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Danish Technological Institute, Denmark - IFR-R&D Institute

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:04:34 +0000

Dear Reader,

Danish Technological Institute invites you to the grand opening of our Robot Laboratory - a house filled with any imaginable kind of robot technology (and a few unimaginable).

The official opening of DTI's Robot Lab takes place

on the 9th November 2010 from 2 pm to 5 pm

at Forskerparken 10 in Odense

The Robot Lab counts 1.100 square meters of development facilities, workshops and offices - tripling our current facilities. The core of the Robot Lab revolves around creating innovative robotic solutions for tomorrow's industrial sector as within welfare tech and many other interesting sectors. We - and the robots - hope you will participate in our grand opening on the 9th November! Best regards
Claus Risager
Head of Center, Danish Technological Institute, Center for Robot Technology For more information on the event contact:
Julie Maria Christoffersen, Experience Coordinator
T +45 7220 2583, M jmc@dti.dk
Register before 2 November 2010 at:
Anne Ølgaard Jensen, Event officer
T +45 7220 2817, M anlj@dti.dk

Adept, USA - IFR-Partner

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:42:06 +0000

Adept Technology, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire privately held MobileRobots Inc., a provider of industry leading autonomous robot and automated guided vehicle (AGV) technologies. Based in New Hampshire, MobileRobots uniquely positions Adept to deliver productivity gains in unstructured environments, many of which reside beyond traditional robot applications. Equipping Adept's global sales channels with autonomous robots and associated technologies will enable the company to address the needs of the production logistics markets. "With this acquisition, Adept strengthens its ability to develop and deliver highly flexible automation solutions aligned with the needs and demands of our target markets," said John Dulchinos, President and CEO of Adept Technology, Inc. "We are clearly focused on removing the challenges and costs associated with manual and less sophisticated means of moving critical components through production environments in a flexible manner and MobileRobots extends this value proposition beyond our industry's traditional application areas." From individual robots in hospitals to fleets of AGVs in factories, automation solution providers and end-users have increasingly depended on million-mile proven solutions from MobileRobots. The ability for the company's autonomous platforms to navigate in unstructured environments and provide comprehensive solutions and unmatched flexibility in delivering supplies, components and parts in complex and peopled environments has been paramount to the adoption of MobileRobots across numerous industries. "Joining Adept and leveraging their resources and international sales infrastructure will enable the MobileRobots team to capitalize on the over fifteen years of investment into developing technologies and solutions for markets with clearly defined needs," said Jeanne Dietsch, CEO and Co-founder of MobileRobots Inc. "In carefully analyzing the combining of the companies it became clear that our roadmap, positioning, organization and culture are complementary and the acquisition will therefore enable us to more rapidly and fully service our customers." The acquisition of MobileRobots expands Adept's automation presence in markets including industrial, commercial, medical, research and academia and will contribute to continued innovation in the automation of logistical processes. The MobileRobots team brings unmatched expertise in autonomous platform design and advanced fleet management along with applications experience and an established industry network. Upon completion of the acquisition, MobileRobots employees will become part of the Adept MobileRobots group and will work with Adept's existing engineering, operations and service teams in Pleasanton, CA, Dortmund, Germany and Singapore. The terms of the acquisition involve approximately $1 million of cash at closing, plus 763,359 shares of Adept common stock which is subject to vesting conditions, and a contingent cash payment of up to $320,000 after one year for an estimated transaction value of $4.5 million. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed by July 2010. MobileRobots generated $3.9M in revenues in 2009. The transaction is expected to be accretive in the second fiscal year of combined operations.

Adept, Germany - IFR-Partner

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:41:48 +0000

Preserve, Protect, Prosper- Achieve Packaging Sustainability with Flexible Automation Packaging sustainability is the ultimate goal of packagers. The challenge is to balance economic prosperity with environmental and social responsibility. Preserving resources by minimizing their environmental impact, reducing energy consumption, and scrap and adopting new environmental friendly packaging will be the trends manufacturers will be following. Additionally packagers need to ensure that its products and employees are protected by improving processes to minimize contamination, tampering & injuries. Finally, coupled with these challenges packagers must ensure their company's continued prosperity by maximizing their production efficiency. In short manufacturers and packagers alike must work to preserve, protect and prosper to achieve packaging sustainability. This paper will detail the role that flexible automation will take in accomplishing this challenging balancing act. Flexible automation is a powerful and effective solution for packagers to achieve packaging sustainability. Automation allows packagers to increase production, consistency, and reliability while improving working conditions and allowing manufacturers to quickly change to more eco friendly packaging materials and options. Following is a look at what is driving this movement and how flexible automation can address these issues. Preserve Packaging, when tallied up, accounts for almost a third of trash thrown away in the United States. According to the EPA, paper, cardboard and plastics, most of which involves packaging in some form, constitutes 46% of all worldwide municipal solid waste. It is a necessity to protect product from contamination, spoilage, damage, and tampering however it has a significant detrimental environmental impact. Packagers in 2009 and beyond must review how products are packaged, and how it affects the environment. The solution for packagers is to produce less, which means reducing the quantity of materials and other resources used in packaging. Packagers are investing in new packaging that weighs less, is smaller, uses recycled material and incorporates renewable resources whenever possible. Adopting this policy they will reduce waste, save on energy costs with lower shipping weights, cut production costs and offset price increases. New formats such as concentrated forms of detergents requiring smaller packages, eliminating secondary packaging, and replacing rigid packaging with flexible packaging are necessary for packagers to address the preservation issue. Wal-Mart has even instituted guidelines for its suppliers that requires strict adherence to environmentally savvy packaging. According to the EPA Wal-Mart anticipates that with this program in place they will reduce packaging of a toy line significantly enough to save 3,800 trees, 1,000 barrels of oil and $2.4 million in transportation costs in one year. Many manufacturers are redesigning product packaging to be "smarter". So clearly this trend is growing. How can automation affect these trends? Flexible automation can deliver a process that preserves the earth's natural resources. It leads to the reduction in scrap products and wasted materials, allows for quick and easy changeover to environmentally conscious and innovative packaging materials, gives manufacturers the flexibility to handle less rigid, light weight packaging and allows manufacturers to optimize space and time. Packagers will need to take a hard look reducing scrap and wasted materials if they wish to remain competitive. Robotics and automation in general is a much more efficient and reliable method of handling and packaging products. It is consistent every time and therefore produces less scrap and wasted materials due to handling errors. Automated handling far exceeds in reliability over manual handling every time thereby innately will reduce on scrap. The easiest and quickest way to change from one format to another to adapt to all the new environmentally conscious packages coming on the market will be automation that is flexible and adaptable to rapid changeover. Fixed machines and manual handling simply cannot keep up. Robots with various end of arm tooling capabilities can easily adapt to various changes. In order to minimize a packager's environmental footprint they must maximize the use or their space and time. Flexible automation with its various configuration potentials (ceiling mounted robots, multiple EOAT etc.) allows manufacturers to produce more quickly and from the amount of space they are currently using. Protect According to the Centre for Disease and Control and Prevention, approximately 70% of all food borne disease is due to viruses spread by direct or indirect contact with infected individuals. Every year, approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the United States and about 600 people die of it, according to the CDC. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also reports that as many as 76 million illnesses are caused by food contamination every year in the US. Add in the effect of product tampering (consider the Tylenol poisonings in the '80s) and the statistics from OSHA that estimates that repetitive strain injuries account for 60 percent of all "workplace illnesses" packagers and manufacturers have to seriously review any and all methods of keeping their employees and products safe. Flexible automation can address most of the issues involving contamination, injury and tampering by virtue of its ability to reduce human contact on products being manufactured and packaged. Tedious tasks such as picking and placing products into packaging are ripe for repetitive stress disorders. Automation can accomplish these tasks faster and more efficiently thereby protecting employees and at the same time saving manufacturers costly medical compensation. There is no doubt that humans are innately carriers of disease. The less contact employees have with products particularly consumable products the better. Not only is this safer for the consumer it saves the manufacturers and packagers the exorbitant cost of product recalls let alone the costs to a company's reputation. Automating contact with products will naturally help reduce the human contact equation and reduce incidents of contamination. Less human contact also reduces the probability of product tampering. Prosper Manufacturers can address the issues of preservation and protection but ultimately they have to balance this with their economic prosperity. Whether the economy is good or uncertain, companies must maximize their packaging efficiency to ensure economic growth. To combat the rising costs of manufacturing a careful analysis of how a company is using the factory space it currently occupies more effectively is essential. Optimizing the use of valuable floor space currently available to a company is the most efficient method of protecting profitability. It is a cornerstone behind the concept of lean manufacturing. Simply put the more you can produce in the same amount of space the more profitable you will be. As Labor rates continue to rise and product packaging diversity multiplies within the wake of new eco-friendly packaging manufacturers will need to find ways to increase production without increasing employees. Increasing production with the same number of employees coupled with the fact that the makeup of potential employees is trending towards more educated resource pool means packagers will need to automate to produce more with what they currently have. Flexible automation gives packagers and manufacturers the ability to increase production and flexibility. Robot costs are declining while labor is climbing. With the ability of automation to deliver unmatched reliability and consistency at a faster production rate than manual labor packagers will be best advised to adopt this method.

