April, 2025

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What ADAR Means for Autonomous Robot Deployments 

Automation World

Acoustic detection and ranging (ADAR) is a new type of ultrasound imaging developed for use on autonomous mobile robots to reduce sensing costs and improve on LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensor limitations.

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PHD’s new online product selector tool simplifies automation

Design World

PHD announced the launch of the PHD Online Product Selector Tool, a new resource designed to simplify the selection and configuration of automation components. This tool enables engineers and manufacturers to quickly identify the best linear actuators and Cartesian systems for their applications, improving efficiency and minimizing the risk of selecting an incorrect actuator.

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Vehicle manufacturing growth in March fails to offset first quarter decline

SMMT

Vehicle production rises 17.1% compared with weak March last year, but total Q1 output down -6.3% ahead of new US tariff announcements. Car output rises for first time in a year, reflecting model changes in 2024, with commercial vehicle output also up as demand stabilises following two years of post-pandemic volatility. Exports drive growth in car production, while commercial vehicle output rises through domestic demand.

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Hyundai to buy ‘tens of thousands’ of Boston Dynamics robots

Robotics Business Review

Hyundai Motor Group plans to implement Boston Dynamics’ robot line, including its Atlas humanoid, Spot quadruped, and Stretch trailer-unloading robots. | Source: Boston Dynamics Boston Dynamics Inc. and Hyundai Motor Group yesterday announced plans to deepen their partnership, which includes Hyundai purchasing “tens of thousands” of robots in the coming years.

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The Manufacturing Edge: Five Strategies to Outpace the Competition

The world of manufacturing is evolving—and so must the factories that drive it. This eBook reveals five transformative strategies that can help manufacturers gain a lasting competitive edge. Through insights from aerospace leaders, energy innovators, and the factories of tomorrow, we show how manufacturers are moving beyond traditional approaches. From building smarter, adaptable systems to embracing iterative design and fostering resilient cultures, these strategies are shaping the future of pr

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Beckhoff Automation Records €1.17 Billion in Revenue Worldwide

Gary Mintchell

These financial results from Beckhoff Automation reflect what Ive long suspectedthe market for automation and manufacturing has been weak not only in Germany but also globally. The company has announced 2024 fiscal year revenues of 1.17 billion, a sharp decline of 33% compared to the 2023 annual result of 1.75 billion. The companys explanation: However, this decline in revenue had been expected due to the huge boom trend observed over previous years.

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UniSA chosen for $500 million research centre

Manufacturer's Monthly

The city of Adelaide will be home to the construction of SSN-AUKUS submarines / Image: myphotobank.com.au / stock.adobe.com Uni SA researchers are the big winners in a Federal Government announcement of two new industry-led collaborative research centres designed to strengthen Australias manufacturing sector. The Future Industries Institute is set to play a major role in both theAdditive Manufacturing CRCand theSMART CRC, collectively awarded more than $500 million in funding from industry, rese

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2025 LEAP Awards will open for nominations on Wednesday!

Design World

The LEAP Awards (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program) celebrates the most innovative and forward-thinking products serving the design engineering space. This dynamic competition honors the most innovative engineered products/components across several of ourflagship brands: Design World, Fluid Power World, EE World, and Engineering.com. Submissions for the 2025 LEAP Awards program are being accepted starting Wednesday,… The post 2025 LEAP Awards will open for nominations on Wednes

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Best month ever for new EV registrations but market share misses mandated target

SMMT

New car market rises 12.4% during plate change month as private retail buyers slowly return. Battery electric car uptake rises to highest ever volume at 69,313 units but 19.4% market share still below target set by Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate. Industry maintains call for accelerated regulatory review and government incentives to raise demand to required level.

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50 most innovative robotics companies

Robotics Business Review

We are passionate about the impact robotics can have on the world. Thats why for 14 years, the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards have honored the most innovative robotics companies, technologies, and applications from around the world. This year we brought back three major awards: Robot of the Year, Application of the Year, and Startup of the Year. We added a fourth major honor: Robots for Good, which recognizes a robot making a meaningful impact on society.

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Are You Over-Complicating Your Linear Motion or Leaving It Out Altogether?

As automation continues to evolve, the demand for smarter, more integrated solutions will only grow. The Accuride FULLELECTRIC® is a new approach to powered linear motion that represents the next evolution in system design. By integrating compact electric actuators directly into Accuride's industry leading drawer slides, this approach addresses the pain points of traditional systems while delivering reliable performance.

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The Open Process Automation Forum Continues Advancement

Gary Mintchell

The Open Group Open Process Automation Forum (OPAF) provides annual updates at a forum in Orlando in February. I missed that meeting, however recently receiving an update from Aneil Ali, The Open Group OPAF Director. OPAF members have worked diligently for years developing a standard of standards in order to break the proprietary grip of specific process automation suppliershence the word Open in the name.

