VICTOR, NY—New Scale Robotics has been named an authorized systems integrator (ASI) for FANUC America Corp., enabling the company to more effectively use its Q-Span automated gauging technology in conjunction with FANUC’s collaborative robots.

VERNON HILLS, IL—Mitsubishi Electric Automation Inc. has introduced the ARIA (Automated Robotic Industrial Assistant), its latest pre-engineered workcell. 

MARTORELL, Spain—SEAT is employing two collaborative robots at its assembly plant here to apply nameplates on the rear doors of Ibiza and Arona hatchbacks. The cobots work at the beginning of the assembly line and apply the badges as the vehicles make their way down the assembly line, with no delay to the process and sharing space with the factory personnel.

ODENSE, Denmark—Universal Robots has incorporated the Standard Robot Command Interface (SRCI) into its software. This integration will enable the company to offer direct control of its collaborative robot arms from Siemens PLCs. Universal Robots is one of the first collaborative robot vendors to adopt the SRCI.

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI—FANUC America has introduced the world’s first explosion-proof collaborative robot for painting and finishing applications.

SALEM, OR—Agility Robotics will soon open a new factory here to produce its bipedal humanoid robot Digit. Dubbed RoboFab, the factory will be able to produce more than 10,000 robots per year. 

TORONTO—Canadian tech startup Xaba and manufacturing technology company Rolleri Holding SpA are partnering to develop an autonomous collaborative robot work cell for welding.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL— A manufacturer of exhaust components had nearly given up trying to automate complex, manual welding processes—until it found cobots.

Welding plays a critical role in producing appliances, automobiles, construction equipment, ships, tractors, trailers, trucks and many other products. Unfortunately, there’s a severe shortage of welders, and the demand for skilled welding professionals is growing.

TORONTO—Lockheed Martin recently completed a project to evaluate the automation of airframe manufacturing operations using six-axis robots equipped with artificial intelligence technology from Canadian tech startup Xaba.