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Comau to build ‘full-scale’ automation solution for electric vehicle maker Mullen Automotive

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Comau has agreed a strategic alliance with Mullen Automotive, an emerging electric vehicle manufacturer, for the build-out of a vehicle body shop at Mullen’s Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center in Tunica, Mississippi, United States.

Comau and Mullen Automotive are joining forces to develop the state-of-the-art body shop for the new and upcoming Mullen “Five” EV Crossover.

Comau’s competency stems from over 45 years of field proven-experience and a strong presence within every major industrial country. [Read more…] about Comau to build ‘full-scale’ automation solution for electric vehicle maker Mullen Automotive

7 Crucial Automobile Safety Considerations for Mechanics

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Some people want to own a car, and some want to fix it. The automobile makes our life easy, and automobile mechanics help do it. We can repair our vehicles anytime we want, and they provide the best work for our car.

Aside from all, there are some safety rules that all the mechanics should be appropriately followed. It is a risky job to fix a vehicle. Without proper knowledge and enough safety precautions, no one should perform the job. It is not a game to play. However, it is amusing and exciting to work on vehicles.  [Read more…] about 7 Crucial Automobile Safety Considerations for Mechanics

Manufacturing operations management: A high-value starting point for digital transformation

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The hunger for transformation among industry players is at an all-time high. But at the same time, organizations want lower risk options to digitalize the shop floor.

To reduce the number of isolated, inflexible solutions, manufacturers will want to seek a connected, scalable and sustainable platform approach that enables them to simultaneously maintain high levels of throughput, quality and customer service – while creating opportunities for sustainable innovation.

This is where a Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) solution comes into play. The experts at 3DS Delmia, part of the Dassault Systèmes Group, take a closer look at MOM and how it can be so impactful for your business. [Read more…] about Manufacturing operations management: A high-value starting point for digital transformation

Guide: Choosing a Garage for your Car Repairs

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Choosing a garage for your car repairs can be an overwhelming and confusing task, especially if you deal with a damaged car.

The truth of the matter is that garage services are not cheap, so it is essential to do your homework and gather as much information as possible so that you can make an informed decision about where to have your car fixed.

Dealing With A Damaged Car: You may find yourself in a situation where you need to call a mechanic because your car has broken down unexpectedly. This can be a very frustrating experience because dealing with an unexpected breakdown can be stressful. [Read more…] about Guide: Choosing a Garage for your Car Repairs

Acieta launches mobile collaborative robotic work cell

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Now is an especially challenging time for machine shops facing capacity shortfalls and labor shortages. To address these struggles, Acieta has launched what it says is its “simplest to use, most flexible cobot solution ever” – the FastLoad CX1000 collaborative expandable robotic cell.

To prevent shop equipment from sitting idle, the FastLoad CX1000 is mounted on a mobile platform that one worker can move easily so it can be quickly set up at different machines around the shop.

The system is equipped with a Fanuc 10KG, 120 V collaborative robotic arm to master material handling tasks. It can be outfitted with up to three modular carts to handle a wide variety of parts or allow more parts in the queue. [Read more…] about Acieta launches mobile collaborative robotic work cell

BMW applies AI dust particle analysis to ‘increase paint shop quality’

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BMW says it uses an “ongoing algorithm-based analysis” of dust content in vehicle paint booths and compares them to a database to predict the quality of coating it applies to cars

Artificial intelligence can bring even greater precision to controlling highly sensitive systems in automotive production, as a pilot project in the paint shop of the BMW’s Munich plant has demonstrated.

Despite state-of-the-art filtration technology, the content of finest dust particles in paint lines varies depending on the ambient air drawn in. If the dust content exceeded the threshold, the still wet paint could trap particles, thus visually impairing the painted surface.

AI specialists from what BMW calls its “central planning” and the Munich plant have now found a way to avoid this situation altogether: every freshly painted car body must undergo an automatic surface inspection in the paint shop. [Read more…] about BMW applies AI dust particle analysis to ‘increase paint shop quality’

All Axis Robotics manufactures custom robot arm end-effectors with MakerBot 3D printer

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MakerBot, a 3D printing equipment supplier, says All Axis Robotics is implementing the MakerBot “Method” manufacturing workstation – or 3D printer – into its automation processes to produce custom tooling parts for its legacy machines as well as customers.

All Axis Robotics is a Dallas, Texas-based machine shop and a leader in turnkey custom robot solutions for other machine shops and manufacturing facilities in need of automated machine tending.

Customers enlist the expertise of All Axis Robotics’ mechanical and manufacturing engineers to streamline their manufacturing operations with robotic arms and custom end-effectors, including those for CNC machine tending, automated part sanding, and brake press machine tending, among others. [Read more…] about All Axis Robotics manufactures custom robot arm end-effectors with MakerBot 3D printer

Ford installs team of collaborative robots on Fiesta assembly line

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Automaker Ford has for the first time introduced a team of collaborative robots that works alongside engineers in Cologne, Germany, to ensure every Ford Fiesta has a perfect finish.

The six cobots complete a choreographed sequence to sand the entire body surface in just 35 seconds. The initiative does not replace employees but allows operators to use their time on more complex tasks and avoid suffering the strains associated with performing repetitive tasks.

Dennis Kuhn, senior manufacturing engineer, paint shop, Ford of Europe, says: “The cobots can feel when more force needs to be applied, just like we can, and they can more easily get to hard-to-reach places, like the centre of the roof.” [Read more…] about Ford installs team of collaborative robots on Fiesta assembly line

Stop & Shop installs robotic bakery ‘Breadbot’ at its Massachusetts store

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Stop & Shop has teamed up with the Wilkinson Baking Company to install the Mini Bakery, also known as “Breadbot”, at its Milford, Massachusetts, store.

Stop & Shop is the only grocer on the East Coast with The Mini Bakery, offering sandwich-style bread that is fresh-from-the-oven, delicious and affordable.

The Mini Bakery – which is described as a “robotic bakery” by some – mixes, forms, proofs, bakes and cools 10 loaves of artisan bread per hour. [Read more…] about Stop & Shop installs robotic bakery ‘Breadbot’ at its Massachusetts store

Škoda opens new $200 million paint shop featuring 66 robots

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Škoda Auto has opened a new automotive paint shop at its main plant in Mladá Boleslav, in the Czech Republic, featuring 66 industrial robots configured for applying the paint.

Up to 168,000 car bodies will be coated with paint there each year, taking the plant’s total annual painting capacity up to 812,000 vehicles.

Škoda Auto has invested €214.5 million in the new building, creating more than 650 new jobs. (See infographic below.) [Read more…] about Škoda opens new $200 million paint shop featuring 66 robots