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SICK’s End-of-Arm-Safeguard (EOAS) for Universal Robots excites distributors with possibilities for human-robot collaboration

i4.0 today

A collaboration between SICK Sensor Intelligence and Universal Robots has created the End-of-Arm-Safeguard (EOAS), enabling more effective human-robot collaboration than ever before. A world-first, the patented technology ensures robots and humans can work in closer proximity with improved safety as the technology is mounted directly onto a robotic arm.

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Soft Skills Prove a Sharp Edge in Plastics Manufacturing

Modern Machine Shop

“A lot of our customers are other machine shops around New England, because they’ll get orders for machining metals, but then one of their customers might have a couple plastic parts. It’s easier for them to subcontract it out,” says Mark Rohlfs, president and one half of the brother-and-sister ownership team of East Coast Precision Manufacturing.

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HP showcases additive manufacturing updates at RAPID + TCT 2025

Design World

HP debuts halogen-free PA 12 FR and showcases AI Text to 3D at booth 2301 for custom design. AtRAPID + TCT 2025, HP presented new developments in polymer and metal 3D printing, along with partnerships focused on advancing additive manufacturing applications in the automotive sector. HP introduced new solutions designed to improve accessibility to additive… The post HP showcases additive manufacturing updates at RAPID + TCT 2025 appeared first on Design World.

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How to Modernize Manufacturing Without Losing Control

Speaker: Andrew Skoog, Founder of MachinistX & President of Hexis Representatives

Manufacturing is evolving, and the right technology can empower—not replace—your workforce. Smart automation and AI-driven software are revolutionizing decision-making, optimizing processes, and improving efficiency. But how do you implement these tools with confidence and ensure they complement human expertise rather than override it? Join industry expert Andrew Skoog as he explores how manufacturers can leverage automation to enhance operations, streamline workflows, and make smarter, data-dri

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Is Agentic AI the Next Big Industrial AI Application Since AI Data Analytics?

Automation World

Agentic AI is set to revolutionize manufacturing with its ability to autonomously simplify complex tasks and reconcile data issues. Learn how Aveva is applying agentic AI with its Connect system.

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Cornell University teaches robots new tasks from how-to videos in just 30 minutes

Robotics Business Review

A RHyME-equipped robot picking up a mug from a counter. | Source: Cornell University Cornell University researchers have developed a new robotic framework powered by artificial intelligence. RHyME — Retrieval for Hybrid Imitation under Mismatched Execution — allows robots to learn tasks by watching a single how-to video. Robots can be finicky learners, said the Columbia team.

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Secret Agent Man

Gary Mintchell

Im not talking about the Johnny Rivers theme for a late Sixties Saturday afternoon spy TV show. Were talking software agents. Some may be secret, but none are men. I once had an annual meeting with the CTO of a large automation company where I shared (non-privileged) information Id gathered about the market while trying to learn what technologies I should be watching for.

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$139 million investment to boost Western Sydney industrial future

Manufacturer's Monthly

Image: phonlamaiphoto/stock.adobe.com The NSW Government is supporting jobs and investment for Western Sydney with the approval of a new $139 million warehousing estate that is set to create more than 600 jobs within the booming Western Sydney Aerotropolis. The 19.4 hectare estate has been approved as a State Significant Development and will offer a diverse range of warehousing options from around 1,000 square metres up to 30,000 square metres, with a total of more than 63,500 square metres of f

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Build & Own Scale-Ready Industrial IoT Solution on Flex83 Middleware

Your Industrial IoT software is never ready to scale unless your platform can handle multiple assets at enterprise-level, deploy on any cloud, and provide a modern tech stack for rapid application development with complete IP Ownership, all while reducing cloud operations costs by 90% per connected device. In the technical paper developed with the product team behind Flex83, find how you can build & own your custom IoT platform on the Flex83 Middleware that: Is Scale-ready for 65M+ Connected Ass

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The Shift Toward Smarter Shops: Real-World Stories of Data-Driven Manufacturing

Modern Machine Shop

These automated guided vehicles (AGVs) at DMG MORI’s assembly plant in Tortona, Italy, will soon serve as active transport systems to guide DMG MORI’s universal turning centers through different stages of the assembly process. Source: Brent Donaldson, MMS The French phrase “déjà rêvé,” or “already dreamt,” is the feeling that you’ve dreamed about an experience you are having in the moment.

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Exair’s industrial-duty Chip Vac handles metal, wood, and plastic

Design World

Exair’s compressed air-operated Chip Vac is an industrial-duty vacuum designed specifically for vacuuming chips. It creates a powerful direct flow action that vacuums metal, wood, or plastic chips into an ordinary drum. The Chip Vac is used to clean chips from fixtures, floors, and work surfaces of machining centers, lathes, saws, mills, and other industrial… The post Exair’s industrial-duty Chip Vac handles metal, wood, and plastic appeared first on Design World.

