partnerships

Opinion: Radical rethink of automotive R&D investment required in 2020

January 24, 2020 by David Edwards Leave a Comment

Continued disruption, restructuring and re-shaping of the automotive industry will be required to make increasing levels of R&D affordable whilst simultaneously representing a major growth opportunity in the year ahead, according to engineering consultancy Horiba Mira.

The proliferation of electrification and connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies will continue to be amongst the top automotive trends in 2020 which will continue to push up the already soaring costs of research and development.

Indeed, latest figures show European auto manufacturers spent a record £33.3 billion on R&D – 35 per cent more than the £24.6 billion spent in 2014/15. [Read more…] about Opinion: Radical rethink of automotive R&D investment required in 2020

Manufacturing industry turning to robotics and AI in challenging economic landscape, says Deloitte

December 3, 2019 by Sam Francis Leave a Comment

The manufacturing industry is turning to robotics and artificial intelligence as well as a range of other strategies to navigate an increasingly challenging economic landscape, according to a report by Deloitte.

The management consultancy says that, as the risk of a global economic downturn grows, the industrial manufacturing industry faces a challenging landscape in 2020 replete with trade tensions, muted job growth, supply chain volatility and an ongoing skilled talent shortage.

Yet, despite these headwinds, industry leaders are rapidly developing coping strategies – not only to weather the brewing storm, but to thrive in spite of it. [Read more…] about Manufacturing industry turning to robotics and AI in challenging economic landscape, says Deloitte

Toyota boss says autonomous technology is a paradigm shift – like going from building looms to constructing cars

May 13, 2016 by Sam Francis

Toyota president Akio Toyoda has drawn a parallel between the changes happening in the company now to what happened when Toyota first came into existence.

Toyoda was speaking at a press conference to present the automaker’s financial results. He acknowledged the “many lessons that we learned” through the company’s partnerships with Subaru, BMW and Mazda.

The partnerships were part of the reason for Toyota adopting a new organisational structure. It was also a factor in the company’s decision to establish the Toyota Research Laboratory. [Read more…] about Toyota boss says autonomous technology is a paradigm shift – like going from building looms to constructing cars

Industrial robot maker Rethink Robotics signs up new distributors

April 18, 2016 by David Edwards

Sawyer robot to be distributed by automation providers in France, UK and Israel

Rethink Robotics is continuing its global expansion with new distribution partnerships with four separate automation providers three different countries.

In France, Rethink has signed up Humarobotics; in the UK, two companies – Active8 Robots and Cobotix; and iCobots in Israel.

Rethink says its new distribution partners will “help manufacturers gain flexibility and improve production processes by deploying Rethink’s smart, collaborative Sawyer robot”. [Read more…] about Industrial robot maker Rethink Robotics signs up new distributors