and market entrants are expanding availability 

A recent technology survey by ABI Research of management level decision makers at manufacturing companies revealed that the adoption of collaborative robots among manufacturers is strong and ongoing.

A full 13 per cent of the companies surveyed have collaborative systems currently in operation, a significant percentage especially given that commercial class systems only became readily available beginning in 2014.

Another 15 per cent indicated that they expect to have collaborative robots at work within the next 12 months, adds the industry survey, entitle Transformative Technology Adoption and Attitudes – Robotics.  [Read more…] about Manufacturer adoption of collaborative robots is strong and growing, says report