Parallel Robots package products significantly faster than previous robot models

Automation has advanced significantly with regards to speed and reliability. Back in the 90's with a vision guided SCARA robot for example we were packaging chocolates at 47 pieces per minute and that was unbelievably fast. Now with for example a parallel robot we can accomplish that same task at 130 pieces per minute and the cost of the robots themselves has dropped fairly significantly. So we're at nearly 2 ½ or 3 times the productivity for less money. Manufacturers and Packagers alike can now produce more, at less cost. Change is inevitable and as requirements for shorter runs and faster cycle times increase packagers will be introducing new products and packaging at a much accelerated speed. Automation allows manufacturers to easily and quickly change to accommodate new products and packages of varying sizes, shapes and materials. The ability to change end of arm tooling also increases the lifetime usefulness of packagers' capital equipment.

Adept, USA - IFR-Partner

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:02:29 +0000

Adept Technology, Inc. announced it has further demonstrated its commitment to green and sustainable manufacturing through developing energy conscious solutions such as the Adept Quattro robot for production systems ranging from safely processing food to reducing the costs associated with manufacturing solar cells. Energy consumption has consistently ranked as a top consideration when companies select and implement capital equipment. Recent benchmark tests validate that the Adept Quattro, which was originally designed with energy conservation in mind, consumes up to 35% less power over delta or SCARA robots. "Adept invests in technologies that provide advanced production solutions exceeding industry throughput and flexibility requirements. Our focus is to be an industry leader in addressing larger challenges such as food safety and green energy by providing responsible solutions," said Rush LaSelle, director of global sales and marketing for Adept Technology, Inc. "The Quattro product line has been designed to offer the most energy efficient means of automating the handling of products such as natural and primary foods in a secure and safe manner." The Adept Quattro s650HS has been designed from the ground up to be the most efficient mechanism for handling products from the use of advanced materials to adopting the documented benefits associated with a four arm kinematic solution. In tests performed by Adept Technology, the Adept Quattro was benchmarked against various robotic solutions including delta, SCARA and articulated arms. Testing showed the Quattro to perform identical tasks (handling products with the same payload and motion profile) while consuming significantly less energy. When the Quattro was compared to delta and SCARA robots, the Quattro consumed 25% and 35% less power respectively. In tests comparing the Quattro to an articulated arm at the serial linked robot's fastest cycle, the Quattro performed the operation using 43% less average power. When considering the total cost of ownership for solutions utilizing the Adept Quattro, energy consumption has far reaching implications. At the outset, the return on investment is compressed especially in regions where electricity costs are high. For companies who have committed to sustainable and green production practices the Quattro's energy efficiency is perfectly aligned to corporate and social directives.

Adept, Germany - IFR-Partner

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:33:28 +0000

Parallel Robots package products significantly faster than previous robot models

BARA, UK - IFR-Industry Association

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:49:54 +0000

A recent robot sales comparison report carried out by BARA, the British Automation and Robotics Association, shows that in the first two quarters of 2010 UK robot sales have substantially grown by 55% on 2009 figures. This growth is the first of its kind since 2006 and figures suggest that it will continue to accelerate throughout 2010. BARA represents over 40 suppliers in the field of robotics and automation and asks each member to provide a breakdown of their robot sales on a quarterly basis which are then incorporated into a regular comparisons report. Significantly, the report has shown that there have been some major changes in the sectors buying robots and applications for which they are being used. In 2010, when compared to 2006, sales of robots to automotive component suppliers showed a large fall (66%) which has in turn impacted sales of robots for arc welding applications (down by 82%). Interestingly, the report identifies two large growth areas: food and drink (a 172% growth since 2006); and pharmaceutical, medical and healthcare (a 194% growth since 2006). These are now major sectors for robot applications in the UK and it will be interesting to see if the trend continues throughout the rest of this year. Although the figures have injected some optimism into the industry, Mike Wilson President of BARA, has one note of caution: "The growth both overall and in the newer sectors is very encouraging, but the UK's robot sales are still well behind other countries who are also achieving significant growth rates in 2010."

