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ABB Robotics offers South Africa’s food and beverage industry ‘a taste of the future’

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By Linda Eales, robotics division manager at ABB South Africa

The future has never looked more unpredictable for South Africa’s food and beverage (F&B) sector, as it battles a perfect storm of pressure brought on by Covid-19, changing consumer and retail consumption patterns, disrupted supply chains and ongoing scrutiny around food safety.

The food and beverage sector has been battered by a couple of high-profile food safety scares in recent years, and is scrambling to keep up with mega-trends like digitalisation and shifting consumption patterns. The good news is that this could be the perfect opportunity for the local F&B industry to reposition itself for the present and future.

F&B manufacturers increasingly need more flexibility on their production lines to enable them to adapt to changing consumer tastes and demands. At the same time, they require higher levels of productivity and efficiency, while maintaining the highest levels of product quality. In many cases, the answer to these challenges is to install a robotics solution, which makes F&B operations safer and more productive. [Read more…] about ABB Robotics offers South Africa’s food and beverage industry ‘a taste of the future’

ABB to power South Korea’s first domestic zero-emissions ferry

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ABB has secured a contract with Haemin Heavy Industries shipyard to provide a complete power and propulsion solution for Busan Port Authority’s first all-electric passenger ferry.

The new ferry represents the first commitment by South Korean authorities to a plan which will see 140 state-owned conventionally powered vessels replaced with those operating on cleaner alternatives by 2030, in line with environmental legislation.

Sustainable transportation, including marine vessels, will play an important role in South Korea’s plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, set out in the country’s Green New Deal, announced in 2020. [Read more…] about ABB to power South Korea’s first domestic zero-emissions ferry

South Korea looks to strengthen position in global autonomous vehicles market with billion-dollar investment

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South Korea is looking to strengthen its position in the global autonomous vehicles market with an investment of 1.1 trillion South Korean won, which equates to about $1 billion.

The investment calls for the development of “level 4” autonomous cars, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT, according to a report on the Korean Times website.

Level 4 autonomy – as defined by the SAE – means that a car is capable of driving itself but is designed to be ultimately controlled by a human driver. [Read more…] about South Korea looks to strengthen position in global autonomous vehicles market with billion-dollar investment

Mitsubishi launches Assista collaborative robot in North and South America

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Mitsubishi Electric has launched its Assista collaborative robot in North and South America.

The Assista Collaborative Robot is built to be an industrial-grade collaborative robot for a cooperative environment.

Mitsubishi Electric Automation has announced the launch of its Assista collaborative robot in the Americas. As a collaborative robot, or “cobot”, Assista is designed to share its workplace with humans in a safe and efficient manner. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi launches Assista collaborative robot in North and South America

South Korea reaches new record of 300,000 industrial robots in operation

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South Korea has doubled the number of industrial robots over the past five years to reach a new record of 300,000 industrial robots in operation.

This is according to figures in the World Robotics report, released by the International Federation of Robotics.

The data shows a new record stock of about 300,000 operational industrial robots in the Republic of Korea – more commonly known as South Korea – in 2018, which is an increase of about 10 percent on the previous year. [Read more…] about South Korea reaches new record of 300,000 industrial robots in operation

BlueBotics signs up South Korean distributor

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BlueBotics, the global reference in natural feature navigation for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), has further strengthened its footprint in Asia by announcing a new distribution agreement with South Korean motion and control pioneer MacPion.

BlueBotics’ Autonomous Navigation Technology (ANT) is being integrated by an ever-growing number of industrial vehicle original equipment manufacturers and system integrators across the globe, having been applied across a wide range of applications – from shop floors to warehouses, clean rooms, hospitals and more – over the past decade.

Nicola Tomatis, the CEO of BlueBotics, says: “Our ANT technology is fast becoming the localization and navigation solution of choice for Asia’s autonomous vehicle producers. [Read more…] about BlueBotics signs up South Korean distributor

UBTECH launches portable social robot with ‘loving AI’

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UBTECH has launched a portable social robot with what the company describes as “loving” artificial intelligence.

AlphaMini, a portable humanoid robot, which is is said to be able to chat, read, sing and dance, made its debut today in South Korea.

Built by UBTECH robotics, a manufacturer of intelligent humanoid robotics and AI technologies, the cute-looking creature combines advanced robotics and highly extensible AI platform to give you the most intimate human-robot interactive experiences. [Read more…] about UBTECH launches portable social robot with ‘loving AI’

Doosan Robotics to open new US headquarters to expand distribution in the Americas

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Doosan Robotics, a manufacturer of collaborative robots, says it plans to establish its first US office in Buford, Georgia by the end of 2019 to accelerate its distribution efforts.

The new office will serve as the headquarters for sales, marketing, training, and customer service in the Americas.

Doosan produced the first generation of cobots in 2018 and immediately grew into multiple channels. The company quickly solidified its global presence with the help of its parent company, a large industrial conglomerate. [Read more…] about Doosan Robotics to open new US headquarters to expand distribution in the Americas

Trump to raise tariffs on China goods to 25 percent

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US President Donald Trump is preparing to raise tariffs on Chinese imports to 25 percent from the current 15 percent.

The levies will affect approximately $350 billion worth of Chinese exports to America.

Trump made the announcement through Twitter. He tweeted: “For 10 months, China has been paying tariffs to the USA of 25 percent on $50 billion dollars of high-tech, and 10 percent on $200 billion of other goods.

[Read more…] about Trump to raise tariffs on China goods to 25 percent

Foxconn boss Terry Gou considers automating the entire population of Taiwan

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Foxconn boss Terry Gou has confirmed that he is considering running for president in Taiwan’s general election next year, according to the South China Morning Post.

“I will decide in the next two days whether to run for president,” Gou told reporters at a seminar in Taipei earlier today. “I hardly slept last night thinking of the future of Taiwan and its security issues.”

He added that the 2020 presidential election will be “extremely critical in determining Taiwan’s future in the next 20 years in the political, defense and economic sectors”.  [Read more…] about Foxconn boss Terry Gou considers automating the entire population of Taiwan