Robotics & Automation News

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Investing in robotics and automation – part one

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investment
Picture credit: Flickr

Beginning a new series of articles about investing in robotics and automation, Brian Gahsman, managing partner and chief investment officer at GBSfunds.com, explains how his company, Gahsman Branton, approaches the market 

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Source: Gahsman Branton 

Check out realtime stock prices for companies in the robotics, automation and relating computing sectors

Robotics and Automation News: Tell us about GBS Funds and what its aims are. Tell us about the composite and investment fund for the “robotics revolution” as you call it.

Brian Gahsman: GBS Funds is an investment management company which was started by Rob Branton and myself this year. We are launching our first fund, the GBS Global Innovations Fund on October 1st 2016.

The fund’s main focus is investing in companies worldwide which play a critical role in the global robotics and automation revolution. The strategy will also invest in game changing innovations across other diverse industries and sectors.

In early 2014 I began to research the technological evolution of global robotics and automation comparative to capacity and demand which became a sub strategy of a previous fund that I co-managed.  [Read more…] about Investing in robotics and automation – part one

Manufacturers rely on big data to navigate tough business conditions, says Honeywell

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Survey of 200 executives indicates most manufacturers plan to increase investments in data analytics over next year – even while delaying other technology investments

A recent survey of manufacturing executives indicates many respondents (67 percent) are pressing ahead with plans to invest in data analytics even as they pare back spending in other areas to combat tough business conditions.

The reason: Many say they view data analytics – a key component of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) – as a viable solution to a cycle of problems that lead to downtime and lost revenue.

More than 200 North American manufacturing executives took part in the survey titled Data’s Big Impact on Manufacturing: A Study of Executive Opinions. The survey was jointly conducted by Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS) and KRC Research, from May 23 to June 8, 2016.  [Read more…] about Manufacturers rely on big data to navigate tough business conditions, says Honeywell

Exclusive: Comau has eyes on massive Asian market

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Exclusive interview with Maurizio Cremonini, head of marketing at Comau

As many readers of Robotics and Automation News will know, Comau (Consorzio Macchine Utensili) is the Italian manufacturer of industrial robotic arms utilised by all the leading automakers in the world. 

One of those automakers is the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Group, which happens to own Comau, as well as the famous Ferrari brand of supercars.

So, in a way, Comau could claim to be the Ferrari of industrial robot makers. If I were the company’s marketing boss, I would certainly make more of the Ferrari connection. Having said that, Comau robots do echo the beauty of Ferrari cars, both in their colour and their shapes, using a similar red to the classic body paint on a Ferrari such as the one pictured above, and lately using a silver/grey/brushed steel and black combination with curves perhaps borrowed from Ferrari cars.

Maurizio Cremonini is head of marketing at Comau, and he has made time to give Robotics and Automation News this exclusive, extensive and deep insight into Comau.  [Read more…] about Exclusive: Comau has eyes on massive Asian market

Don’t forget our new ebook – Robotics and Automation Industry Thought Leaders – is out now

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robotics and automation industry thought leaders

Our new ebook, Robotics and Automation Industry Thought Leaders, is out now.

Featuring a selection of the best interviews from RoboticsAndAutomationNews.com, the epublication makes the perfect gift for your entire social network.

Now available in digital form on Apple iBooks Store, Amazon, and all good online outlets.

Exclusive interview with Cisco Jasper’s IoT cloud exec

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A conversation with Theresa Bui, head of enterprise product marketing, IoT cloud at Cisco Jasper

Theresa Bui is an expert in cloud services as they apply to industry, in particular. Through Cisco, Bui’s work involves dealing with large, industrial conglomerates, such as General Electric, ABB and others.

With more than 20 years of strategic marketing experience, Bui is on the verge of helping make Cisco as important to the industrial sector as it is to the infrastructure of the internet.

