Robotics & Automation News

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Universal Robots

Flexible collaborative robots boost capacity at Swedish machine shop

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FT-Produktion turned to flexible collaborative robots – cobots – to boost productivity without adding personnel. The new technology also elevated job satisfaction by bringing variation to daily routines – a key advantage in an industry battling to attract and retain qualified labour.

No machine shop in its right mind would turn down global leaders like Volvo, Renault and Scania when they come calling with orders – even if it means pushing capacity and productivity to the limit. But in a labour market where recruiting qualified employees is easier said than done, it takes innovation to increase output capacity.

To meet growing market demand, the Swedish machine shop FT-Produktion turned to specialised robot technology designed to meet the automation needs of small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses.  [Read more…] about Flexible collaborative robots boost capacity at Swedish machine shop

Universal Robots hires more than 20 former Rethink Robotics employees

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Universal Robots is hiring more than 20 former Rethink Robotics employees, now that the latter company has closed down.

Universal Robots says the move is aimed at “reinforcing both companies’ pioneering roles in collaborative robotics”.

The company says that, in hiring the 20+ Rethink staff members, it is “incorporating valuable expertise in engineering, product development, and customer applications”.  [Read more…] about Universal Robots hires more than 20 former Rethink Robotics employees

Analysis: Universal Robots continues to dominate cobot market but faces many challengers

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By Ash Sharma, research director, Interact Analysis

Universal Robots continued to dominate the collaborative robot industry in the first half of 2018, although Interact Analysis estimates its market share dipped a little this year.

Despite the exit of cobot pioneer, Rethink Robotics, UR faces an increasing number of challengers and the fledgling industry remains fragmented.

Universal Robots still maintains an incredibly strong hold over the collaborative robot market. However, its market share has gradually decreased from more than 55 percent in 2016 to 46 percent in 2017 – which was inevitable given how quickly the industry is growing and the increasing number of suppliers now competing.  [Read more…] about Analysis: Universal Robots continues to dominate cobot market but faces many challengers

Universal Robots machine becomes first robot to ring bell at New York Stock Exchange

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The ringing of the closing bell on October 17, 2018, at the New York Stock Exchange was highly unusual as the prestigious task was performed not by a human, but by a robot arm.

The bell ringer, Universal Robots’ UR5e with a two-fingered gripper from Robotiq, is a collaborative robot able to work alongside people with no safety guarding, giving watchers worldwide the opportunity to see just how easily cobots interact with humans.

Universal Robots pioneered the market by selling the first commercially viable cobot in 2008 and has kept its early frontrunner position with a 60 percent global share of the cobot market, selling more cobots than all competitors combined. Earlier this year, UR announced the sale of its 25,000th cobot.  [Read more…] about Universal Robots machine becomes first robot to ring bell at New York Stock Exchange

Universal Robots to debut new palletisers at Pack Expo

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At Pack Expo in Chicago this week, Universal Robots (UR) is showcasing the first solution for random robotic case erecting, the Xpak Robox. The new UR powered box erector developed by Xpak, allows packagers to randomly erect any box in their suite on-demand without changeover.

The Xpak Robox is equipped with a UR10e cobot arm that picks a flat box from one of two magazines, squares the case, folds and seals the bottom flaps with 2-inch tape.

Additional magazine and custom box conveyance options allow the Xpak Robox to integrate seamlessly into any packaging environment.

[Read more…] about Universal Robots to debut new palletisers at Pack Expo

Universal Robots awards Gold Edition to Vietnamese partner

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Universal Robots has awarded one of its special Gold Edition robots to a selected Southeast Asia partner.

Vietnam’s Vinacomin Motor Industry Joint Stock Company was presented with the rare UR10 special edition collaborative robot, or cobot, which has joints painted in a rich, gold-coloured finish.

Universal Robots machines are always blue and grey. The company recently reached the milestone of 25,000 unit sales, and has been marking the achievement with the awarding of the Gold Robots to selected partners around the world.  [Read more…] about Universal Robots awards Gold Edition to Vietnamese partner

Universal Robots develops automated pizza-making system

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Universal Robots has been chosen by the French start-up EKIM to design its pizzaiolo robot: PAZZI. Created using Universal Robots’ UR10 and UR5 arms, PAZZI is capable of preparing up to 10 pizzas simultaneously from nearly five million recipe combinations, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

EKIM aims to use this project to offer an optimal and high-quality catering solution in high-traffic areas (railway stations, airports, main boulevards, shopping centres, department stores or campuses).

PAZZI, marketed by EKIM, is a turnkey “tech good food” concept, providing quality pizza based on healthy and natural ingredients, 100% autonomous, from order to delivery.

[Read more…] about Universal Robots develops automated pizza-making system

New Scale Robotics gains Universal Robots certification for precision parallel gripper

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New Scale Robotics, a division of New Scale Technologies, has received Universal Robots certification for its NSR-PG-10-20-UR Precision Parallel Gripper.

Universal Robots certification confirms that the smart gripper is fully compatible with UR collaborative robots and meets all published specifications.

David Henderson, CEO of New Scale Technologies, says: “We are delighted to receive endorsement from Universal Robots for the NSR-PG, created specifically to install and operate on UR robots in under 30 minutes.  [Read more…] about New Scale Robotics gains Universal Robots certification for precision parallel gripper

Universal Robots gives away a golden robot to one person in each of its geographical areas around the world

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Universal Robots, widely recognized as the market leader in collaborative robots, earlier this year announced that it is celebrating its 25,000th cobot sale by giving away a Gold Edition cobot, shipped free of cost, to one lucky customer.

However, due to a huge response and interest from customers all around the world, Universal Robots has decided to offer a Gold Edition cobot to a customer in each of Universal Robots’ geographical areas worldwide.

The reward for each of these customers is the previously announced Golden Cobot with the joints painted in a rich, gold-colored finish, which is a refreshing take on Universal Robots’ iconic blue and grey cobots.  [Read more…] about Universal Robots gives away a golden robot to one person in each of its geographical areas around the world

Universal Robots launches software to make setting up robotic work cells easier

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Universal Robots has launched its “Application Builder” software, which is designed to make setting up a robotic work cells easier. 

The company says the software provides step-by-step guidance on end effectors, programming, machine interfaces and other things.

The three popular collaborative applications available at launch include machine tending, assembly, and packaging.  [Read more…] about Universal Robots launches software to make setting up robotic work cells easier