Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

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Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry, says DHL

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DHL, the world’s largest logistics company, has highlighted technologies such as robotics and digitalisation in a new strategy, which it unveiled at its Bering Technology Campus – or “Smart Warehouse” – in the Netherlands.

“Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry”, says DHL, and these technologies are central to the company’s Strategy 2025, launched by Oscar de Bok, CEO DHL Supply Chain last week amid ever-greater challenges facing the logistics industry.

DHL Supply Chain already runs one of its Smart Warehouses and serves customers across Europe with “highly automated and digitalized” contract logistics solutions. [Read more…] about Automation and digitalization will re-shape the logistics industry, says DHL

Lenovo and Schneider Electric partner to develop ‘smart green manufacturing’ in China

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Lenovo and Schneider Electric agreed a strategic partnership that will see the two companies working together on smart green manufacturing solutions for the flourishing Chinese manufacturing sector.

The partnership was unveiled at Lenovo Tech World, the company’s annual innovation summit, with Lenovo chairman and CEO, Yuanqing Yang and Schneider Electric chairman and CEO, Jean-Pascal Tricoire, there to shake hands on the deal.

Leveraging the strengths of both companies, the strategic partnerships will create powerful synergies by combining Lenovo’s Industrial Internet of Things LeapIOT solution with Schneider Electric’s smart green manufacturing solution based on EcoStruxure. [Read more…] about Lenovo and Schneider Electric partner to develop ‘smart green manufacturing’ in China

NXP unveils new chip to turn smartphones into car keys

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NXP Semiconductors, the world’s largest provider of automotive semiconductors, has added to its UWB portfolio with a new automotive UWB integrated circuit, or chip.

UWB provides precise, secure, real-time localization capabilities unrivaled by other wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

The technology is designed to give spatial awareness to UWB-equipped cars, mobiles, and other smart devices, to enable cars to know exactly where the users are. [Read more…] about NXP unveils new chip to turn smartphones into car keys

City of Rotterdam and Lightwell launch multifunctional smart city units

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Smart city technologies are many and varied, and are generally initiated by the local authorities, whose main responsibilities tend to be street lighting, waste disposal, and traffic management, as well some crime.

In this example, the Netherlands city of City of Rotterdam has partnered with Lightwell, a supplier of street lighting equipment, to launch what they describe as “multifunctional smart city units”.

The two partners say the new units are “ready for smart city applications of the future”. [Read more…] about City of Rotterdam and Lightwell launch multifunctional smart city units

Delta Electronics and JTC Corporation agree initiative to develop smart manufacturing systems in Singapore

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Delta Electronics, a provider of power and thermal management solutions, and JTC Corporation, the lead government agency responsible for developing industrial infrastructure, have signed an agreement to collaborate to drive adoption of Industry 4.0 technology.

Delta will set up an Industry 4.0 Solutions and Training Center to support JTC customers, upskill small- and medium-sized business partners and provide advanced automation solutions to tackle problem statements in Singapore’s manufacturing industry.

Jackie Chang, vice president, Southeast Asia and India of Delta Electronics, says: “Delta is greatly looking forward to collaborating with JTC to support its customers with our deep domain knowledge in electronics. [Read more…] about Delta Electronics and JTC Corporation agree initiative to develop smart manufacturing systems in Singapore

Alibaba increases stake in Cainiao by $3.3 billion

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Alibaba, the world’s largest e-commerce company, has increased its equity stake in Cainiao, a provider of automated logistics systems. The two companies have been partners for some time and last year opened what was reported to be the largest robot-operated warehouse in China. 

The additional investment in Cainiao Smart Logistics Network totals RMB23.3 billion (US$3.3 billion) and increases Alibaba’s equity from approximately 51 per cent to approximately 63 per cent.

The investment method used involved subscribing for newly issued Cainiao ordinary shares in its latest financing round and purchasing certain equity interest from an existing Cainiao shareholder. [Read more…] about Alibaba increases stake in Cainiao by $3.3 billion

Geek+ smart warehouses break Single’s Day record with 8 million orders delivered in 72 hours

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Geek+ says it implemented and completed large-scale scheduling of more than 4,000 robots in its smart warehouses during this year’s 11.11 Singles’ Day shopping festival.

China’s largest smart warehouse network processed a record 8 million orders in 72 hours.

Geek+ says “the successful deployment is a fantastic validation of the strength of the robotics-as-a-service business model” and the flexibility and efficiency of smart warehouses during periods of peak orders, including the ultimate challenge of the world’s largest shopping festival. [Read more…] about Geek+ smart warehouses break Single’s Day record with 8 million orders delivered in 72 hours

ABB launches IoT Dashboard for mid-sized commercial building automation solutions

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ABB has launched its new “user-friendly IoT Dashboard” to improve usability and reduce maintenance in smart buildings.

The company’s says the launch is in response to its finding that “preventative maintenance is three to nine times cheaper than reactive maintenance”.

ABB says its IoT Dashboard is “easy to commission, simple to install and intuitive to use”, and allows stronger control, monitoring and automation of all building functions, from dimming and switching of lights to controlling blinds, heating and ventilation. [Read more…] about ABB launches IoT Dashboard for mid-sized commercial building automation solutions

SEMICON Europa opens with smart mobility, medtech, design and talent in spotlight

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SEMICON Europa, Europe’s largest event connecting the entire electronics design and manufacturing supply chain – from innovation to applications – has opened in strategic co-location with productronica at Messe München, in Munich, Germany.

Themed Semiconductors Drive Smart, SEMICON Europa 2019 – November 12 to 15 – highlights the vital importance of European sectors and ecosystems in propelling the semiconductor manufacturing industry and the broader electronics design and manufacturing supply chain worldwide.

Olivier Schwab, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, kicks off the Executive Keynote Opening Ceremony with his presentation Leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. [Read more…] about SEMICON Europa opens with smart mobility, medtech, design and talent in spotlight

Finger Lakes college partners with New Scale Robotics to develop collaborative robot tools

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Finger Lakes Community College has been awarded a $50,000 manufacturing grant from the FuzeHub Innovation Fund to support its work with New Scale Robotics, accelerating development of New Scale’s precision measurement and gripping tools for a wide range of collaborative robots.

New Scale has a line of precision grippers, calipers and other tools that install in minutes on cobots from Universal Robots.

New Scale will collaborate with Dr Sam Samanta, head of the Instrumentation and Controls program at FLCC, and his students to develop a Smart Platform that expands plug-and-play compatibility of New Scale Robotics tools to multiple additional cobot brands. [Read more…] about Finger Lakes college partners with New Scale Robotics to develop collaborative robot tools