When Mercedes-Benz wanted to expand its AGV installation, they called HMS. HMS provided the wireless expertise, products, and hands-on support to ensure the AGVs moved efficiently and safely around the factory. Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz, a globally recognized automotive manufacturer, is renowned for its innovative technology, craftsmanship, and luxury design. At their state-of-the-art automotive factory in Ludwigsfelde,…
NFI’s drone deployment takes flight
NFI Industries, founded in 1932, is one of the oldest and largest privately held and family-owned 3PLs in North America. The company serves a variety of segments, including food and beverage, retail and e-commerce, manufacturing, and consumer packaged goods, offering everything from transportation, distribution, brokerage, port drayage, intermodal, global logistics, and real estate. To accommodate…
Flexible manufacturing helps systems to efficiently handle smaller production runs
The markets are changing, and thus so are the requirements of the process manufacturing industry. Whether it is fluctuating demand, more customized products, or smaller batches, manufacturers need to respond more quickly and flexibly. Here, Bradley McEwan, business development manager at automation and control technology specialist Beckhoff UK, discusses how software and modular hardware enable…
5G reliability enters the automated warehouse
The flexibility of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), which use a wireless navigation system to guide them around a facility, is the reason these self-sufficient machines are so popular in warehouse environments. However, 50 AMRs on the floor will overload the traditional WiFi network. That leads to network latency and interrupts communication between AMRs and the…
Remote robotic-assisted surgery system tested aboard International Space Station
Components from maxon are integral to the spaceMIRA surgical robot, which recently completed its first demo test surgeries in zero gravity on the International Space Station (ISS). The spaceMIRA, developed by Virtual Incision and researchers at the University of Nebraska, is a compact, lightweight surgical robot sent to the ISS on a SpaceX Falcon 9…
Festo’s new palletizing gantry lifts up to 440 lb
Festo introduced a heavy-duty Cartesian gantry for palletizing with a lift capacity of up to 440 lb, Z-axis stroke lengths exceeding 8 ft, and a speed of up to 5 ft/s. With free online design tools, off-the-shelf servo drives, motors, and other components, and quick assembly kits, this Festo palletizing solution shortens project time and…
Tech Toolbox: Machine design for packaging
Packaging machinery uses cutting-edge automation, and it’s no wonder. Facilities that parcel products need to deliver high throughput, but modern consumers demand smart packaging in the form of no-fuss containers that protect everything from M&Ms to patio furniture. What’s more, there’s a continuous drive to customize packages and let consumer-facing companies wrap products for bulk…
ABB unveils mobile robot with Visual SLAM AI-technology and AMR Studio Suite
· Equipped with Visual SLAM, ABB’s AMR T702 trolley robot offers increased speed, accuracy, and autonomy in navigation and logistics. · Integration with ABB’s AMR Studio software allows new users to easily configure AMR routes and jobs. · Intuitive Visual SLAM and user-friendly AMR Studio together can reduce commissioning time by up to 20 percent.…
Mitsubishi supports customer’s transition from mechanical to digital, achieving flexibility
Mitsubishi Electric Automation Inc. and Shaltz Automation supported a custom machinery company, ARL Service, in an aspiration that was deemed “crazy” to consider — replacing physical cams with digital cams for a machine that grinds carbide inserts. The metal cams were produced based on specific requirements from a third party, resulting in a time delay…
ABB opens refitted, state-of-the-art U.S. robotics facility
Refit will support customers and ABB’s leadership in growing US robotics segments, including Packaging & Logistics, Food & Beverage, Construction, Lifesciences & Healthcare, and Automotive electric vehicle production. New factory serves as US hub, developing and manufacturing AI-enabled technology to help businesses respond to labor shortages, global uncertainty, and the need to operate more sustainably.…
Mitsubishi provides automated machine-tending solution tripling output for customer
TL Aerotek, a small job milling shop customer, experienced an influx of orders. They sought a solution to keep up with demand that would alleviate labor uncertainty and help to grow the business. TL Aerotek turned to their long-time supplier of milling machines for support, Expand Machinery. Expand discovered an opportunity to automate the process…
Hannover Messe focusing on AI’s impact for 2024 trade fair
This year’s Hannover Messe trade fair (said to be the world’s largest industrial trade show) takes place from April 22-26 in this northern German city, and some may say the outlook for manufacturing is uncertain. For sure, in his opening remarks, Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairperson of the Managing Board, Deutsche Messe AG listed many reasons…
Bins in eight seconds: A warehouse transformation story
What’s an AS/AR implementation project really like? This Q&A reveals tips and unexpected challenges when switching from manual to automated. Warehouse automation technology is gaining traction in the U.S. to strengthen supply chains, reduce reliance on labor, and manage peak seasons and unforeseen events more efficiently. However, companies are still relatively slow to adopt and…