Valk Welding, Netherlands - IFR-Partner

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:31:11 +0000

Manufacturer of construction and excavators, Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe, has invested in Panasonic welding robots for its production plants in Holland. Based on the excellent experience within the organization with Hitachi Panasonic arc welding equipment and the planned increase in capacity of the Dutch plants, robot integrator Valk Welding installed recently three welding robot systems. All three welding robot systems equipped with the latest technology from Panasonic, the largest welding robots from TAWERS Series (TA 1900 WGH). All robots are equipped with a 500 Amp heavy duty power with 100% duty cycle. Two of the three robot systems (installed in Amsterdam) are so-called portal systems in which the welding robot to a longitudinal, transverse and height displacement is mounted to a full range available in the typically complex and large work pieces. For precise positioning of work pieces, using mainly heavy-welding activities, manipulation systems are included in the installation to let rotate the products during the welding operation. Thick plate software To guarantee the quality of the welding with most so-called multi-layer technique, Hitachi uses 'thick plate' application software from Panasonic. "Thick Plate" is a special software, developed for use in heavy welding where multilayer technology is applied. A great variety of search algorithms is also integrated in this software, allowing not only position but also detecting the geometry of the welding seam. This software is developed in Japan in close collaboration with manufacturers of excavators and is now used by nearly all known producers of excavators worldwide. Hitachi Construction Machinery will use this new software application in their production facilities. Partly through the application of this new robot installations and associated software Hitachi Construction Machinery expected to increase its production capacity in order to meet the expected market growth in the coming years.

Valk Welding, Netherlands - IFR-Partner

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:47:43 +0000

If a work piece has tolerances, the actual dimension and shape does not correspond to the programmed welding process and the robot programme has to be modified. The tolerance results in the welding robot failing to put the weld in the right position, which calls for subsequent processing and manual correction of the welding programme. But the welding robot can make that correction itself. Touch sensing, where the robot will use the gas nozzle detects the weld position and shape beforehand and automatically enters deviations into the program, is one of the cheapest and most commonly used methods. A more recent method, (further) developed by Valk Welding, is touch sensing by using the welding wire as a 'sensor'. The principle of the wire sensing system is that the wire is clamped in the torch and then cut off by an automatic wire cutting unit. That precisely defines the position of the welding wire and the position of the work piece can be detected with the accuracy of the robot (within 1/10 mm). The main advantage of this wire search method is that it is not only possible to detect all weld forms, access is improved to areas that are difficult to reach and the detection works with both thin and thickwork pieces. Since re-orientation of the welding torch in the welding programme is no longer necessary, Valk Welding regards the simpler programming as the biggest gain. Advantage over gas nozzle touch sensing:

Virtually all weld forms can be detected
For thick materials searching with the wire is faster than with gas nozzle searching. Since it is not necessary to turn/re-orientate the torch each time, this is much faster and extends the life cycle of the cable assy.
For thin materials, overlap seams from 1 mm can be located
Access to places that are difficult to reach is optimised
The effect on the overall cycle time is minimal (approx. 5 sec. per search)
The programming is less time-consuming

ABB, Sweden - IFR-Partner

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:30:18 +0000

For as long as manufacturers have been drilling and grinding metal, they have faced the problem of burrs, grit and cutting oil left behind after the machining operation. This unwanted material has to be removed, and industry has always gritted its teeth in frustration at the cost, time and mess associated with part cleaning. Assuring this washing/deburring operation is done well has become ever more critical, especially with high-precision cylinder blocks and other engine components of modern automobiles. Just one small burr could damage the engine right after assembly, requiring a rework of the part and jeopardizing the long term durability of the engine. In the late 1990s ABB examined the large, inefficient washers then being used and committed engineering resources to finding a better way. Existing washers were inline single-path chemical systems that were large, energy gulping, unreliable and wasteful. The result of ABB research was a brand new generation of robotic flex washers that have revolutionized high pressure water deburring. Jan Nielsson, ABB's FlexWasher Global Product Manager, ticks off an impressive list of benefits and improvements for the Flex-Washer: decreased exhaust emissions, low and best-in-its-class noise level and cleaning capability, unequaled reliability with robust, low-maintenance components, and a simple setup that allows for quick reprogramming. Says Nielsson: "What's unique about our systems is that we're using pure water. With your dishwasher at home you heat your water and add detergent to achieve a good cleaning. With our equipment, we have taken out the detergent and heat while achieving better cleaning than our competitors." That superior cleaning without chemicals is achieved by combining an exact path velocity and precise water-jet attack angle to the surface of the part, made possible using a robot-held nozzle moved around the part or a robot-held part moved around a stationary nozzle. Even while the FlexWasher design allows for processing of formerly unreachable areas of complex parts, the entire operation provides great benefits for both the environment and the manufacturer's pocketbook. There's no energy outlay to heat the water, which is filtered and reused in the closed loop system. An efficient design means less power consumption, and there are decreased exhaust emissions since water vapor is the only byproduct. Jan Nielsson points to stunning statistics on the operational cost of ABB's Flex-Washer versus ultrasonic, injection-flood and fixed-nozzle washers. With significant savings in power draw,
fresh water usage, waste processing and zero chemistry outlay, the FlexWasher's annual
operating cost is an amazing 87 - 93 percent less than these other systems. ABB continues to supply auto manufacturers with custom-built FlexWasher systems while expanding its reach into the aviation industry and other production processes.

Dürr Systems, Germany - IFR-Partner

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:50:30 +0000

One does not have to think far back, when the world of the application technology in the car body painting was still two-part. It was common to use air atomizers for the interior painting and the second base coat application on exteriors, for all other exterior surfaces high-speed atomizers with electrostatic charge. The disadvantages of this split: high paint overspray losses from the air application, various systems and processes in one line, lacking flexibility. Since this time, a lot has changed. Almost all OEMs carry out the second base coat application with the effective electrostatic application. This process, called bell/bell process in trade language, has become state of the art by now. Now the question arose whether the electrostatic application technology can also be used for interior painting. The answer: basically yes, but with two conditions that have to be met. Firstly: the atomizer must be compact, in order to guarantee a reachability of all surfaces to be coated and secondly: the spray fan width must be adjustable in a wide area. Ideally, this atomizer should not only be usable for interior painting, but also for exteriors. So far the targets. The Dürr product developers converted these targets into reality with a high priority. The high flexibility of the fan pattern variation is achieved already with the HD and HX types of the EcoBell2 by means of a bell disk shaping air system that has two shaping airs independent of each other. The compact atomizer is a far more challenging demand, however, particularly in the application of waterborne paints. An exterior charge with the electrode ring in the previous form is not usable because of its size and for a direct charge of the paint material, a voltage block is necessary. This fact recently led to the development and the use of various systems. Here, the variant diversity ranges from canister technology via docking systems, systems on pig basis, to the voltage block with the aid of dosing cylinders which are installed on the robot arm. On closer inspection of the different systems one discovers, however, that no system meets the requirements made to the waterborne paint application equally well. They are for instance either restricted in their efficiency, not really suitable for interior painting because of their size or too complex and this way too expensive. Only the exterior charge offers a high efficiency with low complexity. To make this principle usable for interior painting was the starting point for the development of a new atomizer generation, the EcoBell3. A new atomizer generation - for Dürr this is not simply another version of the EcoBell2, but a completely new atomizer. Of course, its efficiency surpasses that of its predecessor by far. Its new features which are to be presented at a later time will not only lead to minimum color change losses and short color change times, but will offer new process-specific options. The most important (aspect), however, is: the EcoBell3 is equally suitable for interior and for exterior painting. This was achieved by a very compact electrode ring. This way, this atomizer represents the ideal synthesis between high performance and process flexibility on the one hand and lowest complexity on the other hand.


