Today in automation, predictive and preventive maintenance are constantly in the conversation. While the ideas may be clear, the implementation and advantages are not. Is this a fad that will fizzle out soon? By Gerry Paci, Marketing Manager — Material Handling ⋅ Pepperl+Fuchs For many years in the material handling industry, warehouse operators have strived…
SLAM technology improves AMR autonomy
Dynamic warehouses seek robots that can adapt to change with minimal human intervention. With localization and mapping software, AMRs can build facility maps, orient themselves, detect differences, and share changes with their fleet for uninterrupted and safer operations. When people were building warehouses 10 or 15 years ago in the U.S., few considered employing robots…
Consumer-product production and distribution top automation drivers
For the annual Design World Trends issue, dozens of industry experts shared their insights. Here is additional information from some of those experts on the design, manufacture, and distribution of consumer products. Especially since COVID, the manufacture and distribution of home appliances, consumer electronics, and have evolved with advanced automation technologies. MEET THE EXPERTS Abdullah […]
Beckhoff USA posts $134 M revenue in 2022, continues relentless growth trajectory
Beckhoff Automation LLC generated impressive results in 2022, growing revenue to $134 million in the U.S., a remarkable increase of 33.4% over the previous year. Beckhoff’s strategic growth goes beyond the impressive sales figures – it crossed over into company footprint expansions and growing the U.S. team to 218 employees. President Kevin Barker attributes the…
More flexibility and usability for mobile robotics with locator
With Bosch Rexroth’s Rokit Locator software, mobile robots can independently determine their position. Users no longer need expert knowledge or additional infrastructure to commission a mobile robot. Locator allows mobile robots to determine their position and orientation in any environment, simplifying the automation of intralogistics tasks in industry and trade. Locator is compatible with various…
Drones take the night shift for improved inventory tracking
Gone are the days when inventory inaccuracy is just part of doing business. As new technology is increasingly affordable and pervasive, more third-party logistics (3PL) companies embrace innovation to improve their competitive advantage. Inventory accuracy is one of the most important KPIs for any 3PL or warehouse. The higher the accuracy, the faster orders can…
From trend to trade: how automation evolves out of necessity
What was unthinkable in the past has become commonplace in modern warehouses. Robots and scalable automation are now must-haves for thriving during market fluctuations. Warehouse automation has been around a lot longer in the U.S. than people may assume. Though today we think of autonomous robots and software-driven machines operating continuously in human-free environments, automation…
Top 12 design considerations for power-off brakes
The proliferation of new applications for power-off brakes demands fresh design approaches leveraging leading brake manufacturers’ accumulated design experience. Key to optimizing designs for life, cost, and performance is early collaboration with the brake manufacturer. By Brian Mather • Ogura Industrial Corp. Machine designers in the motion-control industry recognize power-off brakes by the following terms: […]
ITT expands portfolio with acquisition of Clippard cylinder product line
ITT Inc. has announced it acquired Clippard Instrument Laboratories’ product lines of durable, low maintenance, and cost-competitive interchangeable pneumatic cylinders. The product lines include stainless steel, brass and aluminum cylinders and volume tanks. These industry-leading components will expand ITT’s Compact Automation product offering of air cylinders, linear and rotary actuators used in applications such as robotics,…
Connectors added to automotive LED lighting portfolio
Heilind Electronics introduces TE’s ERNI MiniBridge and MaxiBridge connectors. These rugged solutions combine highly compact designs with high current carrying capacity, making them an ideal choice for automotive LED lighting systems. TE’s ERNI MaxiBridge (2.54 mm pitch) and MiniBridge (1.27 mm pitch) cable connector families feature compact as well as electrically and mechanically sophisticated designs, […]
ADVANCED Motion Controls releases new micro-sized FlexPro Servo Drive model
ADVANCED Motion Controls has released a new 60A continuous FlexPro servo drive model FM060-60C-CM. This model is the second “machine embedded” version in this power range adding CANopen communication to the previously released EtherCAT version. The 60A continuous current rating means the servo drive can operate at the 60A peak rating continuously with no need…
Bosch Rexroth AMR improves safety and productivity of manufacturing facilities
Using Bosch Rexroth’s ROKIT Locator Software, the MP1000R is able to navigate autonomously in highly dynamic environments without additional infrastructure. The MP1000R is a flexible and scalable solution which can replace manual forklifts and tuggers in manufacturing spaces, leading to improved efficiency and help protect workers from potential injury. When used for industrial material handling…
