CUPERTINO, CA—Apple Inc. has developed a large-scale robotic line to disassemble returned iPhones. The line’s 29 free-standing robotic arms remove SIM card trays, screws, batteries, cameras and other parts for recycling.

Miniature force sensors ensure quality of touchscreens, buttons and other electronic assemblies.

FORT WORTH, TX—Motorola has opened an assembly plant here to make its new smartphone—the first such device ever assembled in the United States. The facility will create 2,500 jobs.

PLEASANTON, CA—Adept Technology Inc. has received $2.6 million robot order from Castec International Corp. in Taiwan. The robots will be used in high-precision workcells to produce subassemblies for smart phones.