An absolute novelty: the interior painting with a high-speed atomizer and exterior charge. Possible with the EcoBell3, the new atomizer generation by Dürr	Exterior application with the EcoBell3: high performance, low complexity

What does the use of the EcoBell3 now actually mean for the customer in the practice? In one of the first projects with this atomizer for a sports car manufacturer, the intended capacity of the installation demonstrates this, the interior inside and exterior painting is combined summarized in one zone. The advantage resulting from that is considerable: a significant reduction in installation length and the number of robots and thus a reduction of invest and operating costs. If a distribution of the interior and exterior painting scopes to several zones is necessary, and this is certainly the normal case in a paint shop, the workloads can be distributed to all robots if the EcoBell3 is used in such a way that an optimum workload will result. Besides, the degrade functionality is possible here. This means that the other active robots can take over the painting scope if one robot should fail. A function that eliminates the need for so-called backup zones with manual application superfluous Also, installation length and operating costs are reduced significantly here. Small cause, great effect. The future requires flexible manufacturing concepts more than ever. In the field of paint application it is now absolutely feasible to divide up the previous, little flexible concept of a painting line into individual zones and to arrange these in parallel. This so-called "box concept" offers interesting possibilities: only two robots are required to completely paint the vehicle. Completely in this context means with primer, base coat and clear coat, exterior and interior. What is already possible today from process-specific view by the introduction of 3wet painting processes that manage without intermediate drying can now also be realized with the EcoBell3 from view of the application technology. The effect in this case: a clear reduction of the color change losses. And since the transportation between the individual paint applications is eliminated, this means that the part of the process time increases in relation to the entire cycle time. Speaking of cycle time: in a painting line it is determined by the biggest vehicle. Not so with a box concept. Here, an individual cycle time adapted to the vehicle size and the process can be operated in every box. This way, the capacity of the entire system can be increased which leads to reduced unit costs. At last, an increasingly important advantage of this concept in the present time should not remain unmentioned, the flexibility with regard to the system capacity. For instance, the capacity of an installation can be increased in stages according to this concept by the installation of additional boxes. Also, it is possible to react to workload problems by turning off individual boxes.

The EcoBell3 provides interesting, highly-flexible layout possibilities, e.g. the box concept. Complete painting with only two robots possible, individual cycle time depending on vehicle size, process and painting scope, flexible adaptation to capacity requirements by turning individual boxes on/off.

But now back to reality: an important area of application for the EcoBell3 will become the bumper and plastic add-on parts painting. From the application viewpoint, the bumper unites the exterior and interior painting in one component. Large surfaces must be covered just the same as detailed areas with a partially very complex geometry which can only be achieved with plastic parts for reasons of production. The painting process is complicated by the fact that the individual parts are usually positioned close to each other on the product carrier and into the bargain, the cycle times and time on part are very limited. What does all that mean for the application? A compact, efficient atomizer with a high flexibility concerning the spray pattern configuration with the possibility of continuous painting without interruption. The EcoBell3 fulfills these conditions without any ifs and buts.

Bumper painting with the EcoBell3. Here the high flexibility is proved: wide pattern for large surfaces, narrow cylindrical pattern for detailed surfaces. Tight areas require a compact atomizer.

Let us have a short look on the "painting robot" overall system. This consists of the robot itself and the integrated application technology. Integrated is to be understood literally here. No additional valve and application cabinets are required. Together with the new linear paint color changer, the EcoLCC and the compact dosing pump, the robot has a very slim arm. Ideal for applications with a reduced accessibility. As already described in detail, the application technology is designed for all painting jobs. A high transfer efficiency and minimum color change losses are the important features of this simple and compact overall system.

The overall system for the electrostatic application of waterborne paints by Dürr. Simple and compact. The features: EcoBell3, integration of the entire paint application in the robot, slim robot arm with linear color change system of EcoLCC and dosing pump for minimum color change losses and color change times. The examples of this contribution show with great clarity which importance the atomizer has for the painting process. The EcoBell3 offers many advantages and possibilities, last but not least it makes a clear contribution to the efficiency in the handling of energy and resources. This is by the way also this year's motto for the Dürr Open House event that took place in March 2010. Literature: Schumacher, Hans: Redesign in the application technology - more performance with less complexity. Automotive Circle International, Bad Nauheim, 16-17 November 2009 Automotive Circle International, Bad Nauheim, 16.-17. November 2009 Svejda, Pavel: One atomizer for all cases - short painting lines due to new application concept. Journal für Oberflächentechnik / Journal for surface technology, JOT 9, 2009 Author: Dr.-Ing. Pavel Svejda
Dürr Systems GmbH
Carl-Benz-Straße 34
74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen Phone: + 49 (0)7142 78 2290
Fax: + 49 (0)7142 78 2107
E-mail: pavel.svejda@durr.com
Internet: www.durr.com

GÜDEL, Switzerland - IFR-Partner

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:25:41 +0000

Within the photovoltaic (PV) industry, «grid parity» is the magic word. It means that the costs for generating PV power are reduced to the level of conventional energy production. On the Automatica 2010, 3S Modultec and GÜDEL present two brand-new machines for different stations in the production process, that bring manufacturers of solar modules closer to this goal.

Process Station for Marking, Measuring and Checking Glass Edges

In the production process of solar modules, the steps for marking, measuring and inspecting the edges of the single-pane safety glass of the modules form an important station. 3S Modultec and GÜDEL present three new features for making the processes more efficient.
Each module first receives an ID, which, together with a time stamp, is converted to a data matrix code and printed onto the module. This ID is the back bone of the quality assurance system along the whole manufacturing process. In the end, a complete data set on the production sequence and material of each individual module is available. Benefit for the customer: The information ensures product quality - also in the long-term - and helps to continuously improve the production processes.
In addition two reference marks are also printed onto the glass pane. Their position in relation to the glass geometry is measured by a mobile camera. The marks supply the exact measurements of the glass panels and make it possible to later remove excess EVA foil that has protruded over the edges during the laminating process.
The third innovation for this process station is the glass edge inspection by means of the integrated «Edge Star» (ISRA AG). It checks the front faces, the edges and the first 20 mm of the horizontal upper and lower surfaces of the panels. The «Edge Star» automatically detects conchoidal fractures, scratches or grinding flaws. Defective glass panels are sorted out at the next appropriate position. All processes are automated. A cycle consisting of marking, measuring and checking takes less than 30 seconds and thus represents a production capacity of 200 MWp (PV megawatt-peak) annually.

