Conigital last week said it has secured an offer of £500 million ($619.3 million U.S.) in Series A+ funding. The Birmingham, U.K.-based company said the investment will enable it to advance its self-driving technology and driver safety products. “Following over a year of discussions, we're thrilled to secure an offer of £500 million in Series A+ funding,” stated Don Dhaliwal, CEO of Conigital. “This monumental achievement signifies not only our unwavering commitment to transforming transportation, but also the remarkable growth and commercial success we've achieved alongside a strong pipeline.” “This substantial capital infusion will empower us to attract top-tier talent,…
Like many other small and midsize enterprises, HWL Löttechnik GmbH has faced growing labor shortages, demands for energy efficiency, and the intricacies of high-mix, low-volume production. The thermal treatment company has deployed a robot using the MIRAI intelligent vision technology in its Berlin factory to take over the repetitive task of handling reflective metal objects. HWL has customers in power plant engineering, automotive, electronics, aerospace, and tool industries, as well as plant and fixture construction. The family-run company said it has invested in state-of-the-art technolgies to optimize operational processes and position itself as an attractive employer. The metal parts HWL…
Path Robotics Inc. announced its new Autonomous Fit-up, or AF-1, system for robotic welding this week at the FABTECH trade show in Chicago. The company claimed that the robotic cell, which can fit-up and weld metal parts, “marks a significant leap foward in the metal fabrication industry.” “Today marks a significant milestone in the advancement of American manufacturing,” said Andy Lonsberry, co-founder and CEO of Path Robotics, in a release. “We are excited to publicly unveil a system we have been developing for years that we know will change the landscape of manufacturing for years to come.” Columbus, Ohio-based Path…
The Pittsburgh Robotics Network today invited the public to “step into the heart of the robotics capital of the world” at its Pittsburgh Robotics Discovery Day at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. The organization said the event is “for anyone curious about the robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence technologies that are revolutionizing our world.” “We're looking forward to showcasing the incredible talent and innovation that exists in the Pittsburgh region,” said Jenn Apicella, interim executive director of the Pittsburgh Robotics Network (PRN). “Pittsburgh Robotics Discovery Day is more than just an event; it's an…
In today's fast-paced and competitive e-commerce landscape, efficient order fulfillment is a key driver of customer satisfaction. Solo Brands Inc. and Locus Robotics Corp. this week announced a strategic partnership. Solo will optimize and streamline its order-fulfillment operations with 16 artificial intelligence-powered autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, at its warehouse in Mexicali, Mexico. “We are excited to partner with Locus Robotics to revolutionize our order-fulfillment operations,” said Brett Kulesza, operations vice president of Solo Brands, in a release. “The integration of these advanced AMRs will not only increase the speed and accuracy of our order processing, but also empower our…
ForwardX Robotics this week launched the Flex 60-SW at Logistic-Tech Tokyo 2023—The Third Innovation Expo. The company said its latest vision-based autonomous mobile robot, or AMR, includes automatic weighing scales and an interactive touchscreen to improve picking accuracy in the warehouse. “The introduction of Flex 60-SW marks an exciting milestone for ForwardX Robotics,” stated Nicholas Chee, CEO of ForwardX. “We are proud to establish a new standard for excellence in the industry by offering AMRs that not only increase productivity, but also elevate picking operations to truly astonishing levels of precision.” “This innovation empowers our clients to adeptly navigate the…
One of the most popular robotics applications shown at this week's FABTECH trade show was welding. Neuromeka Co. this week exhibited its collaborative robot for welding at the metal processing, manufacturing, and finishing event at Chicago's McCormick Place. Neuromeka said the system can help small and midsize manufacturers, particularly in the shipbuilding sector, which has been grappling with labor shortages and other disasters. “Neuromeka is a leading provider of robotic solutions, committed to enhancing automation across diverse industries,” said the Seoul, South Korea-based company, which was founded in 2013. “With a focus on innovation and safety, Neuromeka's collaborative robots are…
Time and convenience are essential for customers of quick-serve restaurants, or QSRs. Tel Aviv, Israel-based Flytrex Inc. today announced Autonomous Pickup. The company said it enables a fully autonomous delivery process—from order placement through pick-up and delivery to customers’ yards. Flytrex claimed that its new capability can cut delivery times to about five minutes from the time orders are ready, creating growth opportunities for QSRs and family-owned restaurants. “What’s so unique about this innovation is its real potential to move the needle, with more and more businesses getting on board with an undeniably seamless and cost-effective process,” stated Yariv Bash,…
ff Venture Capital this week announced the opening of its first Upstate New York office within The Tech Garden in downtown Syracuse, the location’s first in-residence investor. The Tech Garden is home to GENIUS NY, which claimed to be “the world’s largest business accelerator for uncrewed aerial systems” or UASes. “This partnership offers ffVC a unique opportunity to be actively engaged with some of the best mechatronic startups in the world, working with them to turn their products into thriving companies generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue,” stated Oliver Mitchell, a partner at ff Venture Capital (ffVC). “Central…
The market for autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, in manufacturing could grow about 30% per year over the next five years, reaching an estimated size of $6.2 billion by 2027, according to Interact Analysis. AMR vendors are continuing to consolidate, with Rockwell Automation Inc. saying on Sept. 5 that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Clearpath Robotics Inc. “Transporting parts and materials to assembly lines and between manufacturing cells is one of the industry’s most complex and inefficient tasks, often resulting in production bottlenecks,” said Rockwell. “Autonomous production logistics will transform the workflow throughout a manufacturing plant, enabling…
Nauticus Robotics Inc. today announced that it has entered into a service contract with Shell PLC. The initial scope of work includes inspection services on a Shell subsea field development in the Gulf of Mexico, and the contract could lead to future inspection projects. The new contract follows Nauticus' successful qualification phase for autonomous inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR). The Houston-based company said its flagship Aquanaut robot will perform noncontact and contact inspections across an extensive subsea complex. “I am incredibly pleased with the progress the team has made in our collaboration with Shell and to embark on this new…
