Robotics & Automation News

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ROEQ doubles capacity of Omron robot with newly designed cart system

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Businesses implementing the Omron LD-250 autonomous mobile robot (AMR) now have a powerful new option to dramatically increase payload without having to invest in a larger, more expensive AMR solution.

The ROEQ solution with the new TMC500 top module and Cart500 developed for the Omron LD-250, not only doubles the AMR payload, it also provides a standardized, safe, and flexible solution for internal logistics tasks.

Kyle Hable, group product manager, Omron Robotics and Safety Technologies, says: “This exciting new relationship with ROEQ gives our customers access to fast and cost-effective options for their toughest mobile automation initiatives. [Read more…] about ROEQ doubles capacity of Omron robot with newly designed cart system

Omron invests in collaborative robot company Techman Robot

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Industrial giant Omron has reached an agreement for a capital investment in Techman Robot, believed to be the world’s second-largest collaborative robot brand.

Omron will hold a stake of approximately 10 percent in Techman. The investment is expected to be completed by December 2021.

In 2018, Omron entered into a strategic alliance with Techman to meet the increasing automation needs generated by labour shortages. [Read more…] about Omron invests in collaborative robot company Techman Robot

Omron agrees distribution deal with OnRobot

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Omron Industrial Automation Europe has signed a new distribution agreement with OnRobot, the Danish manufacturer of tools for collaborative robot (cobot) applications.

This will enable Omron to offer OnRobot’s products – which can be fully integrated with the Omron TM cobot – to its customers in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

The agreement between the two companies will give their customers greater agility when implementing collaborative solutions. [Read more…] about Omron agrees distribution deal with OnRobot

Omron releases new 3D vision sensor for robot arms

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Omron has released its new FH-SMD Series 3D Vision Sensor, which can be mounted on a robot to recognize randomly placed bulk automotive parts in three dimensions, enabling space-saving assembly, inspection, and pick and place, which are difficult with conventional robots, and improving productivity.

Production workers are hard to come by these days, and labor costs have risen sharply, says Omron. Manufacturers are now facing intense pressure to automate processes that rely on the senses of experienced human workers.

Moreover, production workers now need to work harmoniously with machines to raise productivity amid the Covid-19 crisis. In particular, the automotive industry requires vision sensors as the eyes of robots that are indispensable for automation because it is difficult for machines to recognize positions and postures of various complex shaped parts. [Read more…] about Omron releases new 3D vision sensor for robot arms

OnRobot releases ‘world’s most powerful’ electric vacuum gripper for robot arms

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OnRobot has released what it describes as the “world’s most powerful” electric vacuum gripper for robot arms. 

OnRobot says its new VGP20 electric vacuum gripper provides a powerful and versatile solution for challenging palletising scenarios including heavy, bulky and porous surfaces.

Large, unwieldy bags of dog food, non-airtight clothing or consumer goods packages, and bulky, porous cardboard boxes. These are just some examples of demanding packaging and palletising applications that OnRobot’s new VGP20 gripper can address. [Read more…] about OnRobot releases ‘world’s most powerful’ electric vacuum gripper for robot arms

Omron launches new SCARA robot

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Omron has launched a new industrial robot, the i4 series SCARA robot, which the company says “automates high-speed, high-precision assembly and transportation with easy installation”.

The i4 series consists of an i4H medium to large sized, high-performance model and an i4L that is compact and suitable for lightweight applications.

By seamlessly integrating and controlling the “i4 series” robots and the robot-hands, or end effector, and other peripheral devices; the interlocking of each device is enabled and complicated tasks which could not be done with conventional SCARA robots are now automated. [Read more…] about Omron launches new SCARA robot

AI Enabled Robots are Coming

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By Michael Frankland, Business Consultant – Factory Automation, Pivot Search

We’ve entered a new age of automation: the artificially intelligent robots are coming.
When AI enabled robots hit the manufacturing mainstream, the implications will be huge.

With the right combination of hardware, robotics will have an application in manufacturing for nearly every industry. Processes will become quicker, more accurate and more cost-effective.

Robotics in Manufacturing

The first thing to note is that when we talk about robotics within this article, we are referring to a physical piece of hardware without the ability ‘to think’ for itself, usually due to a lack of appropriate software and/or hardware.

Right now, most industrial robots are not artificially intelligent and are only programmed to carry out a repetitive series of movements, usually within a caged environment separated from humans. [Read more…] about AI Enabled Robots are Coming

Omron launches ‘world’s first’ integrated controller for fully automated robotic production systems

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New solution offers real-time synchronization between all automation equipment, including robots, vision components, drives, and safety equipment

Industrial automation company Omron has launched “the world’s first robotic integrated controller”, the new NJ501-R.

With the integrated controller, Omron says it is possible to automate advanced and complex manual work and simulate the design and modification of production facilities in a virtual environment, and conduct maintenance remotely. [Read more…] about Omron launches ‘world’s first’ integrated controller for fully automated robotic production systems

Omron expands safety offering with visual lockout/tagout and arc flash labeling services

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Industry-leading automation solutions and safety services provider Omron Automation Americas has partnered with Brady Corporation to add dedicated service offerings for lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures and arc flash risk mitigation to further help manufacturers maintain compliance and protect their employees.

These new services are part of Omron’s commitment to providing holistic management for safe manufacturing facilities in various industries.

Lockout/tagout problems are consistently among the top five violations for regulatory agencies in the Americas. When a company’s employees need to perform maintenance, repairs or adjustments (including line changeovers), it’s essential to have measures in place to keep them safe from hazardous machine motion by isolating and dissipating the machines’ energy sources. [Read more…] about Omron expands safety offering with visual lockout/tagout and arc flash labeling services

Omron starts a virtual tour to its automation center

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Omron will commence a virtual tour to its Automation Centre (ATC), a factory automation (FA) technology center where customers join with Omron to find solutions to their manufacturing issues.

Allowing customers from around the world to view on their computers the virtual content that features facilities and demonstration machines at the flagship Automation Centre Tokyo (ATC-Tokyo), the largest of 37 ATCs across the globe, this new service gives global customers the most realistic experiences of Omron’s state-of-the-art FA technology anytime, anywhere.

By using digital transformation (DX), Omron is capable of accelerating its unique solutions without the “three Cs,” namely, closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings, thus safely contributing to solutions to customers’ issues on the production floor. [Read more…] about Omron starts a virtual tour to its automation center