Industrial Robots

Using robots to unload freight on receiving docks isn’t a novel idea. A quick YouTube search will return a slew of results. But many of these previous approaches have been stifled by high costs and the inability to handle a growing variety of packages. Of course, robotics companies are still working on the problem, which…

Japanese robot maker FANUC is investing 26 billion yen ($240 million) into the expansion of its Shanghai, China plant. The company plans to expand the Shanghai facility five-fold over the next three years, through a joint venture that is operated with local player Shanghai Electric Group. The new project covers an area of ​​about 431…

Packaging operations continue to embrace automation as a way to reduce labor costs and workplace injuries while improving the efficiency and quality of packaged goods. But the use of automation isn’t evenly distributed, with large consumer packaged goods producers running with more automation than smaller packaging firms. One area ripe for increased automation are operations…

The new Yaskawa PL190 and PL320 robots expand the payload range of the PL mobile product line | Image credit – Yaskawa Yaskawa announces the availability of two new 4-axis palletizing robots that extend the range of payloads for the Yaskawa PL (palletizing) product line. The Yaskawa PL190 has a 190 kg payload capacity and…

Global professional services company Accenture is acquiring Pollux, a Joinville, Brazil-based provider of industrial robotics and automation solutions. Accenture said the acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions, will expand its capabilities for clients in consumer goods, pharmaceutical and automotive industries. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. This is Accenture’s first acquisition…

Veo Robotics, a Waltham, Mass-based company turning traditional industrial robotic arms into collaborative machines, named Calvary Robotics as its initial certified systems integrator partner. Founded in 1994, Calvary Robotics is a leading developer of custom turnkey automation solutions, robotic platforms and material handling systems. Veo’s flagship product, FreeMove, uses advanced computer vision and 3D sensing…

igus has developed the e-spool flex 2.0, a new cable reel designed for industrial robots that has no slip ring. This allows for management of robot teach pendants. The system even supplies bus signals without interruptions, which can be typical with slip rings. The solution can extend cables up to 50 ft. Installation into a…

BJ Minson didn’t like the imperfect fit and sloppy profile of the standard belts he could find on the market, with the buckle and excess strap end awkwardly protruding from under his untucked shirt. So while working on a master’s degree in microfluidics, he began playing around with the design for a sleeker belt with…

Yaskawa is tapping Realtime Robotics’ motion planning technology to improve a variety of materials handling and fulfillment applications, including piece picking and mixed case palletizing. Yaskawa said using Realtime’s technology enables its robot cells to be deployed and used more efficiently. The first of these mixed pallet robot cells will soon start being installed at…

ABB introduced its Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) service that enables customers to create a preventive maintenance schedule for individual or robot fleets based on real-time operational data. ABB said the CBM service should optimize productivity and minimize downtime. CBM uses real-time data on robot operations to help identify any potential issues that could affect performance, including…

Epson Robots has signed Industrial Control as an official distributor in Michigan. Industrial Control is a minority-owned provider of factory automation solutions, products, and training. The partnership with Industrial Control involves the full lineup of Epson Robots’ automation products, including the extensive portfolio of SCARA and 6-Axis robots, as well as the integrated options such…

As one of the busiest parts of a hospital, the pharmacy has, over the years, relied on technology to streamline its operations. From electronic tablet counters to completely computerized stocking and labeling solutions, technology has had a transformative impact on pharmacies across the world. Challenge Still, factors weighing on the efficiency of drug dispensing are…

maxon’s new IDX compact integrated servo gearmotor + drive combines a powerful, brushless EC-i motor and an EPOS4 positioning controller, which can be complemented with a maxon planetary gearhead when required. This integrated motor features high torque density, high efficiency, maintenance-free components, and a high-quality industrial housing providing IP65 protection. The IDX also features configurable…

An MIT study found the high cost of integration, inflexibility, lack of standards and needed improvements to enabling technologies are the main challenges inhibiting further adoption of industrial robots.

Omron has introduced its i4L Series of light-duty industrial SCARA robots. The series has three models that offer reaches of 350mm, 450mm, and 550mm and a 5kg maximum payload capacity. The 4-axis robots, which feature three rotational axes and one linear axis, offer repeatability of ±0.01. Omron said the compact design, speed and flexible programming…

In this Q&A, Vincent Guo from Siemens Digital Industries Software discusses how digital twins, augmented reality, and virtual reality can help production environments with productivity and social distancing.

In his RoboBusiness Direct session, Matthew Robinson, ROS-Americas program manager at the Southwest Research Institute, will discuss how the Robot Operating System can aid safe advanced automation. In addition, a DreamVu robotics expert will break out how omnidirectional 3D vision can benefit disinfection robots.

The Compact Interior Painting Station enables automotive manufacturers to reduce the size of their vehicle interior painting stations by one third, while saving costs and making facilities more sustainable, said ABB.

MGS, a contract manufacturer for a major European medical device maker, turned to Stäubli robots to support automated inspection of single-use catheters.

Ouster and CronAI are combining their award-winning lidar sensor and platform for processing image data at the edge, respectively, for 3D perception for early customers.

Ocado, a leading British online supermarket, has acquired two U.S.-based robotics companies for $287 million in hopes of making its warehouses more efficient. Ocado purchased San Francisco-based Kindred Systems, which specializes in robotic piece-picking, for about $262 million and Las Vegas-based Haddington Dynamics, a developer of low-cost robotic arms, for about $25 million. The acquisitions…

Labor shortages, dynamic work sites, and the need for accurate data are helping drive demand for robots, drones, and AI designed to serve the construction industry.