Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

worldwide

Universal Robots reaches 1,000 employees

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Seventeen years after it was founded by three visionary young researchers in a basement, Universal Robots has just reached a 1,000-employee milestone.

10th November, Odense, Denmark. Universal Robots, the biggest company in a fast-growing Danish robotics hub, has become the cluster’s first organisation to reach 1,000 employees – one of only a few Danish companies founded in this millennium to hit this milestone.

Since its first collaborative robot (cobot) was launched in 2008, Universal Robots has grown to be a global market leader in cobots with offices in more than 20 countries worldwide. [Read more…] about Universal Robots reaches 1,000 employees

Nokia and Flex to combine 5G SA private wireless and Industry 4.0 expertise for advanced manufacturing solutions in Brazil

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Networking giant Nokia has agreed a collaboration with Flex Brazil to deploy 5G SA private wireless networks in its manufacturing facilities in Brazil.

Initial use cases will focus at increasing wireless applications and exploring the potential of 5G for reliable connectivity, massive transfers of operational data and greater layout flexibility on the shopfloor.

Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (Nokia DAC) will provide the private wireless on-demand service as well as MX Industrial Edge computing and digital-enabling applications. [Read more…] about Nokia and Flex to combine 5G SA private wireless and Industry 4.0 expertise for advanced manufacturing solutions in Brazil

Global semiconductor equipment sales grow 5 percent to $25 billion

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Global semiconductor equipment billings grew 5 percent year-over-year to $24.7 billion in the first quarter of 2022, according industry association SEMI.

The figures were revealed in SEMI’s Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics Report. Quarter-over-quarter billings in the seasonally soft first quarter declined 10 percent.

Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO, says: “Year-over-year first quarter equipment revenue growth is in sync with positive forecasts for 2022 as the semiconductor industry continues its robust increase of fab capacity. North America and Europe logged healthy quarter-over-quarter rises in equipment spending as they intensify efforts to bolster domestic chipmaking.” [Read more…] about Global semiconductor equipment sales grow 5 percent to $25 billion

Worldwide installations of automated guided vehicles at seaports to exceed 150,000

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Seaports globally have increased their automation solutions or kickstarted automation initiatives to mitigate port congestion.

Equipment like gantries, automated port gates, stacking cranes, and horizontal transport solutions, such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs) that transport containers and loads to and from ships, have been the most productivity-enhancing solutions in seaports.

According to ABI Research, a global technology intelligence firm, worldwide AGV deployments in seaports will have a compound annual growth rate of over 26 percent from 2022 to 2027 and exceed 150,000 global deployments by 2027. [Read more…] about Worldwide installations of automated guided vehicles at seaports to exceed 150,000

Global semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales surge 44 percent to record $103 billion

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Worldwide sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment in 2021 surged 44 percent to an all-time record of $102.6 billion from $71.2 billion in 2020, SEMI, the industry association representing the global electronics product design and manufacturing supply chain, reported.

The data is now available in SEMI’s Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics (WWSEMS) Report.

China claimed the largest market for semiconductor equipment for the second time with sales expanding 58 percent to $29.6 billion to mark the fourth consecutive year of growth. [Read more…] about Global semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales surge 44 percent to record $103 billion

Distalmotion raises $90 million to accelerate adoption of its surgical robot

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Distalmotion has raised $90 million in Series E financing to support the global commercialization of its surgical robot Dexter.

Revival Healthcare Capital led the round with participation from 415 Capital, as well as existing investors.

CE-marked Dexter shifts the paradigm of robotic surgery by bringing the surgeon back into the sterile field, allowing direct patient access at all times and integrating proven laparoscopic workflows into the robotic setup. [Read more…] about Distalmotion raises $90 million to accelerate adoption of its surgical robot

Miso Robotics partners with Lancer Worldwide to launch automated beverage dispenser

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Miso Robotics, a robotics and automation startup specializing in the foodservice industry, is partnering with Lancer Worldwide, a beverage dispenser manufacturer which works with the world’s top food and beverage brands, to build “an intelligence-backed, automated beverage dispenser that will bring enhanced functionality for a future-focused commercial kitchen”, according to the companies.

At a time when the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry is facing record labor shortages, operators are looking for ways to streamline operations, cut costs and implement solutions that drive a better and faster customer service experience. The pandemic drastically shifted the paradigm, creating new models for operator revenue streams that relied on drive-thru, takeout and delivery more so than ever before.

While 60 to 70 percent of certain QSR sales came from the drive-thru lane pre-pandemic, as Covid spread, major QSRs experienced a jump as high as 90 percent.1 Yet, the new delivery and drive-thru model have made the always-critical need of speed and efficiency an even bigger challenge as volume increases and staff decreases have added minutes to the clock for order completion. Because of this, total average drive-thru times slowed down by 29.8 seconds last year. [Read more…] about Miso Robotics partners with Lancer Worldwide to launch automated beverage dispenser

Nachi-Fujikoshi expands lineup of compact robot series

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Nachi-Fujikoshi is expanding its lineup of compact industrial robots with the launch of the new “EC06” and the “MZ12H”. 

The Japanese robot-making giant says that the need for automation by robots is expanding in the field of manufacturing with the aim of eliminating labor shortages and improving productivity.

This need has emerged against the backdrop of the worldwide declining birthrate and aging population, the shrinking working population and soaring labor costs. [Read more…] about Nachi-Fujikoshi expands lineup of compact robot series

Top Australian retailer installs more than 100 Geek+ warehouse robots in partnership with Körber

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Geek+, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots, has been chosen by Catch.com.au, one of Australia’s leading online retailers, to provide more than 100 AMRs through its global integration partner Körber.

The companies say the partnership is bringing new opportunities for the e-commerce marketplace in Australia and New Zealand.

In the past year, Catch.com.au has seen its already rapidly growing business expand with thousands of additional SKUs being added to its already extensive range of brands and products. [Read more…] about Top Australian retailer installs more than 100 Geek+ warehouse robots in partnership with Körber

Geek+ and Körber partner to implement autonomous mobile robots in warehouses

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Geek+, a manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots for warehouses, and Körber, a provider of global supply chain technologies and materials handling automation services, have agreed a global strategic partnership.

The two companies plan to provide businesses worldwide with autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that can enable efficient, flexible, and smart logistics solutions.

With an already extensive portfolio of successful cases across industries and a wide variety of AI-driven robotics solutions applicable to different supply chain scenarios, Geek+ will make its technology available to Kӧrber’s global customer base. [Read more…] about Geek+ and Körber partner to implement autonomous mobile robots in warehouses