Editorials
August 2016
Bigger Warehouses; Better Robots
POSTED: 08/18/2016
Giant distribution centers look to robots to deal with all those orders Changes taking place in consumer behavior have drawn a new map, a new type of building and a new kind of automation for the retail
Industrial Robots and Manufacturing Jobs – A Catalyst for Loss or Growth?
POSTED: 08/09/2016
When disruptive technologies are introduced to the marketplace, there is an initial uncertainty among the general population about these unfamiliar products, services, or new ways of conducting business. The unknown is scary; change is often met with resistance, and people may ask themselves how such innovations will affect their livelihoods and
Calling All Robots. E-Commerce Needs You.
POSTED: 08/08/2016
Rapid growth of online orders welcomes robotics technology One click. Delivered right to your door. Guaranteed overnight delivery. The messages are alluring. Convenience has spurred e-commerce ’s growth, with more and more retailers stepping up big-time to
July 2016
2015 Worldwide Robot Sales: New Record!
POSTED: 07/22/2016
Industrial robot sales increased by 12% in 2015 The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) recently released its latest statistics about the 2015 worldwide industrial robot sales. Overall, the sales increased by 12%
Robots, Jobs and Productivity in the Manufacturing Industry
POSTED: 07/05/2016
Industrial robotics is changing the U.S. manufacturing industry portrait The Association for Advancing Automation recently published a white paper discussing the impact of industrial robotics on productivity and employment in the manufacturing industry. We would like to share our thoughts about its main findings. Figure 1 below illustrates the evolution of robot shipments and employment
The 3 Biggest Challenges Facing the Supply Chain Industry
POSTED: 07/04/2016
For another year, MHI published its annual industry report that presents the major trends shaping the supply chain industry. We encourage anybody that has significant interest in this industry to read the report in its entirety. We went
June 2016
POSTED: 06/29/2016
Recent technological developments now make it possible to use 3D simulation software to test vision system algorithms. In a previous blog post , we described the various advantages of using 3D simulation to debug automated equipment
How Robotics Help Speed Up Delivery of CPG to Store Shelf
POSTED: 06/28/2016
There has always been a trip from factory floor to store shelf for GPG (consumer packaged goods), but now that trip is fraught with logistical challenges. We can thank many of the current difficulties in shipping on the changes taking place at
The Distribution Center: No Longer the Company’s Warehouse
POSTED: 06/27/2016
The warehouse has certainly changed. Even its name has changed. For most companies, it’s now called a distribution center. It was not long ago that companies would choose sprawling one-story buildings to house their wares, often for a season or two between manufacturing
Eric the Robot – Foreshadowing The Inevitable Future of Humans and Robots Living Harmoniously
POSTED: 06/01/2016
By: Terri Hawker, Director Product Management Listening to NPR the other day, a story about Eric, one of the first UK robots designed in the late 1920s, it amazes how far we have come in the area of robotics. Back in 1928, a couple guys were able to create a robot that could
May 2016
POSTED: 05/24/2016
By: Jeffrey Hibbard, CEO KINGSTAR Made in China 2025: A Look Inside China’s Latest Industrial Innovation Policy Last week, China-based home appliance maker Midea made a profound statement with its 4.57 billion euros ($5.17 billion) takeover offer for German industrial robot maker Kuka, one of the world's biggest 4 robot suppliers. Without context, it seems
February 2016
The #1 Reference Book on Stress Analysis and Transducer Design Using Strain Gauges
POSTED: 02/24/2016
The classic, definitive work on strain gauge measurement The strain gauge has become an essential tool in stress analysis, part optimization, safety testing and technical investigative work. It is also a major component used in the manufacturing of measurement transducers. In this 250-page, richly-illustrated book, Karl Hoffmann describes, in plain language, the
Four Points You Need to Consider When Thinking About Automating or Robotizing Your Operations
POSTED: 02/24/2016
4 Things That Will Help You Make a More Informed Decision About Automating or Robotizing Your Operations 1. Why do you want to automate or robotize? Is it to increase throughput, reduce cost, lower waste, improve quality, add flexibility or avoid safety issues? There is no “perfect” automation project that will solve
3 Things to Do Before Operating Your New Automated Equipment
POSTED: 02/18/2016
Before turning the main switch You’ve made an informed decision about robotizing your operations and you finally just installed your new automated equipment. You’re getting impatient to turn the main switch “on” to benefit from the enhanced productivity that it will give you. Before doing that, we recommend a few
Robotics in the Folding Carton Industry: The Human Factor
POSTED: 02/09/2016
Robot Integrators design systems that put people at the forefront of their back-ups The folding carton industry, the people who manufacture and print packages for our products and make the boxes that ship our goods, is a sector that uses a lot of automation. It’s easy to see how robots could
