January, 2024

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Engineering Materials for Sustainability Is All-Hands-on-Deck Mission

Plastics Today

An NSF-funded think tank gathered dozens of researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and investors to brainstorm novel ways of making materials more sustainable.

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Feeding time: HMIs and PLCs help in grain blending application

Design World

When a grain blending company realized it was time to upgrade its aging controls originally developed in-house, it looked for just the right combination of PLC and HMI automation to advance its capabilities. The grain production company batches and blends ingredients to produce various livestock feed. Over the years, the operation applied equipment and electrical/electronic… The post Feeding time: HMIs and PLCs help in grain blending application appeared first on Design World.

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Nala Robotics incorporates generative AI into restaurant robot recipes

Robotics Business Review

Nala provides automation for food bowls and other meals. Source: Nala Robotics Since the public debut of generative artificial intelligence and large language models in late 2022, robotics developers have been working to take advantage of the latest AI capabilities. Nala Robotics Inc. said that ChatGPT enables its autonomous chefs to prepare almost any recipe.

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Understanding RMS and True RMS for Meters and Mechanical Measurements

Control.com

Electrical and mechanical measurements are often labeled with "RMS" and "True RMS." Aside from the simple math definitions we learned in electronics class, why is this distinction actually important?

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The Supply Chain in 2025: What to Expect

In 2025, the Supply Chain continues its evolution toward “Logistics 4.0,” inspired by Industry 4.0. Two major characteristics define this transformation: automation, driven by robotic solutions, and prediction, paving the way for an era of planning and simulation powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

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Bobcat: From welding shop to National Inventors Hall of Fame

The Fabricator

Josh Welton tells the story of the Keller brothers and their fascinating rise from running a small welding shop to making the world’s first skid-steer loader and growing the Bobcat brand.

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Integrating PLCs and Camera Systems to Automate Quality Checks

Automation World

Successful PLC programming involves the implementation of image comparison algorithms, pattern recognition techniques and barcode or QR-code readers to enhance the accuracy of inspections.

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Beckhoff USA promotes Alec Abkemeier to software product manager

Design World

Alec Abkemeier is taking on a new challenge at Beckhoff USA as a software product manager focused on test and measurement technologies. With a background in measurement software and hardware, Abkemeier will grow Beckhoff’s test and measurement market share in rapidly evolving industries that require next-generation data acquisition and power monitoring capabilities.

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New car market delivers best year since 2019 as fleets fuel growth

SMMT

New car registrations reach 1.903 million in 2023 – up 17.9% as fleet investment accelerates. Battery electric vehicle volumes reach record high but market share slips to 16.5%. Industry calls on government to halve EV VAT, to put more than a quarter of a million extra zero emission vehicles on the road and cut five million tonnes of CO2 by end of 2026.

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Zero-emission vehicle mandate comes into force in UK

E&T

New rules to make all new cars and vans zero-emission by 2035 have been introduced in Britain today.

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IFR: world sets record for operational robots in 2022

Robotics Business Review

The world set a record with 3.9 million operational robots in 2022, according to the new World Robotics report from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). The report also included information about robot density worldwide. Robot density measures the number of operational industrial robots per 10,000 employees in a country. “Robot density data reveal the state of automation worldwide and allow us to compare regions and countries,” Marina Bill, President of the IFR, said.

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The 2nd Generation of Innovation Management: A Survival Guide

Speaker: Chris Townsend, VP of Product Marketing, Wellspring

Over the past decade, companies have embraced innovation with enthusiasm—Chief Innovation Officers have been hired, and in-house incubators, accelerators, and co-creation labs have been launched. CEOs have spoken with passion about “making everyone an innovator” and the need “to disrupt our own business.” But after years of experimentation, senior leaders are asking: Is this still just an experiment, or are we in it for the long haul?

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Where MES Provides the Most Value

Automation World

How manufacturing execution system technology provides the data context, data access and data insights to help operators and plant leadership deliver results and improve upon them daily.