Process Station for Cutting Edges, Exposing Contacts, Soldering Laminated Modules

The encapsulating material for the solar cells (EVA and Tedlar) overlaps the glass panel. This excess foil has to be cut off after the lamination process has been completed. Calibrated cameras read the reference marks. The control system of the servo-driven GÜDEL gantry calculates the cutting course based on the data obtained from the measuring station described above, and guides the rotatingblades. The foil edges are cut at a distance of 0.3 mm parallel to the edges of the respective glass panel. The blade does not touch the glass, that is why it can be used for cuts on 100,000 modules before it has to be sharpened. The clean and precise process requires practically no maintenance and has a speed of max. 1.5 m/s. The edges of a module are cut within 8 seconds. The contacts that are required for transporting the power generated in the solar modules to the inverter are mould inside the laminate. The new 3S/GÜDEL module technology searches and exposes these contacts. This saves manual work and wiring material, because no contacts need to be threaded through the foil any more. A sensor measures the position of the contacts in all three dimensions. A special milling tool now exposes the contacts and the chips are sucked off. To prepare the automatic installation of the connection box, a volumetric pump applies a precise dose of solder paste onto the contacts. Subsequently they are soldered by a pinpoint RF solder head so that the neighbouring EVA zone is remains unmodified. All processes are automated. The glass is moved in and out by either the integrated GÜDEL ZP3
handling system, or by a handling system based on the GÜDEL ZP4 gantry. The cycle time for
cutting and exposing the contacts is less than 60 seconds and thus represents a production capacity of 100 MWp per year. Patents are pending for both machines. With the high-precision and reliable automation of these production processes, 3S and GÜDEL AG contribute to the solar industry's goal of significantly lowering the production costs and increasing the quality of their products.

International Symposium on Robotics (ISR) took place in Munich

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:23:25 +0000

Parallel to the industry fair "AUTOMATICA 2010" the 41^st ISR (International Symposium on Robotics) took place in Munich. It was held in conjunction with the 6^th German Conference on Robotics. Since 1970 this prestigious, international conference has gone around the world. It was held in the US, Canada, in several countries in Europe, in Japan, Korea, Singapore, and in Australia. The idea of this conference, which is organized by IFR (International Federation of Robotics), is to bring academia and industry closer and faster together. This year on three days 46 sessions were held, more than 200 papers were presented, and parallel to the oral presentation 38 posters were shown at two poster sessions. Altogether 327 participants from 30 countries, followed the presentations in four or five parallel tracks. The progress of classic robotic topics was presented and discussed. The main interest was on topics like

Improvement of Sensor Technology
Path and Motion Planning and Navigation
Modelling and Simulation
Localization and Mapping
Vision
Safety
Service Robotics
New Kinematics
Nano and Micro Robot
Biologically inspired Robots and Manipulation
New Applications

Besides the papers, which were offered from the authors, four invited talks took place. These talks caused a great interest of the audience. The topics were:

Research Collaboration Against Backdrop of the Global Economic Challenges
Robot Technology Driven Innovation - Examples and Trends
Field Robotics Driving Off-road Equipment Productivity and Convenience
Better Place - Next Generation Mobility. Challenges and Chances

One reason for this 40 year old success story is the combination of fair and conference. The attendees have the chance to view on one side the state of the art at the fair on the other side they learn the latest developments and the different aspects of robotics at the conference. According to discussions with participants this is the key to success. The next ISRs are already scheduled. In March 2011 the ISR will take place in Chicago, USA and 2012 in Taipei, Taiwan.

ABB, Sweden - IFR-Partner

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:52:02 +0000

Nigel Platt, ABB's UK sales and marketing manager for robotics, says: "The award is the culmination of a lot of hard work by ABB engineers, and our channel partner, RG Luma, who designed, built and installed the production lines." As Honeytop's first investment in robotic technology, the judges were impressed that the installation is dramatically reducing turnaround times, and as a result is ensuring the company can meet its customer's tight deadlines without delay. The installation features two robotic lines, each of which utilise four FlexPicker IRB360 robots. The robots ensure the company meets its own stringent requirements for the hygienic handling of food, as well as introducing reduced labour costs and improved health and safety levels. Each production line features ABB's PickMaster 3.2 software and four IRC5 controllers. This combination has dramatically cut the changeover time between products, making it easier for Honeytop to meet its deadlines with high quality products, everytime. William Eid, director for Honeytop Speciality Foods, comments, "We work in an industry with very tight turnaround times. We receive daily orders that are expected to be out to the depots within 12 hours of production. We needed to increase the speed of the production line to meet these industry demands, all while reducing downtime. The robots have quickly enabled us to achieve this, by absorbing a number of overheads, thanks to low labour costs and improved productivity." Andrew Jones, Sales Director, RG Luma, adds, "The Directors at Honeytop did express some apprehension about introducing robotics. Having integrated over 25 ABB robots in the past 12 months, we were confident in continuing to use such proven products, and this award demonstrates exactly why ABB robots are great for our customers businesses." The award was presented to Alan Spreckley, ABB channel Partner Manager and Andrew Jones of RG Luma, at a gala dinner following the Appetite for Engineering 2010 one-day conference at the Hinckley Island Hotel in Leicestershire. Platt adds: "It is significant to ABB as the food and beverage industries are playing a key role in the growth of robotics in the UK. With over 54% growth in 2009 for ABB, the food and beverage industry has recognised the trend to automate and food processors are getting on board, ready to boost their competitiveness and maintain consistently high product quality. Now, we need to challenge the rest of the manufacturing industry to do the same and recognise the return on investment available."

BlueBotics, Switzerland - IFR-Partner

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:38:23 +0000

Today's Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) have to meet increasing requirements from the industrial automation: They have to be flexible in their movements, if possible able to freely navigate, should adapt themselves to new automation processes and have to be installed easily and at reasonable cost. Industrial users expect an AGV to find its way in any environment, also a dynamic one, without adapting the environment to the robot's needs.

