Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 12.35
July 15, 2022
The past few weeks have been difficult for the robotics industry, with several announcements of layoffs and shutdowns. At the same time, however, robot sales, funding, and demand continue to set records. What's really going on? The setbacks included the following: Argo AI LLC—This Pittsburgh-based autonomous driving developer announced last week that it is was laying off 150 employees, about 5% of its global workforce of more than 2,000 people, according to TechCrunch. Ford Motor Co. and others have invested in Argo AI, which last year launched self-driving deliveries with Walmart Inc. in Miami; Austin, Texas; and Washington, D.C. The…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 12.02
June 02, 2023
…autonomous mobile robots, and plenty of exhibitors with warehouse robotics solutions. The annual event—put on by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3)—has evolved to include solutions of value to multiple industries and processes. These days, it’s not just a show about industrial robots used to “make” or assemble goods in factories. There were many exhibitors offering materials handling solutions, ranging from palletizing, to order fulfillment of finished goods in warehouses. Just a few of the exhibitors I spoke with and who offer robotics used for fulfillment processes include AutoStore, Exotec, ForwardX Robotics, Plus One Robotics, and Raymond Corp. Short-term obstacles…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 11.70
March 30, 2021
…president of tooling supplier Schunk as well as the International Federation of Robotics, or IFR, recently answered questions from Robotics 24/7 about current trends in technology and industry. Recession and recovery Global manufacturing had started to slow down even before the pandemic because of factors such as China-U.S. trade tensions. How quickly do you expect it to return to steady growth? Guerry: This is exactly right. In 2019, we were feeling the slowing related to trade tensions and changes in the automotive industry related to EVs [electric vehicles]. The slowdown was coming off an all-time high in 2018, but robot…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 11.37
May 26, 2023
…demonstration of the growing interest in industrial automation and robotics, despite economic concerns. Conference sessions about getting started with adopting automation were particularly well-attended, and we saw several Fortune 500 companies' delegations carefully evaluating systems and questioning booth personnel. Attendance was strongest on Tuesday, according to several exhibitors. The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) announced that Automate, which used to be co-located with ProMat in Chicago and held every other year, is becoming an annual event. Some exhibitors and attendees grumbled about having to travel to multiple shows early in the year, but the line for space at Automate in…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 11.02
June 01, 2021
…in industries that had a long history of using robotics like the manufacturing sector, but in new industries like logistics, which was starting to make bigger investments in robotics. Then COVID-19 hit, and for a while, there was a break in the action, but that all quickly changed. “The pandemic put the brakes on a lot of stuff early in 2020, but by the end of the year, it was rocketing back. The pandemic accelerated companies' decisions. They were looking at how to automate beforehand.” — Jeff Burnstein, president, A3 So what are some of the key things that are…