AMETEK Haydon Kerk Pittman introduces new size in IDEA Motor series
AMETEK Haydon Kerk Pittman (HKP), a business unit of AMETEK, introduces the new 57 mm-sized brushless DC motor in its IDEA Motor series. This EC057B joins the 42 mm EC042B product introduced in 2019 and enhances an already popular line of motors with integrated, programmable drives. The IDEA Motor combines a precision brushless servo motor…
AMETEK Haydon Kerk Pittman introduces new 57-mm size in IDEA Motor series
AMETEK Haydon Kerk Pittman (HKP), a business unit of AMETEK, has released a new size in its IDEA Motor series of brushless dc motors: 57 mm. This EC057B joins the 42-mm EC042B product introduced in 2019 and enhances a line of motors with integrated, programmable drives. The IDEA Motor combines a precision brushless servo motor […]
Controllers, drives keep pace with automation demands
With the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a surge in interest in automation across many industries. As demand for automation has increased, suppliers of automation components such as motors, drives, and controllers are seeing increased demand as well. Controllers and drives on offer today are more powerful and offer better performance than […]
New micro-sized servo drives rated to 60-A continuous output
ADVANCED Motion Controls has released seven new micro-sized FlexPro servo drives rated to 60 A continuous output. The 60-A continuous current rating is 33% higher than previous models for the same size making these the company’s highest power-density servo drives to date. This offering includes PCB Mount, Machine Embedded and Development Board form factors. PCB […]
Emerson Bearing Boston announces Robotics/High Tech Division
Boston-based Emerson Bearing, a bearing company catering to niche markets nationwide and the sister company of Action Bearing which serves the New England market, has established a Robotics/High Tech Division dedicated to a fast-growing customer base, particularly manufacturing and warehouse automation markets. Emerson Bearing’s Marketing Specialist Rick Piracini oversees the division. Piracini assists clients in […]
Motors – the heart of motion control systems
Electric motors are the engines of motion control and automation. A vast range of motion applications makes use of all kinds of motors, from stepper and servo motors to traditional brushed dc motors. Manufacturers are seeing a number of trends in motor design, based on changing industry demands. Below you’ll find what some of the […]
New servo drives feature high-power, compact design
The FM060-25-CM is part of a new breed of micro-sized, high-power servo drives, immediately available from ADVANCED Motion Controls. Rated to output 25-A continuous and 50-A peak, this fully featured digital servo drive is small enough to fit in the tightest locations. It’s well suited for mobile and portable applications such as mobile robotics, automated […]
Trends in gears and gearmotors for eMobility • washdown • customization
The fundamental mode of operation for gearing and its transmission of mechanical power remains unchanged — as has that for the electric motors with which they pair. But innovative variations have become increasingly common and include more custom gearing, compact designs, and better gearboxes and servogear sets (including helical gearing) for efficiency. Gearing and gearmotors […]
New series of micro-sized drives from ADVANCED Motion Controls
ADVANCED Motion Controls has released three new additions to the FlexPro servo drive family, the FM series. Designed with compact form and power density in mind, the micro-sized drives can outperform larger-sized digital servo drives and still be integrated into tight spaces. The new FM drives are equipped with an additional interface board that makes […]
What are frictional locking assemblies?
If you want a wear-free way to join shaft components, look no further than locking assemblies. These frictional devices take the place of keyed connections that wear and slip over time. Let’s take a closer look at how locking assemblies work — including their advantages over traditional keyways in high-torque applications. What is a frictional […]
DHL Innovation Center displays state of warehouse robotics
DHL this week opened its 28,000-square-foot Americas Innovation Center in Rosemont, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. This is DHL’s third innovation center, joining the initial center in Cologne, Germany and another in Singapore. DHL’s U.S.-based Innovation Center showcases the latest in logistics technology, including robotics. DHL has been using robotics to enhance its logistics operations,…
Dematic partners with OPEX as an integrator of Sure Sort for small item sorting
Dematic will serve as an integrator and solutions provider for OPEX’s Sure Sort system to the e-commerce order-fulfillment market.
Shopify acquires 6 River Systems for $450M
6 River Systems, a Waltham, Mass.-based warehouse automation startup best known for its Chuck autonomous mobile robot (AMR), was acquired by Shopify for $450 million. Shopify, the Canadian e-commerce giant, paid 60% in cash and 40% in shares for the deal, which is slated to close in Q4 2019. Shopify launched in June 2019 its…