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Denso to Invest $1.6 bn in automotive electrification

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Denso is to invest approximately 180 billion yen (US$1.6 billion) over three years – from FY2018 to late FY2020 – to support development and production of electrified automotive products, systems and technologies.

To accelerate business execution around electrification, Denso is establishing the Electrification Innovation Center at its plant in Anjo, Aichi, Japan, in May 2020.

The centre will conduct advanced R&D, develop and test prototypes, and launch mass produce newly developed automotive electrification products, systems and technologies.

[Read more…] about Denso to Invest $1.6 bn in automotive electrification

Trapo looks ahead to a busy Spring season for logistics

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Spring is approaching, making it the busiest season in plant logistics. When dealing with plants, there are many challenges – from correct handling of sensitive organisms to short turnaround times, so that the goods arrive fresh at the traders.

Volmary, an internationally operating vegetable- and flower-growing company in Münster, Germany, grows herbs, vegetables and flowering plants for wholesale.

The company turned to Trapo AG for the automation of intralogistics processes, who installed a high-capacity picking system, tailored to the individual requirements of Volmary.

[Read more…] about Trapo looks ahead to a busy Spring season for logistics

Volkswagen focuses more closely on multi-brand plants

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Volkswagen has approved new plant assignment plans, which reflect the challenges of the next five years and lay the necessary foundations.

The plants in Emden and Hanover will be converted to build electric vehicles: models from the ID. family will begin rolling off the assembly lines there from 2022.

In order to serve growth in Europe, the Group will  expand its production capacity post-2022 with an additional plant in Eastern Europe.

[Read more…] about Volkswagen focuses more closely on multi-brand plants

Apple to build three ‘big, big, big’ manufacturing plants in the US, claims Trump

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President Donald Trump says Apple CEO Tim Cook has committed to building “three big manufacturing plants in the US”, according to a report on the Wall Street Journal website. 

In an interview with the business and investment newspaper, Trump is reported to have said: “I spoke to [Cook], he’s promised me three big plants – big, big, big.

“I said you know, Tim, unless you start building your plants in this country, I won’t consider my administration an economic success. He called me, and he said they are going forward.”  [Read more…] about Apple to build three ‘big, big, big’ manufacturing plants in the US, claims Trump

Gardening robot raises more than $300,000 on Kickstarter

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A gardening robot has raised more than $312,000 on Kickstarter despite its owners setting a goal of $120,000.

Led by the inventor of the Roomba, the Boston-based Franklin Robotics is currently raising funds for their first release – a solar-powered, robotic weed-killer for home gardens.

Named Tertill, the 2.5-pound, disk-shaped robot patrols the garden and intelligently identifies – and whacks – unwanted plants.  [Read more…] about Gardening robot raises more than $300,000 on Kickstarter

US President Donald Trump pressures automakers to increase production in the US

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By David Shepardson and Roberta Rampton, Reuters

US President Donald Trump pushed the chief executives of General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler to increase production in the United States and boost American employment.

Trump opened a meeting with GM CEO Mary Barra, Ford CEO Mark Fields and Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne at the White House by saying he wants to see new auto plants built in the United States.

The new Republican president vowed to cut regulations and taxes to make it more attractive for businesses to operate in the United States. He promised frequently during his election campaign to be a job-creating president and stressed that message in his inaugural speech last Friday.  [Read more…] about US President Donald Trump pressures automakers to increase production in the US

Connected asparagus: Bosch outlines vision of a future with connected factories and robotic farmers

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Bosch Apas workstation, which includes a cobot the company claims is “the first collaborative robot to be certified as an assistance system”

One of the world’s largest engineering companies, Bosch, has outlined its vision of the future, which includes a world full of smart factories, robotic farmers and connected asparagus. 

Bosch made its views available to Robotics and Automation News in a series of documents sent to us this week.

The company believes two main areas of technological development stand out from the rest: connectivity and sensors.  [Read more…] about Connected asparagus: Bosch outlines vision of a future with connected factories and robotic farmers