Seeing the future of AMR vision systems
Mobile robot technology is moving fast, and generative AI is pegged to transform AMR vision systems to enable more integrated solutions. Advanced machine learning and visual processing are major trends in automated mobile robot (AMR) development. According to Gartner’s Emerging Tech Impact Radar, advanced computer vision and AI acceleration will be among the most important…
LVDT signal conditioner configures in just minutes
NewTek’s smart NTC-6000 Signal Conditioner takes out the complexity of setting up a signal processing system while protecting against operating failures and cybersecurity hacks. Both intuitive and user-friendly, the NTC-6000 Quik-Cal supports AC-operated LVDT, RVDT, or LVRT half-bridge sensors in converting unconditioned position feedback into a choice of voltage, current and digital outputs including 4-20mA, 0-5V, […]
Interconnect system flies over circuits at 28 Gbits/s
Samtec, Inc. is shipping the Optical FireFly Micro Flyover System, the first interconnect system with the flexibility to use micro-footprint high-performance optical and copper interconnects interchangeably. Consisting of a transceiver, two-piece connector system, and cable, the FireFly Micro Flyover System supports 14, 16, 25, and 28 Gbps designs in x4, x8, and x12 configurations. The […]
Light conveyor platform bridges fixed systems with flexible AMRs
Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) can streamline material handling in manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and more, yet many facilities still primarily rely on conveyor systems. To serve as a flexible bridge between fixed conveyors and production lines, Interroll designed a light conveyor platform (LCP) to facilitate the handling of lightweight goods with AMRs from Mobile Industrial Robots…
Brightpick explains machine vision and AI in intelligent warehouse automation
Brightpick unveiled new details about the proprietary world-class machine vision and AI that are critical for the seamless operation of its Brightpick Autopicker robots. The technologies are used for everything from scanning totes (bins) to create 3D models for future picking of items, to determining ideal picking angles for both totes and individual items. The…
Mitsubishi Electric joins the ModuleWorks program
ModuleWorks, a supplier of software components for the digital manufacturing industry, announced that Mitsubishi Electric has joined its Strategic Partner Program. The Strategic Partner Program initiated by ModuleWorks represents a commitment to driving the development of intelligent, integrated manufacturing solutions by fostering collaboration and innovation between ModuleWorks and key technology providers. Mitsubishi Electric is the […]
Waterproof connectors able to immerse in water to depth of 1.8 M for one hour
Amphenol distributor Inelco Hunter has announced the availability of the Sine Systems’ ecomate Aquarius Fathom Lock Series of waterproof connectors for industrial applications. In a mated condition, the system offers an IP67/69K rating, enabling immersion in water to a depth of 1.8M for one hour. The ecomate Aquarius connectors incorporate the latest technology, offering a […]
Bosch Rexroth: Sensors questions for LT experts
Answers Attributed to Brad Klippstein, Smart MechatroniX Product Manager, Bosch Rexroth Regarding Sensor Manufacturers Q: What are the challenges sensor manufacturers coming to you to solve? A: They would like better performance of their systems (i.e. better cycle times, improved scrap rates) and also to solve automation issues that have been unachievable until now. Q:…
Reed sensors fit into small spaces
Littelfuse, Inc. announced the release of its latest innovative product, the 59001 Reed Sensor. This miniature D-shaped cylindrical reed sensor offers a compact size, high performance, and customization options, making it an ideal choice for various industrial, appliances, and IoT proximity sensing applications. The key differentiator of the 59001 Reed Sensor lies in its compact […]
A3 releases more safety standards for industrial mobile robots
Workplace safety is a growing concern as more warehouses become automated. The new ANSI/A3 R15.08-2-2023 focuses on mobile robot systems integration. As the use of mobile robots continues to surge in industrial settings, the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) has unveiled the second installment of its flagship safety standard for industrial mobile robots. R15.08-2, the American…
Winners announced in the 2023 LEAP Awards Industrial Automation category
The winners of the 2023 LEAP (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program) Awards were announced earlier this week in a digital ceremony, with products across 11 categories, including Industrial Automation. Critical to LEAP’s success is the involvement of the engineering community. The Design World editorial team assembled a top-notch independent judging panel, comprised of a cross-section…
Measuring speed and position for safety
TWK has been developing encoders and sensors since 1962. This past year, they’ve highlighted how such components impact safety in automated vehicles and robots. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and automated mobile robots (AMRs) require several measurements to operate safely. Otherwise, they and the entire fleet cannot navigate and move to target locations. The necessary measurements…