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manufacturing technology

Misumi launches Misumi Americas as part of $1 billion global manufacturing investment

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Japanese industrial components supplier Misumi Group has launched Misumi Americas and announced a $1 billion (¥150 billion) global investment program aimed at expanding its digital manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.

The initiative combines Misumi’s industrial components business with the AI-powered manufacturing platform acquired through Fictiv, positioning the company as a broader manufacturing and supply chain partner rather than solely a parts supplier.

The expansion includes significant investment in the United States and marks the appointment of Dave Evans as the first American CEO of Misumi Americas. [Read more…] about Misumi launches Misumi Americas as part of $1 billion global manufacturing investment

Why Factory Automation Now Depends on Software-Savvy Workers

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Automation is becoming a software problem. The deeper robots move into production, the more workers need to be confident handling dashboards, updates, alerts and data-driven decisions.

The old image of factory automation was a robot arm behind a safety cage, doing one repetitive task faster than a human being ever could. But whilst robots weld, lift, assemble and pack at speeds fast enough to warrant their own keepers and still save thousands of man-hours, the knowledge of that robot engineer is increasingly software-based.

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Robotics said that, worldwide, more than half a million industrial robots were installed in 2024 alone, topping up a figure approaching 5 million robots in operational use. [Read more…] about Why Factory Automation Now Depends on Software-Savvy Workers

Fanuc-powered robotic cell automates one of furniture manufacturing’s toughest jobs

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A Canadian furniture manufacturer has automated a traditionally labor-intensive upholstery process using a robotic work cell built around a Fanuc M-710iC industrial robot.

Developed by Fanuc Authorized System Integrator Dvolu, the automated upholstery cell performs a series of tasks that have historically required skilled human workers, including fabric stretching, stapling, trimming, and palletizing chair seat linings.

The project highlights how robotics is increasingly moving beyond traditional manufacturing applications such as welding, machine tending, and material handling into tasks that require a greater degree of dexterity and adaptability. [Read more…] about Fanuc-powered robotic cell automates one of furniture manufacturing’s toughest jobs

Méca-Précis utilizes robotic measurement cell to eliminate inspection bottlenecks

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French precision engineering company Méca-Précis has automated part inspection using a robotic measurement cell that combines a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) from Mitutoyo with automation technology from a company called Engineering Data.

The system was introduced after inspection processes became a bottleneck as production volumes increased, particularly for aerospace and space-sector customers that require 100 percent dimensional inspection of every part before and after surface treatment.

Founded in 1975 and based in Châtillon-sur-Indre, Méca-Précis employs 45 people and operates 25 machine tools, including 18 CNC machines. [Read more…] about Méca-Précis utilizes robotic measurement cell to eliminate inspection bottlenecks

Europe’s most important industrial lubrication conference celebrates its 10th anniversary in Bilbao

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Europe’s most important conference on industrial lubricants will celebrate its 10th anniversary at the Euskalduna Convention Centre in Bilbao.

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, 200 professionals from Europe, Asia and America will attend this new edition of LUBMAT, a leading international biennial event specialising in lubricants, tribology and production equipment monitoring.

For two consecutive days, companies, manufacturers, technology centres and researchers will share the sector’s most recent scientific and technological innovations to address challenges such as sustainability, digitisation and industrial efficiency. The forum is co-organised by the Tekniker technology centre, the Jost Institute for Tribotechnology of the United Kingdom, Bureau Veritas and ATTEN2.

Currently rated as one of Europe’s main meeting points for the lubrication industry and R&D, LUBMAT 2026 features an extensive scientific and technical programme focused on areas such as advanced lubricants, friction and wear reduction, condition-based maintenance, online equipment monitoring, smart sensors, AI applied to industrial maintenance and the development of solutions that are safer and more sustainable. [Read more…] about Europe’s most important industrial lubrication conference celebrates its 10th anniversary in Bilbao

Interview with GFT Technologies’ Brandon Speweik: Moving AI from detection to action on the factory floor

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Artificial intelligence has become one of the most widely discussed technologies in manufacturing, but much of the conversation remains focused on software – dashboards, analytics, predictive models, and digital decision-making tools.

Increasingly, however, manufacturers are asking a more practical question: how can AI move beyond identifying problems and begin helping to solve them on the factory floor?

That challenge is particularly relevant in the automotive industry, where production lines operate at high speed and even small quality issues can have significant downstream consequences. [Read more…] about Interview with GFT Technologies’ Brandon Speweik: Moving AI from detection to action on the factory floor

Interview with Workr Robotics CEO Ken Macken: ‘Paying for automation by the hour’

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Industrial robotics is entering a new phase. Advances in artificial intelligence, large language models, and so-called embodied AI have sparked renewed excitement about robots that can understand, reason about, and interact with the physical world.

High-profile collaborations between companies such as Google DeepMind and Boston Dynamics have fueled speculation that increasingly capable general-purpose robots may soon find their way onto factory floors.

But not everyone in the industry is convinced that these developments represent an immediate breakthrough for manufacturing. [Read more…] about Interview with Workr Robotics CEO Ken Macken: ‘Paying for automation by the hour’

Japan promotes Osaka as a gateway for robotics and technology investment

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Japan is stepping up efforts to attract overseas technology companies and investors to Osaka, positioning the city as an alternative gateway to the Japanese market and a potential hub for innovation in sectors such as robotics, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.

The initiative is being led by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), a government-backed agency that promotes trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world.

Following Expo 2025 Osaka, JETRO is highlighting a range of programs designed to help foreign companies establish operations in the Osaka and Kansai region. [Read more…] about Japan promotes Osaka as a gateway for robotics and technology investment

ABB and Salzburg researchers patent AI system to cut energy use in industrial robots

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Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and ABB’s Machine Automation Division – B&R –  are working together to apply artificial intelligence to improve energy efficiency in industrial automation.

The collaboration, anchored in the Josef Ressel Center for Intelligent and Secure Industrial Automation (JRZ ISIA), focuses on translating advanced research into practical solutions for industrial drive systems.

A recent milestone of this collaboration is the filing of a joint patent application in the field of energy-optimized motion control for drive systems used in industrial automation – such as robots, machine tools and automated production lines – where highly dynamic motion sequences including positioning, acceleration, deceleration and cyclic movement must be controlled with high precision. [Read more…] about ABB and Salzburg researchers patent AI system to cut energy use in industrial robots

Robotiq launches AI platform to automate robotic workcell integration

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Robotiq has introduced IQ, an AI-enabled platform designed to make robotic Workcell integration faster, more predictable, and easier to scale.

Enabling a much-needed shift from a manual, expert-dependent approach to automatic integration, IQ captures unstructured automation project data, coordinates engineering workflows, and helps partners generate validated workcell designs based on real customer inputs and historical deployment data from thousands of previous factory installations.

Samuel Bouchard, CEO of Robotiq, says: “Automation does not scale when integration remains manual. [Read more…] about Robotiq launches AI platform to automate robotic workcell integration