Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

pick

AutoStore launches first consumer-facing automated warehouse

by Leave a Comment

AutoStore has launched its latest innovation, the PickUpPort, a public-facing port that lets customers shop online and pick up their order directly from the AutoStore System. 

Carlos Fernández, chief product officer at AutoStore, says: “It’s important for us to help retailers stay ahead in an ever-changing industry.

“With the new PickUpPort, retailers can offer a hassle-free pick-up option in-store, and customers can see how Robots pick, organize, and store items. When retailers adopt this technology, their customers get even more flexibility and freedom.” [Read more…] about AutoStore launches first consumer-facing automated warehouse

Benefits of Induction Hardening

by Leave a Comment

Case hardening process used to increase wear resistance, surface hardness and fatigue life through creation of a hardened surface layer while maintaining an unaffected core microstructure.

Induction hardening is used to increase the mechanical properties of ferrous components in a specific area. Typical applications are powertrain, suspension, engine components and stampings.

Induction hardening is excellent at repairing warranty claims / field failures. The primary benefits are improvements in strength, fatigue and wear resistance in a localised area without having to redesign the component. [Read more…] about Benefits of Induction Hardening

Smart Robotics launches new robotic parcel picker

by Leave a Comment

Smart Robotics, a provider of pick and place automation as a service for warehouses and logistics processes, has launched its newly engineered Smart Parcel Picker.

The picking robot is designed to depalletize and unload an array of containers with parcels, varying in size, surface material and weight.

The company says its Smart Parcel Picker is able to do this at “business-case friendly throughput and performance” – replacing physically straining and repetitive work for warehouse employees at times that the industry is also experiencing growing labour shortages. [Read more…] about Smart Robotics launches new robotic parcel picker

Smart Robotics unveils collaborative robotic system to pick fashion items

by Leave a Comment

Smart Robotics, a provider of picking automation as a service for warehouses and logistics processes, has launched its latest collaborative robotic system – the Smart Fashion Picker.

The company says “the reliability of the cobot, and its ability to run continuously, ensures quicker return on investment – whilst answering the labour crisis in logistics and bettering the physical and mental health of warehouse employees”.

The Smart Fashion Picker addresses the pain point of transformation within warehouse automation. The need arises from the notion that the warehouse sector is quite late to automation, compared to other industries, and is now looking at a rapid transition to modern processes. [Read more…] about Smart Robotics unveils collaborative robotic system to pick fashion items

Washington university develops 3D-printed robotic gripper that can pick up anything, no matter what its geometry

by Leave a Comment

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, car manufacturing companies such as Ford quickly shifted their production focus from automobiles to masks and ventilators.

To make this switch possible, these companies relied on people working on an assembly line. It would have been too challenging for a robot to make this transition because robots are tied to their usual tasks.

Theoretically, a robot could pick up almost anything if its grippers could be swapped out for each task. To keep costs down, these grippers could be passive, meaning grippers pick up objects without changing shape, similar to how the tongs on a forklift work. [Read more…] about Washington university develops 3D-printed robotic gripper that can pick up anything, no matter what its geometry

ABB launches new, ‘fastest’ five-axis Delta robot

by Leave a Comment

ABB has launched a new five-axis Delta robot which it claims is “the fastest for lightweight product picking, packing and reorientation”.

The new machine is part of the FlexPicker Delta robot portfolio and is called the IRB 365. With five axis and 1.5 kg payload, the IRB 365 is both flexible and the fastest in its class for reorienting packaged lightweight products such as cookies, chocolates, peppers, candies, small bottles, and parcels.

Responding to the rise in e-commerce and growing demand for shelf ready packaged goods, the IRB 365 has been developed for applications including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods, where production line speed and adaptability are essential. [Read more…] about ABB launches new, ‘fastest’ five-axis Delta robot

Automating cricket ball production: Global cricket ball manufacturer uses automation with a vision system for efficiency and upskilling

by Leave a Comment

Under the laws of cricket, it is illegal for players to rub any substance other than saliva and sweat onto the ball, let alone scuffing it with their fingernails. Similarly, strict rules apply to the manufacturing of cricket balls.

Here’s how cricket ball manufacturer Kookaburra designed its first ever machine tending robotic system to produce the perfect ball, with the help of industrial robot supplier, TM Robotics and MAP Services, Australian partner for TM Robotics and Shibaura Machine.

Machine tending is repetitive work. The job of loading and unloading machines with parts or materials are usually done by humans. In the production of cricket balls, workers would place covers – the outside leather of cricket balls – onto trays after being pressed into shape to form half of a cricket ball. These trays are then placed into a rack and moved to the next process – trimming excess leather from the pressed cover. [Read more…] about Automating cricket ball production: Global cricket ball manufacturer uses automation with a vision system for efficiency and upskilling

Benefits of Hiring an Offshore Development Team

by Leave a Comment

The use of offshore development teams began back in the late eighties. The companies that use them today have seen tremendous success. The ones that have not switched over need to catch up with the times.

Professionals from around the world all agree that new startups need to take the time to find an offshore development team to help them gain traction, and to ensure that they make a profit quickly.

Fortunly has found that 54 percent of all companies use offshore teams, and out of those 78 percent of them feel that it has had a positive impact on them. [Read more…] about Benefits of Hiring an Offshore Development Team

Berkshire Grey unveils robotic pick and pack solutions for e-commerce fulfillment

by Leave a Comment

Berkshire Grey has launched a range of Robotic Pick and Pack solutions for e-commerce fulfillment.

Berkshire Grey RPP solutions automate picking and packing of items directly from inventory totes to outbound customer shipping packages.

This solution improves operational efficiency for fulfillment centers, reduces shipping costs and lowers the environmental impact of eCommerce orders. [Read more…] about Berkshire Grey unveils robotic pick and pack solutions for e-commerce fulfillment

Zebra Technologies expands Fetch Robotics portfolio with solution to optimize fulfillment workflows

by Leave a Comment

Zebra Technologies, which provides automation solutions to the supply chain sector, has introduced what it claims is “the industry’s most comprehensive picking solution to help businesses improve their fulfillment operations”.

The fulfillment solution uses machines from Fetch Robotics, which Zebra recently acquired, and consists of three new autonomous mobile robots – FlexShelf, FlexShelf Guide, and RollerTop Guide – and a new FetchCore fulfillment software package for order or batch picking.

These new offerings further extend Zebra’s position as a leader in automating and digitizing critical workflows in warehouses, distribution and fulfillment centers as order volumes increase, labor pools get more competitive and customer expectations continue to rise. [Read more…] about Zebra Technologies expands Fetch Robotics portfolio with solution to optimize fulfillment workflows