Autonomy - more than a trend

This is the domain of the Swiss BlueBotics SA, one of the leading research and development companies in mobile robotics, situated near the prestigious EPF Lausanne. Centrepiece of BlueBotics vehicles and robots is ANT® (Autonomous Navigation Technology). This unique navigation product facilitates tasks like the positioning of pallets or the load transfer from storage spaces to trucks and rail wagons. Equipped with BlueBotics' ANT^®, Paquito has a load capacity of 1'200 kg, can manage
pallets of up to 2.2 m in height and navigates safely through buildings at a speed of 1.3 m/sec. A perfect example is Paquito, developed by BlueBotics' partner Esatroll, manufacturer of high-tech systems for industry. The industrial forklift equipped with ANT^® has a payload of 1200 kg and has been on duty as an autonomous transport vehicle in different Italian companies since 2009. It moves safely through factory buildings at a speed of 1.2 m/s, and handles pallets up to a height of 2.2 m. Paquito can easily be installed and adapts itself rapidly and cost-effectively to new tasks. Thanks to ANT^® it moves autonomously and handles obstacles in a safe way, without being dependent on artificial guidance landmarks in its surroundings. Due to the clever ANT^® technology, including embedded high-precision sensors, wireless communication and a reliable safety system, Paquito is also the ideal helper for a safe co-operation with humans.

BlueBotics street-smart robots

The co-operation with the KOKEISL Industrial Systems AG, experienced in industrial production systems, especially for the powder industry, resulted in the KOKEISL Picking Robot (KPR). The modularly built vehicle, powered again by ANT^®, collects bulk materials of different charges, from a few kilograms up to two tons. The KPR works according to the law of gravity, gathering material in the vertical direction. By using the KOKEISL automatic shovels, it is able to dose and assemble receipts and small quantities with the precision of one gram. Without any difficulty it takes the materials autonomously out of nearly all containers in the plant and looks tirelessly for the transport between the warehouse, the dispensing terminals and the mixing stations. In doing so it moves at a speed of 1.5 m/s and with a precision of ± 10 mm. Thanks to ANT^® the smart assistant does not rely on any orientation help in its surroundings, as it is able to perceive its environment and to adapt itself automatically to changes therein. KPR stands for KOKEISL Picking Robot. The modularly built vehicle, powered
by ANT^®, collects bulk materials of different charges, from a few kilograms up to two tons. As BlueBotics puts together specialists from computer sciences, micro engineering and mobile robotics, electrical engineering and systems integration beneath the same roof, the crew can offer their industrial partners all services from a single source, from the analysis and the feasibility study to the properly functioning, made-to-measure vehicle. BlueBotics ANT^® for the autonomous navigation - the custom-tailored solution for tricky automation problems in industry.

KUKA, Germany - IFR-Partner

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:49:10 +0000

The first flight hours of a helicopter pilot's training are particularly intensive and dangerous. This is why several approaches have already been taken in the development of flight simulation. In contrast, the aviation company Heli Aviation GmbH, the leader in robotic technology KUKA Roboter GmbH, and the Human Perception, Cognition and Action Department of the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics are taking a different path and working together on the development of the Heli Trainer. The aim of this joint project is to develop a realistic flight trainer that will enable pilot training to be effective, safe and cost-efficient. At the same time, the quality of the training remains at the same high level. This is because critical flight maneuvers can be repeated as often as required and simulated right up to a safe crash landing whereas in practical flight training, the flight instructor has to intervene immediately when incorrect flight control actions are made. With the Heli Trainer, a pilot trainee requires less time to develop a feel for movements, understands the consequences of his flight control actions better and learns maneuvers in a safe environment with a steeper learning curve. One of the greatest technical challenges of this project is to simulate the movements of complex, real systems in the smallest of spaces in order to give pilots the feeling that they are in a real aircraft. Stewart platforms are the most common motion simulators in use because they can move large payloads and can also achieve high accelerations. A major disadvantage however is their restricted workspace and motion range. This is why the developers of the Heli Trainer are pursuing a new design based on the KUKA robot, type KR 500 TÜV, further developed for motion simulation by the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics. A helicopter cell, type Guimbal Cabri G2, is attached to the 6-axis, heavy-duty robot with a carrying capacity of up to 500 kg. It has space for up to two people who can learn realistic helicopter maneuvers in an "original" cockpit. The robot from KUKA in Augsburg is the only industrial robot in the entire world certified to carry passengers. Thanks to its six degrees of freedom and its design, the robot offers a considerably larger workspace and range of motions than conventional platforms. As an option, a linear traversing axis can be added to the robot to simulate real landing and take-off maneuvers.

Valk Welding, Netherlands - IFR-Partner

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:36:14 +0000

In order to check and record the quality of welding work, Panasonic offers a Welding Data Management module for its Tawers arc-welding robots. The module records the welding parameters of Panasonic Tawers welding robots during the welding process. Besides analysing the welding data, the module also offers the option of generating a report of the welding values as proof of correctly completed welding work. The Welding Data Management software module runs on the robot, interfaces with the Panasonic programming system DTPS G2 for a detailed analysis, and is suitable for MIG/MAG and TIG applications. TAWERS, which is short for The Arc WElding Robot System, is the name of the first robot especially intended for arc-welding applications, whereby the robot and welding machine control were integrated in one 64-bit CPU. Panasonic developed this robot in close co-operation with Valk Welding. Meanwhile Valk Welding has fitted a few hundred of these welding robots that have produced an enormous increase in output and quality in the welding industry. The integration of robot and welding machine control produced a 250% faster data transfer in relation to previous generations, which formed the basis for developing digital innovations, such as SP-MAG, Arc Start lift, and Arc End lift. Besides a virtually splash-free welding image, this also produced new opportunities for high-quality MIG welding of aluminium. The integration also meant that welding-parameter data became available in digital format, which enables the control and recording of arc characteristics during the welding process. As clients increasingly demand welding-quality guarantees from their suppliers, welding-data recording is a hot topic at the moment. During the Techni Show, Valk Welding demonstrated the options and benefits of the 'Welding Data Management' integrated welding parameter recording system. Welding Data Management has the following facilities:

vheck that the realised welding parameters are carried out within the required bandwidth (Monitoring)
record welding programmes and realised welding parameters during the day (Logging)
represent the welding characteristics (Recording)

Monitoring The integration of robot control, wire-feed system, and power source does not only produce a faster data transfer, but also offers the opportunity to record more detailed information on the welding data. As standard, every Panasonic TAWERS system has a welding data monitoring system that records specific threshold values for welding parameters, such as current strength, voltage, and wire-feed speed. If these values are exceeded, the system produces a signal that enables the operator to intervene in time or switches off the robot automatically. It is possible to set different series in absolute values or percentages of the required parameters. For truly critical welding you can set a narrow bandwidth to check that the output parameters match the programmed parameters. Logging With the logging module the robot will record all welding programmes and realised welding parameters during the day. This includes for example: Programme name, date, time, step number, current order, order voltage, output current, output voltage, welding error, wire speed, and wire-feed motor current. One file is create for each day that can be downloaded automatically from the robot to DTPS G2 for further analysis and recording of the realised quality. It will indicate for each line whether you remained within the set thresholds of the monitor function. Other welding errors are also logged. Recording Welding Recording gives a detailed record of the realised welding parameters and is intended to analyse the welding seam and the welding characteristics for each welding line and every individual weld. Errors that are deemed 'no good' by the monitoring function can be analysed in detail. With that information the welding parameters can be adjusted if necessary in order to improve the quality of the weld. With the recording function, it is possible to track and check the welding characteristics of every weld in DTPS G2 simultaneously with the path completed by the robot.

