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Ford installs team of collaborative robots on Fiesta assembly line

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Automaker Ford has for the first time introduced a team of collaborative robots that works alongside engineers in Cologne, Germany, to ensure every Ford Fiesta has a perfect finish.

The six cobots complete a choreographed sequence to sand the entire body surface in just 35 seconds. The initiative does not replace employees but allows operators to use their time on more complex tasks and avoid suffering the strains associated with performing repetitive tasks.

Dennis Kuhn, senior manufacturing engineer, paint shop, Ford of Europe, says: “The cobots can feel when more force needs to be applied, just like we can, and they can more easily get to hard-to-reach places, like the centre of the roof.” [Read more…] about Ford installs team of collaborative robots on Fiesta assembly line

Universal Robots launches ‘Service360’ customer support

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Universal Robots has launched Service360, a new support service offering which the company says “enhances performance, increases uptime and mitigates risk through seamless collaboration”.

Chris Wilson, vice president of service, Universal Robots, says: “Our customers are at the center of everything. Now, we’re empowering them to proactively monitor, optimize and safeguard cobot performance with enhanced support and preventative maintenance.

“Service360 protects production lines, maximizes uptime, reduces risk and enables success by ensuring manufactures are prepared for the unexpected.” [Read more…] about Universal Robots launches ‘Service360’ customer support

Universal Robots ‘maintains top spot’ in collaborative robot market

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Universal Robots is maintaining its top spot in the collaborative robot market, according to a report by ABI Research.

However, competitors including Doosan, Techman Robot and Precise Automation are “closing in“, says the study, Industrial Collaborative Robots Competitive Assessment.

There are well over 50 manufacturers of collaborative robots, or cobots, worldwide, but only a handful of these companies have so far deployed cobots on any meaningful level of scale. [Read more…] about Universal Robots ‘maintains top spot’ in collaborative robot market

Hirebotics develops new robotic welding system

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Hirebotics has developed a new robotic welding system using Universal Robots machines.

The new for-hire BotX Welder – developed by Hirebotics and utilizing Universal Robots’ UR10e collaborative robot arm – lets manufacturers automate arc welding with no capital investment, handling even small batch runs not feasible for traditional automation.

Nowhere in manufacturing is the shortage of labor felt as urgently as in the welding sector, which is now facing an acute shortage of welders nationwide. [Read more…] about Hirebotics develops new robotic welding system

Universal Robots and Phillips partner to provide integration with Haas machine tools

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Universal Robots and Phillips Corporation have formed a partnership to make it easier to integrate with popular Haas CNC machine tools.

The partnership with Phillips Corporation, the largest global distributor of best-selling Haas CNC machines, offers a fast track to spindle uptime with safe, easy-to-use, and cost-effective cobots

Loading and unloading CNC machines is becoming one of the most popular applications for collaborative robots as manufacturers face significant difficulties in staffing this tedious task. [Read more…] about Universal Robots and Phillips partner to provide integration with Haas machine tools

Warehouse automation company Fetch Robotics raises $46 million in latest funding round

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Fetch Robotics, a provider of warehouse automation technologies, has raised $46 million in its Series C round of funding.

The round was led by Fort Ross Ventures, with additional participation from CEAS Investments, Redwood Technologies, TransLink Capital and Zebra Ventures.

All existing investors – O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, Shasta Ventures, Softbank Capital and Sway Ventures – also participated in this round. [Read more…] about Warehouse automation company Fetch Robotics raises $46 million in latest funding round

Universal Robots opens authorised training centres in North America

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North American distributors of Universal Robots are now opening Authorized Training Centers (ATCs), offering classes spanning basic to advanced programming of UR cobots. The first four ATCs have been launched, with another nine to follow by end of 2019.

Universal Robots says it is committed to making collaborative robots (cobots) in the workplace accessible to all. The company is now building on the popular online modules offered through the UR Academy by enabling its sales channel to open ATCs.

Through hands-on classes hosted by UR trained teachers, the ATCs will broaden users’ understanding of the UR cobots’ range of use cases, while providing opportunities for hands-on practice in real-life applications.

[Read more…] about Universal Robots opens authorised training centres in North America

Universal Robots certifies ATI’s automated tool changer QC-11

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ATI Industrial Automation’s QC-11 Automatic Tool Changer is a vital component of many robotic applications and is now certified to work with collaborative robots from Universal Robots.

The QC-11 enables automatic exchange of robotic end-effectors without any manual intervention. With an ATI Automatic Tool Changer, a robot can use multiple end-effectors in a single process.

Preceding the QC-11 in the UR+ program are ATI’s Axia80 Force/Torque Sensor and MC-10 Manual Tool Changer. There are more than 150 products in the UR+ portfolio featuring plug-and-play solutions for UR cobots.

[Read more…] about Universal Robots certifies ATI’s automated tool changer QC-11

New Scale Robotics launches its latest gripper for Universal Robots e-Series

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New Scale Robotics has launched its newest gripper for the Universal Robots e-Series collaborative robot.

The company says its new technology “harnesses UR’s new high-speed communications interface to increase measurement precision and control multiple grippers on one robot”.

New Scale Robotics describes the new peripheral as “a precision electric parallel gripper for Universal Robots e Series cobots”. [Read more…] about New Scale Robotics launches its latest gripper for Universal Robots e-Series

Taiwanese store employs robot to make and serve tea

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A Taiwanese food and beverage store called Babo Arms is now using a collaborative robot from Universal Robots to make and serve tea.

Universal Robots’ UR5 unit was chosen by Babo Arms to “add a twist of modernity” into their production process.

Babo Arms were searching for an automated device to enhance operations and address the ongoing recruitment issue faced by the food and beverage industry. [Read more…] about Taiwanese store employs robot to make and serve tea