BERLIN—Kuka Systems was awarded another major contract from Volkswagen to build a robotic assembly line for the rear underbody and side members of vehicles. The robots will perform such tasks as spot welding, dispensing and material handling.
APEX, NC—ATI Industrial Automation, a supplier of tool changers and other robot accessories, will break ground Friday on an expansion of its corporate headquarters here. The project will add 200 new jobs and more than double the company’s manufacturing operations.
EVANSVILLE, IN—Systems integrator Evana Automation Specialists has delivered a custom robotic screwdriving system to a manufacturer of construction products. The system automates the assembly of modular aluminum fencing, which drastically reduces manual labor and increases quality.
For decades, automotive engineers have looked to the aerospace industry for new ideas. Back in the 1930s and 1950s, Detroit was inspired by the sleek designs of innovative airplanes such as the Northrop Alpha and the Grumman F4F Wildcat.
RSS Manufacturing & Phylrich is a manufacturer of high-end plumbing fixtures and fittings for decorative faucets. It specializes in short-run production, with turnaround time as quick as 24 hours.
BOSTON—Researchers at MIT have programmed assembly robots to not only realize when they’ve failed at a task, but to also determine if they actually have any chance of succeeding. If the answer is no, they can ask a human for help, specifying what needs to get done, and what robot needs assistance.
PLEASANTON, CA—Adept Technology Inc. will host a series of educational webinars this fall on topics such as vision-guided robotics, automated packaging, and control software.
SPARTANBURG, SC—BMW has taken a step toward revolutionizing the role of robots in automotive manufacturing by having a handful of robots work side by side with human workers at its assembly plant here.
AUBURN HILLS, MI—Esys Automation has received an order for a turnkey automated dispensing system froma major European automotive manufacturer. The multiple robot system will dispense sealants and sound-deadening materials.
RSS
