Robotics & Automation News

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manufacturing

Figure to supply ‘general purpose’ humanoid robots to BMW Manufacturing

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Figure, a California-based company developing autonomous humanoid robots, has signed a commercial agreement with BMW Manufacturing to install general purpose robots in automotive manufacturing environments.

Figure says its humanoid robots enable the automation of difficult, unsafe, or tedious tasks throughout the manufacturing process, which in turn allows employees to focus on skills and processes that cannot be automated, as well as continuous improvement in production efficiency and safety.

Brett Adcock, founder and CEO of Figure, says: “Single-purpose robotics have saturated the commercial market for decades, but the potential of general purpose robotics is completely untapped. [Read more…] about Figure to supply ‘general purpose’ humanoid robots to BMW Manufacturing

TSMC and Japanese partners plan to build second semiconductor manufacturing plant

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Denso and Toyota have jointly announced further investment into Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, TSMC’s majority-owned manufacturing subsidiary in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.

The four companies plan to build a second fab, which is scheduled to begin operation by the end of the 2027 calendar year. Toyota will also take a minority stake.

Together with JASM’s first fab, which is scheduled to begin operation in 2024, the overall investment in JASM will exceed $20 billion with strong support from the Japanese government. [Read more…] about TSMC and Japanese partners plan to build second semiconductor manufacturing plant

Bosch to use generative AI in manufacturing

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Bosch is piloting generative AI and foundation models in manufacturing. In initial projects in two Bosch plants in Germany, generative AI creates synthetic images in order to develop and scale AI solutions for optical inspection and optimize existing AI models.

Bosch expects that this will reduce the time needed for planning, launching, and ramping up AI applications “from the current six to 12 months to just a few weeks”. Following successful piloting, this service for generating synthetic data is to be offered to all Bosch locations.

There are sound economic reasons for this move: depending on the size of the plant and type of production, artificial intelligence can be used to achieve productivity gains and six- to seven-figure cost savings – per year and plant. [Read more…] about Bosch to use generative AI in manufacturing

Meltio and One Off Robotics collaborate to ‘push the limits of robotic additive manufacturing’

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Meltio, a disruptive wire-laser metal deposition additive manufacturing technology leader, has agreed a technology collaboration with One Off Robotics, a specialist in robotic additive manufacturing.

The latest collaboration introduces the One Off Robotics Cell, a “turnkey metal additive manufacturing workcell” designed for a faster, more efficient, and reliable part production cycle.

The One Off Robotics Cell is a robotic metal additive system powered by Meltio’s Wire Laser Metal Deposition (W-LMD) technology. The system produces cost-effective, finely printed metal parts for applications in industries including automotive, aerospace, mining, oil and gas, and many others. [Read more…] about Meltio and One Off Robotics collaborate to ‘push the limits of robotic additive manufacturing’

HummingbirdEV to open microfactory for its zero-emission commercial vehicles in UAE

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HummingbirdEV, a global provider of advanced commercial vehicle electrification systems, announced today it will establish a new advanced microfactory facility in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The facility will produce HummingbirdEV’s zero-emission commercial vehicles to accelerate adoption of sustainable transportation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Southeast Asia, and India.

HummingbirdEV’s presence in the UAE will enable the company to deliver zero-emission commercial vehicles for an existing e-commerce customer and leverage the country’s free trade agreements with Southeast Asia, India and surrounding MENA markets for further expansion of its customer base. [Read more…] about HummingbirdEV to open microfactory for its zero-emission commercial vehicles in UAE

Essert Robotics emerges as ‘key player’ in life sciences industry

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As the life science industry undergoes significant transformations, Essert Robotics emerges as a key player, providing cutting-edge automation solutions tailored to meet the evolving challenges in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

These challenges in the pharmaceutical sector are mainly related to developments like an increasing demographic shift, but also to a growing need for decentralized production and the emergence of novel therapeutic concepts.

By means of innovative robotic solutions, Essert Robotics supports the life sciences sector in taking these hurdles. [Read more…] about Essert Robotics emerges as ‘key player’ in life sciences industry

Siemens and Voltaiq collaborate to optimize battery manufacturing

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Siemens Digital Industries Software is collaborating with Voltaiq to “accelerate battery manufacturing” by combining their strengths to offer unparalleled capabilities for battery manufacturing-focused companies.

This collaboration aims to bring together the production-proven capabilities of both Siemens’ Insights Hub and Voltaiq’s Enterprise Battery Intelligence (EBI), customers can gain access to unparalleled capability specific to battery-domain companies to help rapidly scale operations smoothly, from initial testing to full-scale production lines.

Raymond Kok, SVP and managing director, cloud and edge foundational services, Siemens Digital Industries CTO, says: “Our collaboration with Voltaiq aligns with Siemens’ ongoing mission to continue delivering Industrial IoT value. [Read more…] about Siemens and Voltaiq collaborate to optimize battery manufacturing

Pros and Cons of Integrating Robotics in Manufacturing

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As technology advances, it paves the way for new breakthroughs in automation. It’s, therefore, not a surprise that the robotics industry is experiencing a significant boom. This trend is especially true for industrial robotics tailored to the manufacturing sector.

There are many applications for robotics, and automated integration is extensive, from medical device production and food packaging to metal fabrication and consumer goods assembly.

As a manufacturing company, however, it’s crucial to assess your unique application to identify possible downsides and benefits of industrial robots before integration. This post explores the pros and cons of incorporating robotics into manufacturing processes. Read on to learn more. [Read more…] about Pros and Cons of Integrating Robotics in Manufacturing

ABB to supply over 1,300 robots to Volvo Cars

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ABB says it has strengthened its long-standing partnership with Volvo Cars to supply more than 1,300 robots and functional packages to build the next generation of electric vehicles. This will support the Swedish car manufacturer to achieve its ambitious sustainability targets.

Marc Segura, ABB Robotics president, says: “The automotive industry’s historic transformation, driven by increasing consumer demand for electric vehicles and a desire to operate more sustainably, is creating new opportunities as well as challenges for global manufacturers.

“This latest commitment from our partner Volvo Cars demonstrates our shared focus of delivering more sustainable manufacturing. Through our new, energy efficient large robot family and OmniCoreTM controllers we will help to deliver energy savings of up to 20 percent at sites around the world.” [Read more…] about ABB to supply over 1,300 robots to Volvo Cars

Comau and LiNa Energy develop automated manufacturing for battery production

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Comau has joined forces with LiNa to design an “innovative and scalable manufacturing” solution for solid-state sodium-metal-chloride battery cells.

Through simultaneous engineering, the team has finalized a concept design, allowing LiNa, a provider of low cost solid-state sodium battery technologies, to automate their battery production process.

The companies intend to validate the sustainable, safe, and efficient oxygen-free dry box environment as a step towards larger-scale manufacturing. [Read more…] about Comau and LiNa Energy develop automated manufacturing for battery production