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Emerson Chosen as Automation Partner For Korea’s Largest EV Lithium-Ion Battery Recycler

Gary Mintchell

I seldom report when an automation supplier gets a project “win.” In this case, I’m interested in the battery ecosystem as the owner of a new electric vehicle. Battery recycling is one of the few recycling programs that actually work. I pick up about 40 lbs. of used batteries a week from our community to take to the county recycling center. The large batteries in our EVs will need to be recycled with the crucial elements reclaimed in the near future.

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Light conveyor platform bridges fixed systems with flexible AMRs

Design World

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… The post Light conveyor platform bridges fixed systems with flexible AMRs appeared first on Design

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‘She agreed to work for £5 an hour’: the desperate plight of many Leicester garment workers

The Guardian Manufacturing

After Covid shone a spotlight on life in the city’s clothing industry, activists and unions gained access to factories. But abuses are still rife ‘When people are so vulnerable, they often don’t even know that they’re being exploited. It’s really difficult to see who is on your side.” Leicester community activist Tarek Islam is describing the position of many workers in the city’s garment factories.

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15 Modern Use Cases for Enterprise Business Intelligence

Large enterprises face unique challenges in optimizing their Business Intelligence (BI) output due to the sheer scale and complexity of their operations. Unlike smaller organizations, where basic BI features and simple dashboards might suffice, enterprises must manage vast amounts of data from diverse sources. What are the top modern BI use cases for enterprise businesses to help you get a leg up on the competition?

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UK demand for new vans grows in every month of 2023 – as businesses go electric in record numbers

SMMT

Britain’s new light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations rise 21.0% in 2023 as businesses and fleets invest in 341,455 vehicles carrying out essential roles in UK economy. Record battery electric van (BEV) uptake as 20,253 units registered, up 21.0%, with almost 60,000 joining UK roads since 2019. As ambitious Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate requires BEVs to represent 10% of market in 2024, rollout of sufficient van-suitable public chargepoints is mission-critical.

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5 robotics trends to expect in 2024

Robotics Business Review

2024 could be a year of building robotics momentum. Source: Adobe Stock 2023 was a year of great change within the robotics industry. We’ll see ripple effects from the latest booms in artificial intelligence and humanoid robots for years to come. Entering into 2024, a number of promising technologies and use cases are primed for growth. With 2023 in the rearview mirror , it’s time to look ahead to what the next 12 months have in store for the robotics industry.

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The Power of Modular PLC Code

Automation World

By breaking down a controller program into separate, independent modules or components related to specific functions, engineers can avoid the unstructured and confusing nature of the all-too-common spaghetti code.

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Survey Finds Disconnect Between Frontline Workers and Management Regarding Productivity Impediments

Gary Mintchell

This news came from a company called Beekeeper. It develops and supplies productivity enhancement systems for frontline, or “deskless” workers. They conducted a survey of 8,000 individuals including frontline workers, their managers, and executives to explore trends. Its 2024 Frontline Workforce Pulse Report released January 17 details several ways frontline businesses can improve the employee experience amid high inflation and increased rates of attrition.

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The Future of Manufacturing: Behind-the-Scene Insights from the IMTS Conference

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Hyson’s new turning machine provides faster, more diverse manufacturing solutions

Design World

Hyson, a Barnes Group Inc. business, maker of nitrogen gas systems for metal forming operations, announces the upgrade of its Brecksville, Ohio, facility with two new machine tools to provide faster and more diverse gas spring solutions. These new machines are state-of-the-art CNC mill/turns that efficiently produce precision high-quality metal components.

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‘We’re facing a critical shortage’: why UK’s green revolution urgently needs skilled workers

The Guardian Manufacturing

The country’s net zero transition may not be short of funds. But it desperately requires many more skilled engineers, electricians and workers than it has In recent years, Britain has been busy setting up the scaffolding of the country’s future low-carbon economy. But beyond the Westminster pledges and white papers lies a very practical challenge: where are the workers who will bring the government’s green agenda to life?

