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Teledyne Technologies to acquire FLIR Systems

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Teledyne Technologies and FLIR Systems have entered into a definitive agreement under which Teledyne will acquire FLIR in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $8 billion.

Under the terms of the agreement, FLIR stockholders will receive $28 per share in cash and 0.0718 shares of Teledyne common stock for each FLIR share, which implies a total purchase price of $56 per FLIR share based on Teledyne’s 5-day volume weighted average price as of December 31, 2020.

The transaction reflects a 40 percent premium for FLIR stockholders based on FLIR’s 30-day volume weighted average price as of December 31, 2020. [Read more…] about Teledyne Technologies to acquire FLIR Systems

ABB expands project to automate semiconductor factory

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What started out as a small project to automate a single production stage has morphed into an award-winning program to digitally transform one of ABB’s own factories – in what is dubbed Project Genesis. (See video below.) 

The power semiconductors produced by ABB pass through hundreds of production steps, from raw wafer dicing to the final semiconductor module.

Production of the BiMOS semiconductor – one of two types produced at Lenzburg, Switzerland – was labor intensive and tended to generate bottlenecks during high demand. [Read more…] about ABB expands project to automate semiconductor factory

ABB chooses IBM for procurement digitization

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IBM has been contracted by ABB to help support its procurement digitization journey with the launch of SmartBuy, a newly designed end-to-end employee purchasing program that aims to match the ease of online shopping with the intuitiveness and speed of a search engine. 

The solution is designed to also be tasked with automating the process of finding, procuring and managing ABB’s supplier network, with services like self-registration and contract processes.

Daniel Stumm, ABB’s head of indirect procurement, says: “We wanted to transform our eProcurement processes to drive business value and create a better experience for our user community and suppliers while avoiding the need for major training and allowing for an increased level of self-service. [Read more…] about ABB chooses IBM for procurement digitization

Visteon unveils ‘first’ wireless automotive battery management system

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Automotive technology company Visteon has announced a first production-intent, completely wireless battery management system (BMS) to monitor battery packs continuously for state of health and charge.

GM will be the first OEM to equip its electric vehicles (EVs) with the systems solution from Visteon, GM and other technology partners. GM will make the system standard on all planned EV models powered by its Ultium batteries.

Sachin Lawande, president and CEO, Visteon, says: “Our wireless BMS technology eliminates wiring harnesses found in the battery packs of traditional systems, delivering a solution that offers a secure, safe and robust battery system for EVs.” [Read more…] about Visteon unveils ‘first’ wireless automotive battery management system

Kuka receives ‘major order’ from VW for production of ID.Buzz

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Kuka has received what it describes as a “major order” for body-in-white production robots and systems of the ID.Buzz from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

VW is focusing on electromobility and with the ID.Buzz brings its classic, the Bulli, to the road as a fully electric version.

Kuka is responsible for the planning, delivery, assembly and commissioning of a fully automated body shop system for the underbody of the all-electric ID.Buzz. [Read more…] about Kuka receives ‘major order’ from VW for production of ID.Buzz

Comau robots ‘proud’ to have built new Fiat 500

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Comau Robotics says it is “proud” to have participated in the production of the New 500, the latest version of the Fiat 500, first unveiled in 1957 and today one of the most popular cars ever to have been released.

Comau says it has provided its parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the Fiat brand with advanced automation solutions and its know-how in the development of “innovative industrial processes” to produce FCA’s first fully electric vehicle, a “Made in Turin” product.

The path started symbolically in July 2019 with the installation of the first Comau robot, which initiated the production line of the new full-electric model inside FCA’s historic Mirafiori plant. [Read more…] about Comau robots ‘proud’ to have built new Fiat 500

Industrial camera manufacturer IDS expands headquarters

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IDS Imaging Development Systems has expanded its headquarters in Obersulm-Willsbach – after a construction period of about one and a half years, the technology centre b39 could be moved into.

Jan Hartmann, managing director says: “Despite Covid 19, the work went almost without a hitch.

“We are very pleased that with the new building we can provide our employees with an ultra-modern and at the same time very attractive place to work.” [Read more…] about Industrial camera manufacturer IDS expands headquarters

ABB selects Google Cloud to expand its cloud coverage

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Google Cloud has been selected by ABB to further expand the cloud footprint of its ABB Information Systems (IS) services business unit.

The Swiss-headquartered global technology leader has chosen Google Cloud as part of the organization’s “Rationalizing IT Operations” – codenamed “Program RIO” – initiative, which seeks to further increase the scalability and resilience of its infrastructure services to all ABB businesses.

Google Cloud will collaborate with ABB’s hosting services team to layout an optimized cloud migration that is tailored to meet the IS needs of ABB businesses. [Read more…] about ABB selects Google Cloud to expand its cloud coverage

Why Do Some Businesses Fail in Today’s Market?

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If you ask just about anyone on the street corner, they could tell you a few reasons why businesses fail. Usually, someone would say that a business fails because they run out of money. While this is very true, there are many more problems than that.

I have come up with a few reasons why some businesses are failing, and how they can get back on track. It is one thing to know why a business is failing, but it is a totally different animal to actually come up with a plan to succeed. [Read more…] about Why Do Some Businesses Fail in Today’s Market?

BMG unveils robotic paper cup manufacturing system

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Brown Machine Group (BMG) has designed a robotic paper cup manufacturing system for use in paper cup manufacturing applications.

BMG says its aXatronics C-Rush System is the first of its kind to automatically remove sidewalls, or Blanks, from high-speed, vertical die-cutters and robotically place them into work-in-progress containers, the C-Rush System significantly reduces manual labor and improves die-cutter productivity.

C-Rush is equipped with Smart-Dola – a new patent pending die-cutter output lane assembly (Dola) fixture that dramatically improves overall system throughput. [Read more…] about BMG unveils robotic paper cup manufacturing system