Smart Manufacturing Today

OnRobot Soft Gripper highly flexible

The new OnRobot food-grade Soft Gripper is able to pick a wide array of irregular shapes and delicate items in food and beverage, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals production, as well as manufacturing or packaging Automation just got easier for food and beverage and other “clean” applications such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals that need to handle items from eggs to fruit, to bottles or irregular-shaped containers. The flexible OnRobot Soft Gripper uses three interchangeable silicon-moulded cups in star and four-finger configurations to pick up almost any small object under 2.2kg with a delicate, precise touch. The electric Soft Gripper is food-grade certified (complies with FDA 21 CFR for non-fatty items and EC 1935/2004) and unlike traditional vacuum grippers, it requires no external air supply, so it can reduce both cost and complexity. “Our new Soft Gripper is challenging existing solutions for picking hard-to-grasp, delicate and odd-sized items,” says CEO of OnRobot, Enrico Krog Iversen. “Unlike proprietary solutions, the Soft Gripper offers seamless integration with most collaborative robots and light industrial robots through our One System Solution.” OnRobot’s award-winning One System Solution is a platform that provides a unified mechanical and electrical interface between leading robot arms and any OnRobot end-of-arm tooling (EoAT). The One System Solution has been newly expanded to include integration with robots from ABB Robotics and Hanwha Precision Machinery. Now, users of those robots can take advantage of the unified mechanical and electrical interface of any OnRobot product, for easier integration and faster ROI. While the Soft Gripper is ideal for food and beverage applications, it also provides flexible, delicate gripping for manufacturing and packaging. Soft Gripper Features: Up to 2.2kg payload based on shape, softness and friction of items to be handled Grip dimensions ranging from 10mm-118mm depending on cup used FDA certification Flexible, interchangeable silicon cups Ideal […]

Movac invests in Revolution Fibres to scale global growth

Auckland-based Revolution Fibres has raised $6m in a Series A funding round led by Movac, New Zealand’s most experienced technology investment firm. Founded in 2009 by Iain Hosie, Simon Feasey and Michael Perrett, Revolution Fibres has developed a unique technology to produce electro-spun nanofibres for use in a wide range of applications, such as filtration, skincare, sound absorption and composite reinforcement. Revolution Fibres has 15 employees and achieved early sales traction in several markets. Movac Partner David Beard comments “We have been targeting an IP-based business for Fund 4 for some time, and we were compelled to invest in Revolution Fibres because it had made a significant transition from R&D into scale volume manufacturing. With its applications spanning a diverse set of industries, it can adjust quickly and take advantage of a rapidly changing environment. We are delighted to have led this round which has included a diverse set of investors from NZ, US and Asia.” Revolution Fibres Chairman Andrew Turnbull comments “Iain and the team at Revolution Fibres have built a fantastic platform technology which is now ready, with the right team and funding, to be scaled. We’re very focussed on what we want to do with the business and sought an investor who understands what it takes to build a global deep tech business from New Zealand. Movac’s investment style and their experience in helping to grow value in companies with deep intellectual property meant a lot to us. Most importantly, there’s also a strong fit in terms of approach and aspiration.” The funding will be used to accelerate commercial opportunities in key offshore markets, and to invest further in production capability. Mr Beard will join the Revolution Fibres board. Phil McCaw, Movac Managing Partner commented, “We’re excited to have the opportunity to work with the Revolution Fibres […]

Bella, the Kiwi digital helper for times of crisis and need

Soul Machines – a leading innovator in the field of AI – is enlisting their technology to assist in the dissemination of information in times of public crisis, starting in New Zealand for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Bella, the Digital Helper aims to show how she can assist in New Zealand’s robust response to the ongoing public health crisis by providing a new, interactive channel to help the public receive easily digestible, up-to-the-moment information in a manner that frees up important resources for other relief efforts. As a company founded in New Zealand, Soul Machines designed Bella to be distinctively Kiwi, with an understanding and sensibility of the questions specific to the population. More than a standalone effort, Bella represents a reimagining of how technology and AI can serve as a robust and efficient crisis communications platform. Soul Machines is committed to a continued exploration of this mission on a global scale. Powered by the world’s first autonomous animation platform, Bella is a friendly and engaging digital helper available to answer questions based on data from a wide variety of sources. As New Zealand progresses to a phase of gradually reopening society, Bella could provide even more assistance, helping citizens to navigate the changing measures designed to contain and prevent the spread of the virus and restart industries and the economy. She can be updated daily to be able to provide the most accurate information in quickly changing times. Digital Helpers like Bella are already deployed with many of Soul Machines clients helping them to remain in personal contact with their staff and customers in different industries and different parts of the world. “When we started Soul Machines, creating engaging, personable digital helpers was an aspiration,” said co-founder and chief business officer Greg Cross. “Now, we are pleased to be […]