Adept, Germany, IFR-Partner

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:29:27 +0000

"Successfully using a robotic system in surgery demands a completely different set of robot operating modes than robotic systems used in industrial settings. Using robots as surgical assistants requires a highly interactive system that does not replace the surgeon but rather supports him/her in certain procedures where human senses and skills are limited," says Jürgen Wahrburg, PhD, senior scientist at the "Zentrum für Sensorsysteme (ZESS)" (Center for Sensor Systems) at the University of Siegen, in Siegen, Germany.
For several years and in close cooperation with physicians, information scientists, and industrial partners the ZESS center has been designing the modiCAS (modular interactive Computer Associated Surgery) project under the direction of Jürgen Wahrburg. This project using new robot controlling and operating methodology uses robots as a surgical assisting system for surgeries. The system is involved in all the surgical steps from planning to operation. modiCAS is the world's first robotic system to support the implantation of acetabular cups, a prosthesis often used in hip replacement, in humans. The Adept Viper s850 robot is one component of the surgical assistance system. The Adept Viper s850 robot provides an arm length of 854 mm, a weight of 29 kgs, and uses open controls to enable the direct activation of the individual joints with precise speeds and torque values. Prototype of the mechatronic assistant modiCAS 3D digitizing devices are used to register the patient's anatomy while the Adept Viper s850 is applied as a mechatronic extension of the navigation system for guiding and positioning the surgical instruments. Using customized controlling and operating functions the Adept Viper s850 is able to be accuratly aligned to the specific surgical requirements. The physician chooses the required robot feature that corresponds to operation task needed, e.g. haptic guidance of the robot by hand or automatic tracking of slight patient movements. Computer architecture of the mechatronic assistant modiCAS, Source: University Siegen
Positive experiences
Besides its absolute reliability and durability, Jürgen Wahrburg particularly appreciated the Adept Viper robot's arm reach, slim design, low operating weight and the open controls architecture. Meeting the technical requirements of the robot was only one determining factor in choosing Adept as the supplier, said Jürgen Wahrburg. Other crucial points were the remarkably high technical competence of the Adept application engineers and their practical and detailed advice, as well as Adept's open-mindedness. Range of application/Application possibilities
The robot's key task as an assistance system in an operating room consists of guiding surgical devices, e.g. endoscopes, cutters, trephines. Even in complex neurosurgery the robot mechatronic assistants can very precisely position surgical devices in an environment where millimeters can make the difference between success and the loss of important nerve tracts. The advantages of applying a robotic system are obvious. In addition to the exact implementation of the preoperative planning during the surgical procedure and the achievement of very precise drilling and reaming results due to concise tool guidance, the surgeon also benefits from a lower stress-level during a procedure. The robot allows the surgeon to move and rotate devices without any tremor at a precisely defined speed. In spite of these evident advantages, the establishment of mechatronic assistants in the surgical operating arena will still take some time however the potential is clear. Information flow on a haptic guidance and tracking of patient movements
Source: University Siegen

Henrik A. Schunk new Chairman of EUnited Robotics

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:28:41 +0000

Henrik A. Schunk, Managing Partner of SCHUNK in Lauffen (Germany), was elected as the new Chairman of EUnited Robotics for the period of three years on 12 June 2010. Henrik A. Schunk is the successor of Stefan Müller, former Managing Director of KUKA Roboter in Augsburg (Germany), who was one of the founding members and Chairman of the European Robotics Association for the past six years. During the EUnited Robotics members' assembly the new Chairman thanked Mr. Müller for his outstanding contributions to EUnited Robotics and European robotics in general and wished him all the best for his retirement.

Anders Nylander, Head of Robotics Products Group, ABB in Västeras (Sweden) and Maurizio Filoni, CEO of COMAU Robotics in Grugliasco (Italy), were elected Vice Chairmen.

The new EUnited Robotics board will continue to speak up for the robotics industry in Europe. Building on good contacts to the European Commission, universities and research institutes EUnited Robotics will further support industrially relevant research projects and technology transfer.

EUnited Robotics is a core partner in the euRobotics Coordination Action and responsible for the management of the Secretariat of EUROP (European Robotics Technology Platform) - both ambitious initiatives of the European Commission within the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) aiming at improving cooperation between industry and academia in robotics. "It's good and necessary that all robotics organisations and platforms in Europe join forces in order to achieve common goals and maximum efficiency", said Henrik A. Schunk.

Another focus for the EUnited Robotics activities will lie on strengthening public relations for a better acceptance and awareness of robotics in society and in everyone's perception.

President´s Report

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:34:50 +0000

Dear members, Just three month ago, I reported on the first signs of a recovery of the worldwide robotics industry. How does it look now? These first signs expanded into a strong recovery. The results of the first quarter of the IFR Quarterly Statistics on worldwide robot shipments showed an increase of more than 50% compared to the first quarter 2009. We are looking back to an exciting week in Munich from 7 to 11 June 2010. The AUTOMATICA 2010 was very successful with about 31,000 visitors from all over the world. A lot of innovations were shown. There was a keen interest from the press in robotics, and the robot suppliers received a package of requests and a lot of order intakes. The participants of the IFR Round Table in Munich concluded that the robotics industry is back on track and pointed out the future requirements for the robotics industry. The main results of the discussion were:

The automotive industry will continue to be the main driver of the robotics industry for the nearest years to come.
Also, new materials, sustainability, more automation of assembly and mainly the demand for "Green Automation" pose new challenges to the robotics industry.
The interaction of humans and robots, e.g. in small and medium sized companies to run short production batches, and multifunctional robots as well as easier programming are the challenges for robotics.
Robots of the future should be easy to use like an i-phone. The robotics industry will have to make tremendous efforts to make the robot easier to use, and in the easiest possible way have the robots do what it is expected to do...

