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18 March, 2024

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SPS will return in November, two weeks earlier than before

13 January, 2022

The German automation mega-show SPS will be returning to its usual Nuremberg venue from 8–10 November, 2022 – two weeks earlier than its traditional slot in the last week of November. The show’s organiser, Mesago, says that the announcement will give the industry planning certainty.


Delta buys Universal Instruments to boost smart manufacturing

05 January, 2022

The Taiwanese automation manufacturer Delta Electronics is buying US-based Universal Instruments Corporation and its worldwide operations for around $88.9m. Universal specialises in precision automation systems for applications requiring high accuracy, high-speed handling, assembly and inspection – especially for the electronics industry. Its Advanced Process Lab (APL) platform assists users at every phase of a product’s lifecycle – prototyping, process development, analytics and advanced assembly.


TE Connectivity acquires Phoenix Contact safety relays

22 December, 2021

TE Connectivity has acquired Phoenix Contact’s force-guided narrow safety relay (NSR) technology as part of a long-term partnership agreement between the companies. TE will assume responsibility for manufacturing and marketing the PSRmini single-pole NSR relays, as part of its focus on bringing miniaturised systems and advanced safety technologies to the market, especially for robot, PLC, elevator and servodrive applications.


€33.7m project will develop digital motor production methods

20 December, 2021

A consortium of 17 German companies and research organisations has embarked on a €33.7m Government-backed project to develop a digitalised system for producing innovative electric motors. The AgiloDrive2 project is being led by Schaeffler, with other participants including Siemens, Kuka, Schunk and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.


UK robot density rises by 77% in 5 years, as the world doubles

14 December, 2021

The UK’s industrial robot density – the number of installed robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers – climbed from 71 in 2015 to 101 in 2020, according to figures released by the International Federation of Robotics. Although this represents a growth rate of 77% over the five years, it is far behind the global average, which almost doubled from 66 to 126 over the same period. It puts the UK in 24th position in the global league of robot densities, behind countries including Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.


EU AI and machinery plans ‘will disrupt manufacturing’

09 December, 2021

Four organisations representing the robotics and automation industry have attacked the European Commission's plans to place limitations on AI (artificial intelligence) and to update its machinery regulations, warning the proposed changes would disrupt manufacturing, cause severe damage to small businesses and robotics companies, and stifle innovation.


Rockwell names Åsa Arvidsson as vp for UK and its region

29 November, 2021

Rockwell Automation has appointed Åsa Arvidsson as vice-president for its Emea North Region which covers the UK, the Nordic countries, Ireland and Russia. She succeeds Mark Bottomley who has a new role as Emea vice-president for strategic accounts and sales specialists. Christian Reuter has been named as Emea regional vice-president for market access.


Open industrial edge app store works like a consumer store

26 November, 2021

Siemens has launched a vendor-independent app store for industrial buyers. As well as Siemens’ own Industrial Edge apps for the discrete and machine tool industries, the store will offer apps from third-party suppliers that support the platform such as Braincube, Cybus, SeioTec and Tosibox.


SPS show is cancelled as Bavaria tightens Covid restrictions

19 November, 2021

The SPS automation show, which was due to take place next week in Nuremberg, Germany, has been cancelled following the announcement by the Bavarian prime minister Dr Markus Söder of strict new measures in an attempt to limit the spread of the Covid-19 in the region.


Mercedes to build UK-designed axial-flux motors in Berlin

19 November, 2021

Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to start building high-performance axial-flux electric motors designed by its UK subsidiary Yasa in Berlin, as it prepares to go all-electric by 2030.


Siemens and ABB quit SPS as German Covid cases soar

18 November, 2021

With Covid-19 infection rates hitting an all-time high in Germany, several major exhibitors at next week’s SPS automation show in Nuremberg – including Siemens, ABB, Beckhoff, Schneider Electric, Rittal, Wago, Pilz, Lenze, Sick, Weidmüller, Bosch Rexroth, B&R Automation, TE Connectivity and Harting – have decided to pull out of a physical presence at the show, although many will still take part in online activities that are running in parallel.


Automation centre will help to design future factories

18 November, 2021

Omron has upgraded its Barcelona-based Automation Centre where visitors from across the Emea region can collaborate with the company’s engineers to develop industrial automation systems, including robotics, vision, quality control, flexible manufacturing and AI. Covering more than 800m2 of floor space, the Centre allows customers to experience the benefits of connected, intelligent factories before making an investment.


Rockwell sets up cybersecurity centre and adds partners

09 November, 2021

Rockwell Automation has set up a Cybersecurity Operations Center in Israel to deliver remote cybersecurity services to customers around the world. The centre is one of several moves that that Rockwell has announced to bolster its cybersecurity activities, including partnerships with the cybersecurity specialists Dragos and CrowdStrike.


Allied buys Alio and Ormec to boost its precision portfolio

05 November, 2021

The motion controls manufacturer Allied Motion Technologies has bought two US-based businesses: the nano-precision linear and rotary motion specialist, Alio Industries; and the electromechanical automation system and motion controls manufacturer, Ormec Systems. Allied is paying $20m for Alio, consisting of $15m in cash and $5 million stock. The financial terms of the Ormec acquisition have not been revealed.


Consortium backs Schneider’s open automation vision

04 November, 2021

A group of more than 25 automation companies and other organisations has be formed to develop, and campaign for, a common software layer that will work on automation technologies of any brand. The founder members of UniversalAutomation.org (UAO) include Advantech, Belden, Hirschmann, Intel, Jetter, Phoenix Contact, ProsSoft, Shell, Wood and Yokogawa.


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