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C-Hawk Technology launches robotic plastic welding platform for semiconductor equipment manufacturing

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C-Hawk Technology, a maker of manufacturing of components, assemblies and processes for the semiconductor and healthcare industries, has unveiled its new patent-pending “Roberto” platform.

The company describes the platform as “an integrated robotics system that automates plastic welding and sets new benchmarks for quality, precision, scalability and safety in manufacturing for plastic welded assemblies and subassemblies”.

Early performance data shows that Roberto outperforms manual welding with a 25 percent increase in production speed and product consistency, a 30 percent improvement in output efficiency and a 50 percent decrease in error rates. [Read more…] about C-Hawk Technology launches robotic plastic welding platform for semiconductor equipment manufacturing

Caglia Environmental launches new recycling robot from EverestLabs

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Caglia Environmental, a recycling company based in Fresno, California, has unveiled what it describes as “a significant advancement in recycling technology” at the Cedar Avenue Recycling & Transfer Station.

This “leap forward” is made possible by funding from The Recycling Partnership’s PET Recycling Coalition. Caglia Environmental was one of 12 businesses and organizations in North America to receive a PET Recycling Coalition grant.

The grant has enabled the installation of cutting-edge RecycleOS-powered robotic sorters developed by EverestLabs. The RecycleOS software is designed to identify #1 PET – which is Polyethylene Terephthalate – plastic into three specialized streams then each robot efficiently sorts the materials into three different bunkers. [Read more…] about Caglia Environmental launches new recycling robot from EverestLabs

igus unveils ‘first’ industrial robot made of plastic

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igus has unveiled what it says is “the first robot made of high-performance plastic”. At just 8 kg, ReBeL is the lightest in its class: a real lightweight robot.

The compact, space-saving design with an integrated control system in the base opens up completely new fields of application for service robotics.

In collaboration with people, the ReBeL takes on tasks in the event and gastronomy sector, for example as a reliable coffee enricher or as a machine loader in production.

The robot is available as a plug-and-play version with integrated control system and robot software or as an open source version. In addition, users can choose between four or six degrees of freedom and thus adapt the ReBeL to their individual application scenario. [Read more…] about igus unveils ‘first’ industrial robot made of plastic

4Ocean robot cleans up Florida beach as part of startup’s mission to clean up the world’s oceans

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A robot built by 4Ocean is cleaning up Florida beach as part of the startup company’s mission to clean up the entire world’s oceans.

An ambitious mission for sure, and one for which the company admits “there is no playbook”, but 4Ocean has already collected 28 million pounds of trash from the plastic-polluted salty waters of the world and its program is just getting started.

The robot 4Ocean has supplied to Florida beach is called the BeBot, which collects things like cigarette butts, pieces of plastic and other trash, according to a report on the Fox Weather website. [Read more…] about 4Ocean robot cleans up Florida beach as part of startup’s mission to clean up the world’s oceans

Micromolding Service for Droplet Microfluidic Chips Market

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Droplet microfluidics is a recent trend of laboratory automation technologies, which allow scientists to explore the biological world at an unprecedented resolution and throughput.

The new infrastructure is powered by innovative instrumentation, software as well as the consumable reagents and chips. In this context, plastic chips play a key role in enabling these applications, as they ensure a consistent and scalable droplet production.  [Read more…] about Micromolding Service for Droplet Microfluidic Chips Market

US retailer Meijer to launch beach and water cleaning drones in the Great Lakes

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US Midwest retailer Meijer is launching its participation in the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup Program with the use of two innovative technologies – the BeBot and Pixie Drone, partly based on the WasteShark produced by Ranmarine – to clean up Midwestern beaches and waterways in partnership with the Council of the Great Lakes Region. 

This initiative is supporting the single largest deployment of these types of eco-friendly and remote-controlled devices across multiple states in the Great Lakes, which encompass the largest surface freshwater system in the world.

Rick Keyes, Meijer president and CEO, says: “It is a privilege to live near the Great Lakes, which inherently comes with the responsibility to protect them. [Read more…] about US retailer Meijer to launch beach and water cleaning drones in the Great Lakes

Dual Extruder 3D Printing Advantages How to Use

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A dual extruder allows people to print things in two colors, and it helps to make the printing process a little faster, or perhaps a little more efficient, and as yet may prove to offer a broader range of printing options as we advance the technology behind 3D printing.  [Read more…] about Dual Extruder 3D Printing Advantages How to Use

Using Robotics in Plastic Surgery

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Often when we think of robotics, plastic surgery is not the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, if surgery even enters the picture, plastic surgery isn’t likely to be at the top of the list. However, robotics has changed how plastic surgery is performed.

We needed to understand better about how robotics is used in plastic surgery, so we consulted with a few plastic surgeons, such as plastic surgeon Dr. Asif Pirani. This is what we found out. [Read more…] about Using Robotics in Plastic Surgery

Robotic grippers 3D-printed for packaging machines

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Plastic grippers made from 3D printing and tribofilaments from Igus are 85 percent and 70 percent cheaper than the majority of competitors in the packaging industry.

3D printing is one of the most important trends in the industry today. It allows single batches to become a reality, allowing for personalized serial production of watches, furniture, and shoes. Additive manufacturing can also be a benefit to the packaging industry.

Metal grippers can be expensive and take a long time to produce.A certain company, after trying to 3D-print grippers using standard plastics like ABS and PLA with poor results, turned to igus. [Read more…] about Robotic grippers 3D-printed for packaging machines

ABB and Zume to accelerate transition away from single use plastics

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ABB Robotics has signed an agreement to collaborate with California-based Zume, a global provider of innovative, compostable packaging.

ABB will supply robotic cells that will enable Zume’s production of sustainable packaging on a global scale, helping to reduce reliance on single-use plastics.

ABB will integrate and install more than 1,000 molded fiber manufacturing cells (MFC) – including up to 2,000 robots at Zume customer’s sites worldwide over the next five years. [Read more…] about ABB and Zume to accelerate transition away from single use plastics