Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

units

Toyota and Daimler partner to advance autonomous truck technologies in Japan

by

Following the news that Daimler Truck and Toyota have entered into a partnership to combine their truck businesses in Japan, Varshini Shetty, automotive analyst at GlobalData, offers her view.

Shetty says: “To accelerate the development and manufacture of CASE (Connected / Autonomous & Automated / Shared / Electric) technology and hydrogen vehicles, many businesses are forming alliances with other automakers, start-ups, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

“Aligning with this trend is the deal between Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors Ltd. and Daimler-owned Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. to combine their truck businesses in Japan. [Read more…] about Toyota and Daimler partner to advance autonomous truck technologies in Japan

China overtakes USA in robot density

by

China’s massive investment in industrial robotics has put the country in the top ranking of robot density, surpassing the United States for the first time, according to a report by the International Federation of Robotics.

The number of operational industrial robots relative to the number of workers hit 322 units per 10,000 employees in the manufacturing industry. Today, China ranks in fifth place.

The world’s top 5 most automated countries in manufacturing 2021 are: South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Germany and China. [Read more…] about China overtakes USA in robot density

Industrial robot components market set for higher growth over next decade

by

The global industrial robot components market is expected to be valued at $6.3 billion in 2023 and it is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13.9 percent to reach $23.2 billion by the end of 2033.

Over the 2018-2022 historical period, the global industrial robot component market registered a compound annual growth rate of 12.5 percent, according to Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider, the market is projected to exhibit growth at 13.9 percent compound annual growth rate between 2023 and 2033.

Market share analysis of industrial robot components based on application and region is provided in a nutshell in the above image. Under the application segment, the robot arm/manipulator sub-segment dominates with a 29.1 percent market share in 2023. [Read more…] about Industrial robot components market set for higher growth over next decade

North American robot sales on track for another record year for 2022

by

North American robot sales in the first nine months of 2022 reached record levels, with all indications pointing to 2022 ending with the highest number of robots sold in a year for the second year in a row.

According to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), from January to September 2022, North American companies purchased 35,804 units valued at $1.875 billion, up 24 percent for units ordered and 27 percent for revenue over the same period in 2021.

Jeff Burnstein, president of A3, says: “Ongoing labor shortages, easier-to-use robotic solutions and new industries embracing robotics, such as restaurants, retail, construction and even agriculture, have led to record units sold here in North America this year. [Read more…] about North American robot sales on track for another record year for 2022

iFollow boosts capacity of its mobile robot range to 1500 kg

by

iFollow has expanded its iLogistics autonomous mobile robot range to include a unit with a 1500 kg capacity.

Made at iFollow’s state of the art facilities outside Paris in France, The iL 1500 tops the range that includes units with capacities of 300 kg, 600 kg and 1000 kg.

And with a unit height of just 17 cm, iFollow claims it is “the thinnest mobile robot in the world that can carry 1.5 tons”. [Read more…] about iFollow boosts capacity of its mobile robot range to 1500 kg

Robot sales reach record high in North America for third consecutive quarter

by

For the third-straight quarter, robot sales in North America hit a record high, driven by a resurgence in sales to automotive companies and an ongoing need to manage increasing demand to automate logistics for e-commerce.

According to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), of the 12,305 robots sold in Q2 2022, 59 percent of the orders came from the automotive industry with the remaining orders from non-automotive companies largely in the food and consumer goods industry, which saw a 13 percent increase in unit orders over the same period, April through June, in 2021.

Jeff Burnstein, A3 President, says: “While automotive entities have long been the frontrunner in deploying robotics and automation, the last few years have seen food & consumer goods, life sciences and other industries grow at even higher rates. [Read more…] about Robot sales reach record high in North America for third consecutive quarter

Yaskawa completes new plant for manufacturing mounting boards and electronic units in China

by

Yaskawa Electric, parent company of Yaskawa Mechatronics, one of the world’s largest industrial robot makers, has completed a new plant in Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, in China.

The facility has already begun the mass production of mounting boards for servo amplifiers and AC drives as well as electronic units for robot control panels used in its production bases in China.

Yaskawa says that, in China, economic activities are currently “stagnant” because of Covid-19 but demand for factory automation at production sites is increasing due to labor shortages caused by the low birth rate and ageing population, rising labor costs, and the risk of coronavirus spreading. [Read more…] about Yaskawa completes new plant for manufacturing mounting boards and electronic units in China

Miso Robotics partners with Amazon to test robots at scale

by

Miso Robotics, which builds robotic solutions for the restaurant industry, is working with Amazon Web Services to begin testing the software powering its Flippy 2 and Flippy Lite robots using AWS RoboMaker.

The move to AWS RoboMaker is projected to allow Miso to run up to fifty simulations at once and will help the company turn future prototypes into functional products at a much quicker rate.

Chris Kruger, CTO of Miso Robotics, says: “Integrating into AWS RoboMaker has been a gamechanger for us to scale our products and make sure the software and its updates are ready to deploy with units in the field. [Read more…] about Miso Robotics partners with Amazon to test robots at scale

China aims for global leadership in robotics with new five-year plan

by

The new five-year plan for the robotics industry in China, released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in Beijing, focuses on promoting innovation.

The government wants to make China a global leader for robot technology and industrial advancement.

The statistical department of the International Federation of Robotics reports about the domestic and foreign engagement on the world’s largest market.

Milton Guerry, president of the International Federation of Robotics, says: “China is by far the biggest robot market in the world regarding annual sales and the operational stock. [Read more…] about China aims for global leadership in robotics with new five-year plan

Global industrial robot density in manufacturing sector doubles over 2021

by

The use of industrial robots in factories around the world is accelerating at a high rate: 126 robots per 10,000 employees is the new average of global robot density in the manufacturing industries.

That is nearly double the number five years ago. In 2015, the figure was 66 units.

This is according to the 2021 World Robot Report, published by the International Federation of Robotics.

By regions, the average robot density in Asia/Australia is 134 units, in Europe 123 units and in the Americas 111 units. The top 5 most automated countries in the world are: South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Germany, and Sweden. [Read more…] about Global industrial robot density in manufacturing sector doubles over 2021