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Is AI Food Manufacturing’s Recipe for Success?

Automation World

Manufacturers in the food and beverage industry who successfully adopt AI will see the biggest benefits from the careful combination of computer vision for improved quality control and machine learning for predictive maintenance.

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CMR Surgical raises $200M to expand Versius robot access across the U.S.

Robotics Business Review

In the U.S., the Versius Surgical System is indicated for adult patients 22 years of age and older, eligible for soft-tissue minimal-access surgery, for cholecystectomy. | Source: CMR Surgical CMR Surgical Ltd. last week announced that it has closed a financing round of more than $200 million through a combination of equity and debt capital. The company said surgeons have already used its Versius Surgical Robotic System to complete more than 30,000 cases in over 30 countries.

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6 Common Production Scheduling Mistakes Manufacturers Make

Effective shop floor production planning and execution can be challenging. Despite technological advancements and methodologies, many manufacturing production managers still encounter issues that result in late orders, cash flow difficulties, and dissatisfied customers. These challenges can disrupt operations, reduce efficiency, and impact overall profitability.

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Flexxbotics Unveils Latest Release of FlexxCORE with Capabilities for Multi-Machine Robotic Automation

Gary Mintchell

People used to (actually, still do) respond to my answer about what I cover as automation, Oh, robots. And Id say, Yes, that, too. The robot market was pretty stagnant for quite a time until the cobot flurry from Denmark. Then, quiet again for the most part. Something interesting does come my way at times. The current topic seems to be expansion of software control to make robotics easier to use and with expanded repertoire.

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Why quality standards matter in Australian manufacturing

Manufacturer's Monthly

If applied properly, standards ensure that fabricated structures meet all design criteria, are fit for purpose, and remain structurally sound. Image: Andrey Burmakin/stock.adobe.com The importance of quality standards in manufacturing cannot be overstated. Adherence to stringent standards plays a critical role in ensuring public safety, maintaining product integrity, and fostering a competitive edge in the global marketplace.

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Labour has done right by British Steel – now it must speed up a radical strategy for all industry | Polly Toynbee

The Guardian Manufacturing

Taking control of the ailing company wasnt an easy decision, but it makes sense. Hopefully the nationalisation phobia is passing The four stately queens were saved. Mary, Vicky, Annie and Bessie are the mighty blast furnaces, though only two are still in action. Jubilation broke out in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire council leader Rob Waltham told me, still exhausted from striving to keep the steelworks open.

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April 2025 Issue: Reimagine aircraft design with decentralized hydraulics

Design World

Is your company a top workplace for engineers? What makes a company a great place to work? Is it the flexible hours or lunchroom ping pong tournaments? Is it the paid time off or tuition reimbursement? Or maybe the medical benefits and retirement matching? Everyone has different values and priorities when it comes to employment… The post April 2025 Issue: Reimagine aircraft design with decentralized hydraulics appeared first on Design World.

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Retrofits Are Falling Short: Here’s Why You Need MES + ERP Together

Manufacturing today requires both agility and precision. Traditional ERP systems provide enterprise-wide management but lack real-time execution power needed on the shop floor. ION Factory OS by First Resonance bridges this gap, combining the strengths of ERP and MES for seamless integration. While ERP handles long-term strategic oversight, ION Factory OS delivers real-time production control, ensuring speed, flexibility, and precision.

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Reshaping Tooling Design and Production While Honoring a Rich Legacy

Mold Making Technology

Six new toolmakers joined The Plastek Group in 2024 to enhance manufacturing capabilities, while key leadership additions — a general manager and director of engineering — bolster strategic growth. A seasoned project management team of four brings deep industry expertise to drive success. (l to r) Ray Luzier, director of Engineering, The Plastek Group; Jason Bonanno, general manager, Triangle Tool, Tooling Division of The Plastek Group; and Corey Bratton, operations manager of Triang

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Robotic picking experts to explain AI advancements in webinar

Robotics Business Review

Ambi, ABB, and Plus One will discuss developments in robotic picking in this free webinar. Source: Ambi Robotics Picking tasks have historically been difficult for robots because of the range of items to be manipulated. In recent years, progress has been made through the application of advanced grippers, machine vision, and motion-planning technology.

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Agentic AI, SaaS, Community—The Aras Community Gathering

Gary Mintchell

The Aras ACE2025 Community Event in Boston closed two weeks ago. It has taken me that long to wrap my head around everything I learned. Normally there are many really important-sounding words that sound so enlightening at the time, yet when I sit to write I find no substance. In this case, there was so much substance that I have trouble filtering to the most important themes.