Factory Automation
Teradyne to acquire AutoGuide Mobile Robots
Teradyne will acquire privately held AutoGuide for $165 million; $58 million net of cash acquired plus $107 million, if certain performance targets are met extending potentially through 2022. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2019, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.
Doosan Robotics announce plans for first US office in Georgia
The Buford, Georgia office is planned to be opened by the end of 2019 to accelerate distribution efforts. The office will serve as the headquarters for sales, marketing, training, and customer service in the Americas.
Thorlabs announces acquisition of OPTEK
OPTEK is an designer and manufacturer of large-format, granite-based video (VideoMic) and x-ray (InnerVision) dimensional measurement systems
SIASUN announces cooperation with CENIT AG to create software for 3D laser machine
The development is based on CENIT’s FASTSUITE Edition 2 software, which will be customized to work in perfect synchronization with the newly built machine.
ABB announces opening of global healthcare research hub on Texas Medical Center campus
At TMC Innovation Institute, ABB will develop robots that are able to carry out repetitive, delicate and mundane processes, leaving medical and laboratory staff free to undertake more valuable roles and ultimately treat more patients.
CAMI Research announces partnership with Doyle Manufacturing for plug and play Cable Eye Solutions
Effective immediately, Doyle will begin offering value added services to CableEye users, providing design and manufacture of single or multi-block panels that are 100% electrically tested by CableEye and include a detailed test report.
Mikrotron announces appointment of Dr. Thomas Dekorsy as Managing Director
Dr. Dekorsy, who brings more than 30 years of executive level business experience within the electronics and automotive Industry to his new position, will provide worldwide leadership and development of Mikrotron's global business as the organization strives to meet its growth goals.
Dukane announces acquisition of Aurizon
This acquisition is intended to create synergies and opportunities for Dukane and Aurizon, allowing both companies to share their technical expertise in the hygiene, personal care, medical disposable and packaging industries.
Festo's BionicOpter earns spot in Guinness Book of World Records
The BionicOpter, a flying object based on the dragonfly, was named there as the world record winner for biggest flying robotic insect.
Collegiate Inventors Competition names 2019 finalists
Established in 1990, the Collegiate Inventors Competition is a program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame and is sponsored by the USPTO, Arrow Electronics (People’s Choice Award), Merck, Hologic and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
Senseye partners with FANUC on FIELD system IIoT platform
Users of the FIELD system will be able to connect Senseye’s analytics and prognostic capabilities to their existing production data by requesting Senseye PdM from the FANUC App Store.
Columbia/Okura announces strategic alliance with Rocketfarm AS to develop specialized palletizing software
Columbia/Okura has been working on the development of a mobile, collaborative palletizing product solution for some time. Columbia/Okura intends to launch this software with their release of a product range of palletizing “cobots”.
Columbia/Okura announces partnership with Universal Robots to develop collaborative palletizing applications
Columbia/Okura has been working on the development of miniPAL a mobile, collaborative palletizing product integrating Universal Robot’s UR10e for some time. Columbia/Okura intends to launch this product range of palletizing “cobots” immediately.
Yokogawa Electric announces acquisition of RAP International
RAP specializes in providing digitized solutions that support risk assessment, management of the permit to work (PtW) process, and governance of control of work (CoW) for all plant maintenance activities.
MaxGrip announces Cees Maaskant as CEO
Former CEO Jakob Boelens will transfer to AVEVA as part of the acquisition of MaxGrip’s software portfolio by AVEVA earlier this year. Cees Maaskant will lead MaxGrip into a new chapter in which the company specializes exclusively in Asset Performance Management (APM) consultancy.
Rockwell Automation announces three additions to Machine Safety System Integrator program
The Machine Safety System Integrator program connects companies with system integrators that have expertise in current safety standards and a track record of designing safety systems. The program now has 45 members located around the world.
Industrial Internet Consortium announces IIC Accelerator Program
The IIC Accelerator Program encompasses several initiatives for users of IoT technology who want to discuss challenges with their peers, get advice from IIC experts, or seek guidance to solve complex technical problems.
Mobile Industrial Robots announces opening of larger New York facility
Mobile Industrial Robots opened a two-building, 7376 sq. ft. office in Holbrook, New York, replacing the Danish company’s first international office, opened in the same city in 2016. It also includes MiR’s first showroom outside of the company’s headerquarters in Odense, designed to showcase its range of mobile robots and the various applications.
Matrox announces 100% ownership acquisition by Lorne Trottier
Matrox announced that Mr. Lorne Trottier, co-founder of Matrox, has acquired 100% ownership of the Matrox group of companies, including its three divisions—Matrox Imaging, Matrox Graphics, and Matrox Video.
Mitsubishi Electric holds workforce development program in Houston
As part of the company’s Workforce Development Program, it aims to bring its equipment to schools, technical colleges, and non-profit organizations, and provide skills in programming, service, maintenance and operations. Mitsubishi Electric Automation granted a CNC Specialist Certification to those who successfully completed the program, which was offered during the week of August 26-30th.
ESMERA announces second open call for European SMEs robotics applications funding
The challenges come from the areas of Manufacturing, Energy, Construction, Agriculture, Food Processing, Retail, Healthcare and Emergency Response. Until December 2nd, European SMEs can now apply to solve one or more of these challenges by developing a robotics application and receive funding of up to 200,000 Euros.