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U.S. survey shows that consumers would buy a car with less tech to protect their privacy

Canadian Manufacturing

WOBURN — Kaspersky has released a new survey report showing that 72 percent of drivers are uncomfortable with the idea of automakers sharing their data with third parties. The report, “ Is my car spying on me? ” captures drivers’ thoughts about automakers’ use of personal data gleaned from connected cars. Eighty-seven percent of survey participants said automakers should be required to delete their data upon request, and only 28% said they have some idea what kind of data

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Top 10 robots seen at CES 2024

Robotics Business Review

LAS VEGAS — CES 2024 featured a wide range of emerging technologies, from fitness devices and videogames to autonomous vehicles. But robots always have a significant presence in the sprawling exhibit halls. The Robot Report visited numerous booths in the Eureka Park section of CES, as well as in the other focused sections of the event. Here are some highlights from this week’s event: Mobinn climbs stairway toward success Mobinn is a Korean startup focused on last-mile autonomous deli

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CNC Design Guide: Enhance Machining for Precision, Efficiency, and Cost Reduction

Unlock the full potential of CNC machining with our comprehensive design guide. Learn how to optimize your designs for precision, efficiency, and cost savings. Gain key insights on part complexity, tolerances, materials, finishes, and much more. Whether you’re developing prototypes or production parts, our guide offers practical tips to streamline your process and ensure high-quality results.

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Interroll and MiR Partner on Automated Material Handling System

Automation World

To navigate Interroll’s multi-level production facility in Switzerland, the company developed a light conveyor platform for MiR’s mobile robots.

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Save the Date for YNOW2024: A Yokogawa Users Conference

Gary Mintchell

A quick update. Yokogawa is holding a users conference this year in Houston. Yokogawa Corporation of America and KBC (A Yokogawa Company) announce YNOW2024, an in-person event taking place October 28-30, 2024, at the Hilton Americas-Houston in Downtown Houston, Texas. Professionals in the energy, petrochemicals, mining, food, and water industries and life sector will learn how to leverage innovative technologies to optimize their company-wide processes and thrive in dynamic business ecosystems.

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Technology could have prevented the Tokyo airport accident

Design World

By Roopinder Tara Airport runway crashes are increasingly common. Automated systems could address the problem. The January 2, 2024 incident at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport involved a Japanese Airlines’ A350 landing and ramming a fuel-laden Japanese Coast Guard plane on the runway ended with all 379 people aboard the A350 safely disembarking. It’s a miracle that… The post Technology could have prevented the Tokyo airport accident appeared first on Design World.

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Doosan Group to Reveal Green, Autonomous Technology at CES 2024

Control.com

Doosan Group will be unveiling its latest innovations at CES 2024. The company will showcase its green-centric, future-thinking technology from Doosan Robotics, Bobcat, Enerbility, and HyAxiom.

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How to Drive Cost Savings, Efficiency Gains, and Sustainability Wins with MES

Speaker: Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions

Is your manufacturing operation reaching its efficiency potential? A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) could be the game-changer, helping you reduce waste, cut costs, and lower your carbon footprint. Join Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions, in this value-packed webinar as he breaks down how MES can drive operational excellence and sustainability.

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Cisco wins Manufacturing Solution of the Year award for integrating industrial security with networking

Cisco Industrial Automation

Cisco is recognized for its unified industrial security and networking architecture that not only helps avoid extra costs and complexity, but also offers better protection.

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Ddog project at MIT connects brain-computer interface with Spot robot

Robotics Business Review

An MIT research team, led by Nataliya Kos’myna, recently published a paper about its Ddog project. It aims to turn a Boston Dynamics Spot quadruped into a basic communicator for people with physical challenges such as ALS, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries. The project ‘s system uses a brain-computer interface (BCI) system including AttentivU.

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Motor Energy Appraisals Reveal Significant Savings

Automation World

ABB’s energy reviews of industrial electric motors indicate potential 2.1 TWh lifetime savings.

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Emory Institute Harnesses AI To Improve Health

Gary Mintchell

Despite all the hype, augmented intelligence (AKA artificial intelligence or AI) is and has been a real thing in programming. The power does continue to grow—just like all technology. Two areas ripe for improvement through the use of AI are education and healthcare. This news relates to healthcare. Emory University is embarking on a new initiative that will unite the power of machine learning and big data to transform the ways in which health care systems prevent, diagnose, treat and cure diseas

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How To Select the Right Software for Innovation Management

Finding the right innovation management software is like picking a racing bike—it's essential to consider your unique needs rather than just flashy features. This oversight can stall your innovation efforts. Download now to explore key considerations for success!