In an interview with Robotics and Automation News, Bui provides an insight into Cisco’s approach to a range of new technologies, including industrial internet of things, robotics and automation.  [Read more…] about Exclusive interview with Cisco Jasper’s IoT cloud exec

Robots not yet ready to enter smart homes, says expert

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relaince smart client for smart homes

TechTalk – Smart Homes: Interview with Matt Davis, of SCM World, about smart homes and intelligent buildings of the future. Courtesy of Currys PC World

The phrase “bricks and mortar” is till used to conjure up images of buildings, residential or commercial. Usually, the phrase differentiates between something virtual or exists only in computers, say a website for a shop, and something that is physical, like an actual, real-world shop on the high street, for example. 

But, along with everything else in the known world, bricks-and-mortar building are being computerised. Those that have already integrated some degree of computer technology are often called “smart homes”, if they are residential, and “intelligent buildings”, if they are commercial.

A lot of experts say that over the next decade or so, the vast majority of buildings – commercial and residential – will become computerised, or become “smarter”.

In the first of two interviews about the subject, we publish a Q&A with Matt Davis, senior vice president, SCM World, a cross-industry learning community backed by some of the world’s most influential supply chain practitioners.  [Read more…] about Robots not yet ready to enter smart homes, says expert

Protecting humans from robots in the workplace

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In advance of the Next-Generation Collabrative Robots & Automation Technologies 2016 conference (August 17-18, Detroit MI), we spoke to Matt Epperson, compliance safety and health officer, Department of Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

With the industry now witnessing an influx of next-generation collaborative robotics and automation technologies, how important is it for the automotive industry and technology providers to come together and share best practices for driving safer, faster and more profitable manufacturing and maintaining a solid life-cycle?

It is more important now since there are many unknown variables related to this new technology. It is very important for industry to share ideas and best practices when it comes to protecting their workforce from workplace injuries.  [Read more…] about Protecting humans from robots in the workplace

Subaru looking for maximum performance from robotics and automation

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Interview with Steven Eakins, manufacturing engineer, Subaru of Indiana Automotive

In advance of the Next-Generation Collabrative Robots & Automation Technologies 2016 conference (August 17-18, Detroit MI), we spoke to Steven Eakins about his perspective as a manufacturing engineer and where Subaru stands when it comes to robotics and automation technologies.  [Read more…] about Subaru looking for maximum performance from robotics and automation

Exclusive: Cemtrex extends its electronic tentacles into new markets

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Saagar Govil, CEO of Cemtrex
Saagar Govil, CEO of Cemtrex. Picture: Newsday.com

Exclusive interview with Saagar Govil, chairman and CEO of Cemtrex

A lot’s happened since this website was introduced to Cemtrex a few weeks ago. The company’s been on a gigantic spending spree, buying up companies and restructuring its business for new markets as though it were in a hurry to get somewhere fast.

Where that somewhere is may be deduced from the acquisitions Cemtrex has made and the types of products and services in which the acquired companies specialise.

Last month, Cemtrex purchased an obscure German company called The Target, an electronics manufacturer which supplies top-level automakers.

Then, earlier this month, Cemtrex bought up and is synergising its operations with another German electronics manufacturer, Periscope. Not to be confused with Periscope the video streaming app, the Periscope Cemtrex bought is another supplier to major automotive companies.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what Cemtrex has its heart set on – the market for electronics used in autonomous vehicles.  [Read more…] about Exclusive: Cemtrex extends its electronic tentacles into new markets

Lean leadership and the Topper Industrial journey

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Manufacturing journalist Tom Cutler talks with Chris Mosby, a Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Blackbelt

For more than 20 years, Topper Industrial, based just outside of Milwaukee, WI, has been a leader in the material handling equipment industry.

The company’s product roster features industrial carts, conveyors, lifts, lifts and tilts, shipping racks, containers, casters, and cart components.

From mother-daughter carts to quad steer carts to tilt carts and rotate carts, Topper’s material handling solutions make delivering material line side more effective through more efficient practices.  [Read more…] about Lean leadership and the Topper Industrial journey