Electromate announces Electromate Automation Fair
The event will take place at the Delta Hotels Burnaby Conference Centre in Burnaby, British Columbia. The Automation Fair is anopportunity to explore new technologies and see what's changing in the world of Automation and Motion Control.
Schneider Electric announces investment in SE Ventures global investment fund
SEV has invested in category leaders such as AutoGrid, Claroty, Element Analytics, and Sense. They recently closed on investments with Titan AES, a novel Li-ion battery management system, and Synapticon, a motion control platform for industrial robots, and anticipate investing in 10 or more new startups annually.
Sea Machines Robotics demonstrates autonomous systems to assist marine oil-spill response
The on-water demonstrations took place aboard the world’s first autonomous spill response vessel – a Vigor/Kvichak Marine Industries-built skimmer boat, owned by Marine Spill Response Corp. (MSRC) – before a live audience of MARAD, government, naval, international, environmental and industry representatives.
ISA’s 2019 Process Industry Conference to shed light on issues in the energy processing and process manufacturing industries
ISA’s 2019 Process Industry Conference (PIC) is taking place 4-6 November at the Westin Houston, Memorial City. This is an event for those who wish to understand the demands and find answers to problems in energy processing and process manufacturing.
port GmbH announces name change
The "port Gesellschaft für computergestützte Automation mbH" will become "port industrial automation GmbH"
Semcon announces partnership with EDRMedeso with focus on digital twins
The partnership in digital twins was launched in June 2019 and is part of Semcon’s increased focus on digital services. The goal is to start the first project with EDRMedeso during the autumn.
inVia Robotics announces Ilya Kravchenko as senior director of engineering and Lauren Ziccardi as senior director of solutions.
Kravchenko will report directly to Randolph Voorhies, co-founder and chief technology officer and Ziccardi will report directly to Lior Elazary, co-founder and chief executive officer.
Cambashi announces hire of Petra Gartzen as BIM/CAE/IoT Senior Analyst
Petra’s role is strategic to Cambashi’s business as the Cambridge UK-based firm ramps up its global research and insight into new hot market areas – including Industrial IoT/Connected Applications, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and CAE software.
Murata Machinery partners with Alert Innovation to enhance and support Alphabot material handling technology
Alphabot features robots that can navigate three-dimensional structures and is a scalable picking technology. It will power retail applications ranging from store-level micro-fulfillment systems to massive eCommerce fulfillment centers, and a large array of applications in factory automation and hospital automation.
ABB announces Björn Rosengren as Chief Executive Officer
He will join ABB on February 1, 2020 and succeed CEO, Peter Voser, in this role on March 1, 2020. At that time Peter Voser will revert to his position at ABB solely as Chairman of the Board.
Epson Robots announces AutomateElite Authorized System Integrator Program
The authorized system integrators are hand-selected by Epson based on automation experience, technical competency, and Epson Robots portfolio expertise.
Bentley Systems announces finalists for Year in Infrastructure 2019 Awards program
The annual awards program honors the work of Bentley software users advancing infrastructure design, construction, and operations throughout the world. Twelve independent jury panels of distinguished industry experts selected the 54 finalists from 571 nominations submitted by more than 440 organizations in more than 60 countries.
Rotork actuators to help South Korean fuel cell power plant enhance flow control
More than 90 CVL linear electric actuators and 184 ExMax quarter-turn electric actuators are to be installed on US fuel cell technology company Doosan Fuel Cell’s project at a Hanhwa Total Co. Ltd plant in Daesan.
OSI to help Alliant Energy enhance distribution management
This project expands the distribution management capabilities of the OSI platform to create an grid management system facilitating distribution operations and system reliability.
Mitsubishi Electric announces investment in Akribis Systems
Mitsubishi Electric, through its investment in Akribis, which has a high share of the global market for linear servo motors and linear stages, aims to accelerate its advancement of [email protected] and strengthen its total industrial automation solutions by combining its own servo systems and other industrial automation products with Akribis' product lineup and customization abilities.
Reliable Controls announces partnership with IR-TEC
The IR-TEC product line consists of Passive Infrared (PIR), High Frequency Doppler (HFD) and Ambient Light Sensors (ALS) among others. These sensors are combined to make up a variety of ceiling and wall mount occupancy sensors, light sensors, and wall switching/sensing stations
HANNOVER MESSE announces second iteration of Industrial Pioneers Summit
Some 500 participants from around the world are expected to attend the event on 22 April 2020 being staged under the tagline “Industrial Transformation”. Toby Walsh, international expert on artificial intelligence, to give keynote address.
University of Surrey team announces applications filed for inventions generated solely by artificial intelligence
The AI inventor, named “DABUS” by its creator Stephen Thaler, relies upon a system of many neural networks generating new ideas by altering their interconnections. A second system of neural networks detects critical consequences of these potential ideas and reinforces them based upon predicted novelty and salience.
Demaurex SA to partner with Genesis Robotics and Motion Technologies to integrate direct drive motor technology
The JDA was signed at a signing ceremony at the Lausanne headquarters of Demaurex to begin what both companies hail as a milestone in the development of advanced robotics.
