Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

welding

Omron releases full metal proximity sensor for auto industry

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Omron Corporation has launched the E2EW Series of Full Metal Proximity Sensors, which have the world’s longest sensing distances, the company claims.

The automotive industry needs lighter automobiles, for electric vehicles and low fuel consumption, encouraging the material change in automotive components from iron to aluminium.

This will increase mixed production lines containing iron and aluminium. Full metal proximity sensors are mainly used in welding processes. However, previous full metal proximity sensors have short sensing distances.

[Read more…] about Omron releases full metal proximity sensor for auto industry

355 welding robots at new Byton car plant in China

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Byton, the electric vehicle maker, has announced it will complete its Round C fundraising in mid-2019 with support from multiple investors and shared further details of its Nanjing factory.

Construction of the plant, which started in September 2017, is nearing completion and trial production of the M-Byte SUV will start in the third quarter of 2019.

The installation and commissioning of key equipment has already begun in the five major workshops: stamping, paint, welding, battery, and assembly.

[Read more…] about 355 welding robots at new Byton car plant in China

ARC Specialties selects Universal Robots for new AI-based pipe-welding system

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ARC Specialties says it has solved the challenge of creating repeatable full penetration pipe welds by combining artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and the UR5 collaborative robot from Universal Robots. (See video below.)

The “unique” Artificial Intelligence Pipe Welding System debuts at ARC Specialties’ booth 705 at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, May 6-9.

The toughest welds to make are full penetration, single sided, V butt, pipe welds.

[Read more…] about ARC Specialties selects Universal Robots for new AI-based pipe-welding system

Alstom commissions the highest-capacity welding robot in the railway industry

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Alstom‘s Le Creusot site in France has unveiled the highest-capacity welding robot in the railway sector, developed and manufactured by its supplier Farman, a subsidiary of the Galilé group, which specialises in robotic installations.

This investment in innovation of over a million euros is aligned with the development strategy for the Alstom site in Le Creusot, the group’s centre of excellence for bogie design and production.

The site’s expertise is deployed in major rail projects such as the new-generation RER and Avelia Horizon, the fifth generation of TGV.

[Read more…] about Alstom commissions the highest-capacity welding robot in the railway industry

Sunstone Welders launches smart welding systems

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Sunstone Welders is launching a whole new line of smart micro resistance welding systems. The Sunstone Capacitive Discharge Dual Pulse Advanced (CDDP-A) welding systems are production ready with feedback, reporting, and full weld head control.

The CDDP-A is equipped with an 8″ full colour touch screen display. The CDDP-A interface provides an easy way for users to adjust production settings, including multiple PLC protocols, cloning options, weld monitoring, and SPC tools. In addition, the welding results are visible on the screen as the weld is completed and results can be exported to any computer.

Capacitive Discharge welding is an ideal solution for micro welding or joining. CD Welding is highly repeatable, can achieve quick energy release for welding highly conductive metals, and is not affected by line voltage fluctuations.

ABB to acquire AB Rotech to expand automotive welding solutions

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ABB is to acquire AB Rotech, a privately-owned company headquartered in Bursa, Turkey, with nearly 20 years of extensive experience in robotic welding solutions and services for the automotive industry.

The expertise of AB Rotech’s engineering team covers the entire robotics welding lifecycle, from design and commissioning to electrical engineering and customer service.

The parties agreed to not disclose the value of the acquisition. The acquisition is subject to regulatory clearance and is expected to close later this year.

[Read more…] about ABB to acquire AB Rotech to expand automotive welding solutions

Universal Robots and ARC Specialties launch MIG welding system at FabTech

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Universal Robots and ARC Specialties have launched their MIG welding system at FabTech 2017 in Chicago.

The companies say SnapWeld Collaborative Robotic Welding features “seamless hardware and software integration” through the Universal Robots+ product platform.

Universal says SnapWeld gives small job shops struggling with the budget, programming and space requirements of traditional welding robots an alternative solution.  [Read more…] about Universal Robots and ARC Specialties launch MIG welding system at FabTech

Lincoln Electric to expand automation manufacturing capabilities

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Lincoln Electric says it is planning to expand its automation manufacturing capabilities, with the enlargement of its facility at Wayne Trail, Ohio.

The Wayne Trail plant specialises in automated manufacturing solutions for metal forming, fabricating and metal joining processes.

Lincoln says the new investment “nearly doubles the facility’s size” to support larger-scale projects, future growth, and improved operational effectiveness.  [Read more…] about Lincoln Electric to expand automation manufacturing capabilities

Novarc Technologies to showcase ‘world’s first collaborative welding robot’ at FabTech

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Novarc Technologies, a Vancouver-based robotics company specializing in the design and commercialization of collaborative robots for industrial applications, says it will be introducing “the world’s first welding collaborative robot” at FabTech.

The company says this is a “groundbreaking step” because, for the pipe welding industry, it demonstrates that robots can enable companies to meet production requirements even where there isn’t a sufficient skilled workforce available.

Novarc says its collaborative robot will be initially available for exclusive demonstration at FabTech, booth #B25100. (A previous Novarc welding system is shown in the picture above.) [Read more…] about Novarc Technologies to showcase ‘world’s first collaborative welding robot’ at FabTech

ABB to showcase ‘broad range’ of welding technologies at FabTech 2017

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ABB says it will feature “a broad range of advanced robotic welding technology designed to enhance safety, quality and productivity” at FabTech 2017

Metal Fabricators of all sizes are adopting robotic automation to maximize throughput, reduce costs and remove people from repetitive tasks and challenging environments.

The exhibit highlights the elevated level of collaboration, digitalization and simplification unique to ABB, which helps achieve these goals while providing fabricators the flexibility to efficiently adapt production as manufacturing continues to trend from mass production to mass customization.

Collaboration comes in the form of YuMi, ABB’s dual-arm collaborative robot that can operate very closely with humans due to its “inherently safe construction”, according to ABB, and is specifically designed to meet the flexible and agile production needs of small parts assembly and material handling applications.  [Read more…] about ABB to showcase ‘broad range’ of welding technologies at FabTech 2017