The start of a promising recovery was also confirmed at the meeting of the IFR Industrial Robot Suppliers Group in Munich. The year 2009 is ticked off. All companies reported remarkably increasing order intakes in the first five months of 2010. The investments of the automotive industry are remarkably increasing as well as those of the general industry. The main drivers of the recovery are China, Korea and India. Apropos India. It was a great honour for the IFR to welcome Mr. Deep Kapuria, Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) National Committee on Robotics at the IFR General Assembly in Munich. He made an impressive presentation on "India as a future market for robotics". This was a first step towards cooperation between IFR and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to establish an Indian robotics association IFR membership. About 300 people listened to more than 160 qualified presentations on robotics in five parallel sessions at the ISR2010 which was conducted in cooperation with the German "Robotik 2010" in Munich. A highlight of the ISR2010 was the IERA Award session with the presentations of the six finalists. The winner was Professor Alexander Verl, Fraunhofer IPA, Germany, for his project "Inline Measurement Robots - Robots Get the Precision for Car Body Inspection". The IERA award is jointly sponsored between IEEE & IFR and the focus of the award is "Outstanding Achievement in the Commercializing of Innovation in Robotics Automation" At the end I still have a bad and a good news. First the bad one: Junji Tsuda, Yaskawa Electric, resigned as Vice-President of the IFR. Recently, he became President of Yaskawa Electric. We regret very much that he had to leave the IFR, but we wish him all the best and great success in his new challenging job. Now the good news: We are very happy to announce that Dr. Shinsuke Sakakibara, FANUC, has been elected as new Vice President of the IFR. He is already known in the IFR as delegate for JARA. I am looking forward to a good cooperation with him. Finally, let's tackle the challenges of the future and provide innovative solutions to our customers. Best Regards Åke Lindqvist
IFR President

RIA, USA - IFR-Industry Association Member

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:02:36 +0000

New Name for North America's Broadest Automation Solutions Expo... Automate is the new name for the International Robots, Vision & Motion Control Show. The show will be collocated with ProMat® 2011, the leading show for the material handling industry and logistics industry.

Solutions will be a major focus in order to show attendees how automation technologies can help them become stronger global competitors. More non-automotive attendees are likely as robots, vision, and motion are gaining traction in industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, consumer goods, and related sectors. And, the conference will be filled with more practical knowledge than ever before. Attendee registration will open soon. RIA anticipates that the audience on the show floor will likely double with a more diverse buying audience attending. The new setting will be in the heart of the vibrant city of Chicago as the show moves downtown to McCormick Place. Many positive, exhibitor-friendly changes were recently made at McCormick, all this already resulting in a high demand for booth space. more...

New Webinars on Robotics Online

Videos of RIA's Market Trends Webinar Series from National Robotics Week are now available free upon demand from Robotics Online. Each has a sign-in form that takes you to a page with the recordings. In these webcasts, RIA brings together industry insiders to examine developments and opportunities for robots in traditional and non-traditional applications. more...

How Robots Help American Companies Compete in a Global Economy
Career Opportunities in Robotics
Food Robotics

Robotic Industries Association Market Trends Webinar Series

Do you believe that if more people understood the value (and affordability) of robotics/automation they would open their minds and buy from you? RIA focus groups reveal that many users are unaware of the benefits and cost-savings robots provide or had a bad experience and are fearful to try again. They need reassurance, and RIA webinars help cure misconceptions from the comfort zone of an Association environment. more...

RIA Educator Sponsorships Assist in Pursuit of Robotics Careers

A new Educator Sponsorship program has been launched to assist robotics faculty and students pursuing careers in robotics. Any RIA member can sponsor a teaching and training institution for an Educator Membership in RIA. Eligible institutions include vocational and technical institutes and both two- and four-year colleges offering a curriculum and path leading to hi-tech, well paying jobs in robotics or related automation technologies. more...

Who's Who of the Robotics Industry

Out of the hundreds of corporate RIA members, a few belong to the elite Platinum level of membership. New systems integrators for 2010 are: Ellison Technologies Automation, PaR Systems, Inc. and Progressive Machine & Design, LLC. See for yourself Who's Who of leading robot makers and integrators. RIA Who's Who.

Indianapolis Event to Introduce Draft of New R15.06 (2011) Safety Standard

Learn First-hand How the Coming Changes Will Affect Your Company

National Robot Safety Conference XXII

When: September 27 - September 29, 2010
Where: Indianapolis Marriott East
Indianapolis, Indiana USA

Plenty of excitement will be in the air as attendees will preview the new R15.06 (2011) Robot Safety Standard draft during the first public release at the conference. Registration for the three-day event of workshops, conference presentations, a tabletop trade fair of exhibits, case studies and more is open. Agenda to include these new sessions:

Introduction to the New R15.06 Robot Safety Standard
- Part 1 - The Manufacturer's Perspective
- Part 2 - The User's Perspective
Using Robots to Improve Safety and Market Position
Contextual Risk Assessment

Plus, additional sessions include: Using Robots to Improve Safety and Market Position, OSHA's View on Robot Safety, a Standards Committee Panel, Safeguarding, Safety Controls, a Functional Safety Primer and more.

Registration is now available, or visit www.robotics.org/safety10 or contact RIA Headquarters at +1-734-94-6088

Exhibitors can be part of the excitement and meet attendees during the tabletop trade fair exhibits on September 28. Reservations are now being accepted for tabletops. Qualifying RIA members receive free or discounted tabletops. Non-members are welcome to exhibit too. Reserve a tabletop. Also available: Sponsorship opportunities.

Search RIA's Online Product, Company & Service Listings

Find a Company, Product or Service with RIA's proprietary search engine on Robotics Online to search and compare leading companies, products and services. Even search by keyword or category. Find the robotic solution that, up until now, you've only dreamed about!

Grow Your Business: Become an RIA Member Today

Join RIA now. Start taking advantage of membership benefits including extensive resources and programs offered exclusively to members. Be a part of a network of industrial robotics individuals encompassing some 225 organizations and watch your business grow. There is a membership level to fit every budget and need. Virtually pays for itself by helping you find new customers or implementing efficient systems. View full membership details, including an online application, or contact RIA at +1-734-94-6088.

Bringing Manufacturing Technologies Together

Integration of technologies is critical to increasing efficiencies and RIA's sister association, the Motion Control Association (MCA) helps you do just that. Motion Control Online provides fresh new articles, a directory of suppliers, new product news, technical help and more. Visit Motion Control Online today to access these free resources and connect to the motion control industry.

Robot Lab Opening

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:30:02 +0000

Grand opening of the Robot Laboratory of the Danish Technological Institute on the 9th November 2010 at Forskerparken 10 in Odense.

PHOTON's 8th Photovoltaic Technology Show

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:25:11 +0000

PTS Europe is the leading trade fair for machinery, raw and processing materials used in the production of wafers, cells and solar modules.

PHOTON's 7th Photovoltaic Technology Show

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:23:51 +0000

With the US market anticipated to exceed 1 GW in annual PV installations for the first time in 2010 and to increase to multiple gigawatts in 2011, one thing is clear: the American PV sector is about to face unseen growth.

ROBOTICA

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:36:14 +0000

A showcase on the world of humanoid and service robots.

SIAF Guangzhou

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:26:31 +0000

Industrial Automation Fair Guangzhou provides a professional trading forum for the industrial automation industry

ROBOT SHOW

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:06:50 +0000

Second edition of the Hydraulics, Automatics and Pneumatics Fair - HAPexpo will be enriched again by technical Robotics Showroom - ROBOTshow. Kuka Roboter, Kawasaki and Wobit - these were some of exhibitors of the first edition.

Service Robot Group