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Okuma and Hartwig open tech centre in Houston

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Okuma America Corporation, a world leader in CNC machine tool manufacturing, and Okuma distributor Hartwig, have opened a new Okuma Tech Center at Hartwig Houston in Texas, USA.

The 23,000 sq ft showroom which features more than 20 machine tools – including larger machines specifically built for the oil and gas industry.

Wade Anderson, Okuma Product Specialists Sales Manager and Tech Centers Manager, said: “The new space allows us to show the larger machines that are significant to the oil and gas industry, and our customers can see live-cutting applications demonstrated on these Okuma machine tools.”

Toyota premieres own-brand battery electric vehicles

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Toyota unveiled its C-HR and IZOA battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on the opening day of Auto Shanghai 2019.

The C-HR and IZOA will be the first BEVs to launch in China under the Toyota brand. Sales of the new models are expected to start from 2020.

Toyota also displayed other electrified vehicles, such as hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) variants for the RAV4 and the Alphard/Vellfire in China, as well as the Corolla and Levin plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) series, launched in March 2019.

[Read more…] about Toyota premieres own-brand battery electric vehicles

Infographic: How AI is streamlining the supply chain

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Noodle AI has produced an infographic to show how artificial intelligence is changing commerce

Artificial intelligence is everywhere. In fact, you may have interacted with it today and you didn’t even know it.

AI can streamline a lot of our daily business operations, freeing us up to tackle more difficult tasks.

Within the world of e-commerce, AI may be the key to streamlining the supply chain. [Read more…] about Infographic: How AI is streamlining the supply chain

Veo Robotics could make all industrial robots collaborative

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Traditional industrial robots tend to be very large and potentially dangerous, which is why they tend to be caged off and kept separate from human workers.

But a new company called Veo Robotics says it has the technology to transform traditional industrial robotic arms into safe machines that humans can work alongside, within close proximity.

Veo’s solution could make every industrial robot a collaborative robot. The term “collaborative” is recognized by international standards organizations and usually applies to much smaller, newer types of robots which are specifically designed to safe for humans to work with.  [Read more…] about Veo Robotics could make all industrial robots collaborative

North American semiconductor manufacturing equipment industry posts $2.5 billion in billings

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North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor-making equipment posted $2.49 billion in billings worldwide in June 2018, according to industry association SEMI.

The $2.49 billion figure is calculated by SEMI on a “three-month average basis”, and is published in the Market Data Billings Report, published today by SEMI.

The billings figure is 8 percent lower than the final May 2018 level of $2.7 billion, and is 8.1 percent higher than the June 2017 billings level of $2.3 billion.  [Read more…] about North American semiconductor manufacturing equipment industry posts $2.5 billion in billings

Omron awards its North American distributors of the year

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Industrial automation solutions provider Omron Automation Americas recently announced the 2017 fiscal year’s winners of its “Distributor of the Year” award at its 2018 Sales Conference during the week of May 21st.

More than 650 representatives of Omron and the company’s channel partners participated in the event, which included new technology presentations, product training, business planning and team building activities.

The Sales Conference was truly an Americas event, with attendees hailing from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and other Latin American countries.  [Read more…] about Omron awards its North American distributors of the year

Nachi-Fujikoshi profits increase by 44 per cent, led by strong demand for industrial robots

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Nachi-Fujikoshi, one of the world’s largest industrial robot manufacturers, is believed to have increased its profits by 44 per cent. 

The industrial robots segment is said to have grown by more than 50 per cent and now accounts for more than 10 per cent of sales.

Nikkei says the earnings jump was due to growing demand for factory automation equipment, especially from China.  [Read more…] about Nachi-Fujikoshi profits increase by 44 per cent, led by strong demand for industrial robots

By 2020, 1.7 million new robots will be roaming the earth

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The global robot population is growing at what some might say is an alarming rate. 

As well as the countless millions already tucked away in factories and homes everywhere, there could be another 2 million added to that number by the end of the decade, which may or may not coincide with the end of humanity’s control over the planet and a ceremonial transfer of power to the robots and artificial intelligence.

Purely ceremonial, since some people say they already rule over us anyway.  [Read more…] about By 2020, 1.7 million new robots will be roaming the earth

China reaching new heights in demand for industrial robots as well as making them

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China is seeing more demand for industrial robots as well as more of the machines being built inside the country, according to a report by the Robotics industries Association. 

Annual sales in China were “the highest level ever recorded for a single country”, says RIA, adding “sales in China surged by 27 percent to 87,000 units” in 2016.

At the same time, says RIA, robot manufacturers in China have been expanding their market share within the country.  [Read more…] about China reaching new heights in demand for industrial robots as well as making them

German robotics and automation market set for sales of $15 billion this year

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vdma article

The German robotics and automation market is forecast to grow by 7 per cent this year compared with last year, with sales volume projected to reach a massive $15 billion. 

Germany is one of the world’s leading buyers of industrial robotics and automation systems, and purchased approximately $14 billion worth in 2016.

These are figures which German engineering association VDMA has suggested as a result of its research into the market.  [Read more…] about German robotics and automation market set for sales of $15 billion this year