Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

service

Universal Robots opens repair center in Shanghai

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Universal Robots‘ newly renovated location in Shanghai will handle all repair requests as well as house a complete inventory of spare parts for Universal Robots collaborative robot arms, servicing the entire China mainland region.

Universal Robots General Manager in China, Adam Sobieski, said: “In China, which is developing very fast, not only the system integrators but also the end users prefer just-in-time services and solutions,” he says.

With the 200 sqm new center in Shanghai and support from a local technical and application team, Universal Robots China says it is able to deliver a timely after-sales service locally.

[Read more…] about Universal Robots opens repair center in Shanghai

ZF opens European service center for industrial gearboxes in Witten, Germany

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zf witten plant
ZF’s plant in Witten, Germany

All European service activities of ZF for industrial and large gearboxes will now be concentrated in one place

ZF, one of the world’s leading technology providers to the automotive trade, has been busy expanding its operations lately. 

The company has opened its first consolidated European service centre in Germany, as well as a new technology centre in India.

The opening of the ZF European Service Center in Witten, Germany proves ZF’s focus on service and customer orientation in the industrial drives business, according to the company.  [Read more…] about ZF opens European service center for industrial gearboxes in Witten, Germany

Avid Technology launches new predictive maintenance system for vehicle fleet operators

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Giles Johnston (left), Avid business improvement consultant, with Avid managing director, Ryan Maughan
Giles Johnston (left), Avid business improvement consultant, with Avid managing director, Ryan Maughan

North East England based automotive cleantech firm Avid Technology has launched a new system for the fleet maintenance industry to help bus operators solve the ongoing quest for efficiency.

Avid says its three new fleet service products – Smart Speed, Smart Shield and Smart Spanner – are designed to reduce costs, boost productivity and improve service delivery and safety.

The entire system is based on the principles of what the company calls “Total Preventative Maintenance”, which it says is used widely to improve the effectiveness of manufacturing operations across the world.  [Read more…] about Avid Technology launches new predictive maintenance system for vehicle fleet operators

Japan planning to invest billions in service robots

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Japan Robot Week 2016 was hailed “a great success” by the organisers, as the event finished. 

In 2015, the Japanese government announced “Japan’s Robot Strategy”, designating the subsequent five years as a term for dedicated focus on robotics innovation.

Leading up to 2020, the government pledged to invest approximately $1 billion in robotics-related projects, aiming to expand the service robot market to $14 billion – about 20 times today’s market value.  [Read more…] about Japan planning to invest billions in service robots

The future will be ‘highly automated’, says Schunk’s Steinmann

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schunk gripping robot

Humans and robots will cooperate more and more closely in the future

Efficient teamwork between man and robot 

During the ninth Schunk Expert Days on Service Robotics, Ralf Steinmann, director business unit gripping systems at Schunk, explained current developments and trends in the field of service robotics.

He sees the biggest growth potential in the industrial environment – in highly networked, autonomous collaborative robot systems for Industry 4.0.  [Read more…] about The future will be ‘highly automated’, says Schunk’s Steinmann