Factory | Automation World

Dick Slansky, senior analyst, ARC Advisory Group

Virtual Commissioning Evolves into a Model-driven Digital Twin

Virtual commissioning needs to go beyond emulating controls logic for emulation hardware. Model-driven digital twins make virtual commissioning more accessible and adds the power of simulation technology and capability to the overall automation process.

In fall of 2019, Columbia/Okura and Universal Robots developed the miniPAL, a mobile palletizing cobot integrating Universal Robot’s UR10e.

Robotics Special Report: Cobots Continue to Advance

According to a PMMI robot report, cobots accounted for about 3% of all robot sales in North America in 2017; by 2025, that number is expected to increase to 34%. Here are some of the new cobot technologies driving that growth.

Discover the Secrets of a Successful Automation Project

Discover the Secrets of a Successful Automation Project

Learn about planning and project management, building your machine or automated system, and technologies to improve manufacturing outcomes. Automation World’s free resource features 150 pages on managing automation projects from start to finish.

Premier Tech has developed the PSR robotic solution to speed the sorting of nuts at the final stage of the conditioning process.

Robotics Special Report: Addressing Labor Shortages can ‘Help Feed the World’

Robot manufacturer develops a system to alleviate the lack of labor in the nut industry that can sort nuts at the final stage of the conditioning process.

Quest developed a flexible robotic system to load meat and poultry into an Ossid ReeForm E40 thermoformer.

Robotics Special Report: Food-Safe Solutions Emerge

New opportunities for the direct and indirect handling of foods emerge as manufacturers begin developing robots for handling unpacked goods.

Kawasaki Robotics Trend Manager failure prediction software is designed to help companies avoid unexpected downtime by allowing them to predict failures and fix issues before loss of production.

Robotics Special Report: Big Data is the New Currency

New software systems for robotics collect and analyze data to increase OEE, protect against cyberattacks, and predict failures.

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas in fall 2019, Syntegon’s Pack 102 horizontal flow wrapper with three Fanuc robots was demonstrated loading meal kits.

Robotics Special Report: Vision for the Future

New vision systems for robotics, including 2D and 3D machine vision, enable broader packaging applications.

Technology Matters: OEE, BMW's AI Robots, Cloud Cost Factors

In this episode we look at OEE and its potential role in industry's digital transformation; why BMW developed its own artificial intelligence powered robots; and seven critical cloud cost factors.

The Spider 200i from BluePrint Automation uses a multi-axis robot to pick snack bags on-the-fly and vertically case pack them into a cassette that forms a vertical pack pattern.

Robotics Special Report: Mass Customization Demands Flexibility

A growing omnichannel environment requires that CPGs have the flexibility to produce a range of package sizes and styles. Automation provides that capability.

The SmartGuardUV autonomous mobile robot at work in a warehouse facility. Source: Fetch Robotics

More Disinfecting Robots Come to Market

Increasing numbers of autonomous mobile robots are being developed to help facilities address the need for repeated disinfecting in response to COVID-19.

The MSP-200 features semi-automated changeover, which allows it to convert to different case configurations in less than 10 minutes.

Robotics Special Report: Case Packer for Croutons Saves Dough on Corrugated

Specialty food products manufacturer installs a robotic case packer for croutons that can keep pace with the rest of the packaging line, while saving costs on shelf-ready packaging, as well.

The well-known trunk-and-spur configuration will serve as the general topology for Ethernet-APL. Source: Profibus & Profinet International.

OPC Foundation Joins APL Project; Announces OPC UA Motion

Highlighting its role in the development of new industrial process and discrete communications, the OPC Foundation has joined the advanced physical layer for industrial Ethernet project group and is working with ODVA and Sercos on a new motion technology.

The Cobot Expo will take place online July 28-30.

Cobot Deployment Shines in COVID-19 Pandemic

Leading up to its virtual Cobot Expo this week, Universal Robots highlighted several cases where small companies have been using collaborative automation to keep production going amid the crisis.

Can Robots Help Restore Manufacturing During the Pandemic?

In this episode, we connect with Joe Campbell of Universal Robots to learn how manufacturers are deploying collaborative robots to help with social distancing, line reconfiguration, and production flexibility.

The future of manufacturing can't be imagined in a present-forward mindset. Innovation comes from the future-back.

Reverse Engineering the Organization

A new book reveals how “future-back” thinking—defining what the company will look like decades from now and working backwards—can encourage innovative ideas that will create breakthrough growth.

Screen Shot 2020 07 23 At 12 17 51 Pm

Hitachi Vantara Expands Its Digital Manufacturing Portfolio

To help manufacturers accelerate Industry 4.0 initiatives and safely restart production during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hitachi Vantara has expanded its Lumada portfolio to address health, safety, and environment issues.

Fine-grained 3D spatial reasoning with semantic and kinematic understanding, plus Instantaneous closed loop future state projection and decision-making. Source: Veo Robotics

Collaborative Robot Safety

How Veo Robotics uses speed and separation monitoring to make industrial robots collaborative.

Screen Shot 2020 07 21 At 5 54 37 Pm

Lean Digitization System at Schneider Electric Factory

This video shows how Schneider Electric uses Aveva’s Lean Digitization System to display Andon notifications, line performance, work order management, Kanban, workforce interaction, and quality metrics.

Vibration Mote3

Smart Sensor for Variable Speed Equipment

Petasense releases its Vibration Mote Model 3 smart sensor that detects speed, vibration, and temperature.

Technology Matters: 5G, Augmented Reality, and Virtual FATs

In this episode we look at 5G wireless in manufacturing, Emerson Automation Solutions' augmented reality update to Plantweb Optics, and best practices and leadership guidelines for executing virtual factory acceptance tests.

Screen Shot 2020 07 15 At 1 33 14 Pm

Vision Inspection Maximizes Label Accuracy

For one North American food manufacturer, Omron’s SKU verification system dramatically lowered production costs and increased overall profitability.

Dr. Frank Melzer (middle) and Marcus Stemler (right) of Festo discuss how digital pneumatics can save energy.

Festo Explores How Digitization Affects Energy, Education

From digital pneumatics to bionic birds, the automation supplier discusses the technologies that will shape the factory of the future.