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ABB to invest another $20 million on expanding its robotics factory in US

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ABB has strengthened its commitment to one of its largest customer markets – the US – with construction starting on the expansion of its existing North American robotics headquarters and manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The project is expected to be completed in November 2023 and represents an investment of $20 million. The expansion will create 72 highly skilled new jobs in the area and is supported by a $450,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.

Sami Atiya, president of ABB Robotics and Discrete Automation, says: “Our investment is a significant step in accelerating ABB Robotics’ global leadership in developing and manufacturing cutting -edge robotic solutions in the US, for the Americas. [Read more…] about ABB to invest another $20 million on expanding its robotics factory in US

ABB launches new version of its Swifti collaborative cobot

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ABB has launched the Swifti CRB 1300 industrial collaborative robot, which the company says “bridges the gap between industrial and collaborative robots”.

Combining class-leading speed and accuracy with expanded load handling capability of up to 11kg, the Swifti CRB 1300 can be used in a wide variety of production and product handling applications – from machine tending and pelletizing to pick-and-place and screwdriving.

Andrea Cassoni, managing director for global general industry robotics at ABB, says: “Our customers are looking to robotic automation to make their processes more flexible, efficient and resilient, helping to counter labor shortages by enabling their employees to perform more value-added work. [Read more…] about ABB launches new version of its Swifti collaborative cobot

DB Schenker opens giant new automated e-commerce logistics hub in Spain

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DB Schenker, a supply chain management and logistics service provider, has started operations at one of the largest automated e-commerce facilities servicing its retail customers in Spain, Portugal and France.

Operations in the 50,000 sq meter state-of-the-art warehouse in Guadalajara have started with 150 employees on newly created jobs, more than 200 robots and an optimized packaging system.

The site is equipped with a Goods-to-Person picking system to handle around 55,000 units per day using Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) provided by Geek+, the global leader in AMR technology. The system features innovative pick-and-pack solutions for a fast and flexible online-order fulfillment and efficiently deal with returns. [Read more…] about DB Schenker opens giant new automated e-commerce logistics hub in Spain

UCLA claims its humanoid robot footballer is ‘better than Messi’

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Mechanical engineers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering have developed a full-sized humanoid robot with “first-of-its-kind technology”.

Named Artemis, for Advanced Robotic Technology for Enhanced Mobility and Improved Stability, the robot is scheduled to travel in July to Bordeaux, France, where it will take part in the soccer competition of the 2023 RoboCup, an international scientific meeting where robots demonstrate capabilities across a range of categories.

The robot was designed by researchers at the Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory at UCLA, or RoMeLa, as a general-purpose humanoid robot, with a particular focus on bipedal locomotion over uneven terrain. [Read more…] about UCLA claims its humanoid robot footballer is ‘better than Messi’

Thira Robotics launches new generation of autonomous mobile robots

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Thira Robotics, a South Korean autonomous mobile robots (AMR) developer and a subsidiary of smart factory solutions leader THiRA UTech, has officially launched in the US market, providing AMR to navigate facility conditions previously not fit for automation.

Thira Robotics offers solutions to healthcare, manufacturing, and supply chain industries to overcome physical barriers to technology adoption. Their launch coincides with Promat 2023, held in Chicago starting March 20th.

Peter Kim, CEO of Thira Robotics, says: “Some plants with poor conditions struggle to integrate AMR successfully. Now, older manufacturers don’t need to remodel to integrate. With Thira Robotics, robotization is possible for facilities not fit for automation. [Read more…] about Thira Robotics launches new generation of autonomous mobile robots

Green movement creating new markets for automation sector

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It is no doubt necessary to achieve the CO2 reduction goals that the UN and numerous manufacturing companies have set for themselves. The implementation of measures is ambitious and expensive.

However, sustainability efforts also create entirely new markets, lead to attractive business models, and offer great opportunities for the key technology that is robotics and automation.

automatica, held in Munich from June 27 to 30, 2023, presents the opportunities of sustainable production. [Read more…] about Green movement creating new markets for automation sector

Starship Technologies launches robot delivery service at North Carolina university

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Starship Technologies, the world’s leading provider of autonomous delivery services, announced today that its robots have started on-demand food deliveries at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte).

Starship’s fleet of 30 autonomous, on-demand robots are now delivering from Wendy’s, Bojangles and Shake Smart and will add more campus eateries throughout March, with 10 onboard by the end of the month.

The school’s nearly 30,000 students and faculty can now use the Starship Food Delivery app (iOS and Android) to order food and drinks from campus retailers to be delivered anywhere on campus, within minutes. [Read more…] about Starship Technologies launches robot delivery service at North Carolina university

Apotea installs ‘world’s first’ piece-picking solution integrated with AutoStore

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Sweden’s leading online pharmacy Apotea automated its logistics centre in Autumn 2022 to quickly, easily, and smoothly deliver approximately 50,000 orders a day to its customers.

Following international cooperation between Element Logic, AutoStore, RightHand Robotics and Apotea, the centre fully integrated eOperator piece-picking robots with an AutoStore solution, a world first.

Pharmacy products are one of the fastest-growing segments of both Swedish and European e-commerce. Apotea.se is Sweden’s largest online pharmacy, with the country’s most comprehensive range of over-the-counter products and prescription drugs. [Read more…] about Apotea installs ‘world’s first’ piece-picking solution integrated with AutoStore

Kiwibot secures $10 million in new funding

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Kiwibot, a robotic last-mile delivery service that has completed over 250,000 food deliveries with robots, has agreed what it describes as a “tailor-made” $10 million financing partnership with asset financing group kineo finance.

The agreement will help Kiwibot with its manufacturing and scaling needs, growing its robotic fleet and disrupting the delivery-as-a-service (DaaS) industry.

By removing the working capital barrier, this partnership will accelerate Kiwibot’s growth in the DaaS industry. kineo finance provides smart asset financing for startups while limiting dilution, so they can focus on growing the business. [Read more…] about Kiwibot secures $10 million in new funding

Collaborative robot market to grow to $2 billion in the pharma industry

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The use of collaborative robots or “cobots” is on the rise in the pharmaceutical industry. Pharmaceutical application takes up around 0.05 percent of the total medical robot market size.

Valued at $553 million, the pharmaceutical robotic market is forecast to grow at 15.7 percent compound annual growth rate to reach $2 billion by 2030.

In hospital settings, pharmacy robots are often included under the category of hospital logistic robots. [Read more…] about Collaborative robot market to grow to $2 billion in the pharma industry