Robot disinfects large areas

A robot capable of rapidly disinfecting large areas has been invented by a world-first solutions business to speed-up the fight against coronavirus. Forth Engineering in Cumbria is known for its innovations to solve complex industry challenges in the nuclear, oil and gas, renewables and other sectors all over the world. Forth managing director Mark Telford and his team have responded to the fight against COVID-19 by inventing a remotely operated disinfecting robot. “It’s an amazing bit of kit. I took it to one of our sites and it disinfected 68,000 square feet in just 20 minutes. It’s very impressive,” said Mark. “We’ve put together our tracked robot, vapour cannon, camera and lights, and developed the first one in a matter of days. “That’s how quickly we always work, it’s just that the sectors which need our help are different right now and this is a national emergency. “We have had lots of inquiries about it and we are now going into production. We will have to see how many robots people want us to manufacture.” The robot can be worked remotely, controlled from a safe distance, to help the NHS and other organisations keep areas clean during the coronavirus outbreak. “It can be used to sterilise ambulances, hospitals, shops and supermarkets, wherever it’s required,” said Mark. “It works in a similar way to a vapour cigarette in that it fires high pressure vapour which will settle in every part of a designated area. “It can also be used to disinfect factories and offices, schools and colleges, before people return to work and go back to education after the lockdown to make sure they are safe to use.”. In terms of the impressive speed of Forth’s response, Mark said it’s how he and his […]

New app traces contacts, retains privacy

Using digital data for contact tracing could be a powerful tool for containing the spread of COVID-19 and a new technology app in Singapore could help address fears of data privacy, says a digital data expert. Andrew Chen is a Research Fellow at Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures – the University of Auckland’s new think tank and research centre. Dr Chen’s research in computer systems engineering focused on camera-based person tracking, as well as how technology might be used to help protect people’s privacy. He now brings that technical lens to better understand how society can use digital technologies more safely. He says contact tracing using data from smartphones could be one of the most powerful tools in containing the spread of the pandemic, allowing governments to act quickly to contain infected individuals, keep an outbreak under control and effectively suppress virus spread. “We need contact tracing to save lives and using digital data could make that much more effective. But we also need to protect people’s privacy and minimise rights abuses that could have serious consequences,” he says. “But constant tracking of all people, whether they are infected or not, is a deep invasion of privacy. It is a use of the data that most people would not have known about, and users effectively cannot opt-out to retain their privacy.” However, an app called TraceTogether – used in Singapore since 20 March – could be a promising alternative, says Dr Chen. People install the app on their phones with Bluetooth enabled. When they are physically close to someone else with the app, the phones exchange Bluetooth signals and the encounters are logged in the app. It takes several seconds for the exchange – short enough to capture most interactions but long enough to ignore spurious connections. Anonymous IDs […]

Why strive for Industry 4.0

Adopting Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies may help businesses achieve sustainable growth. 4IR capabilities create higher top and bottom line value through faster design, novel products, reduced risks, elimination of waste and so on. But while growth is clearly a vital objective for any industry, is it the ultimate motive for rushing into such technologies? The world’s ever-growing population is increasingly digitised, affluent, ageing – and seeking sustainable solutions. Today, three billion people have mobile access, with a 10% annual growth rate. Innovations such as voice assistants and the Internet of Things are redefining the whole shopping experience and disrupting retail, blurring the lines between when and how consumers learn about products, decide on a purchase and actually transact. As a result, e-commerce is growing globally at 18%, with a broadening scope from fashion and electronics to beauty, cosmetics, pet care, pharmaceuticals and sporting goods. P&G’s e-commerce business grew by 30% last year, accounting for nearly $4.5 billion of sales – about 7% of total business. Low prices, free shipping and price transparency are challenging the economic model of traditional retail. New business models are forming to embrace emerging needs for the last mile in business-to-consumer and consumer-to-consumer delivery, creating space for new players. There is no doubt that the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry is undergoing massive disruption. The best way to rise to the challenge is transformation through leveraging technology in every corner of the business. We need to integrate product innovation, manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sales into a smooth and holistic business model. It should be fast and flexible so that it can follow constantly evolving needs. Modelling and simulation need to be used widely to design products, consumer experiences and manufacturing systems, and to optimise supply chains. P&G has tripled its use of robotics over the last […]

Gripper excels in handling cylindrical objects

OnRobot’s 3FG15 three-finger gripper with a 150mm stroke is a powerful alternative to bulkier and less-flexible three-finger grippers currently on the market – a unique solution. The new gripper excels at heavy-payload machine-tending applications that require high precision and flexible handling. The 3FG15 makes previously hard-to-automate precision handling of cylindrical parts easy to program and deploy and provides flexibility for a wide range of part sizes. It was developed as a response to existing pneumatic three-finger grippers that are bulkier and less flexible. OnRobot has long defined the market for electric parallel grippers with the RG2 and RG6 series, and this three-finger gripper allows users to deploy applications faster with highly accurate, fixed positioning. The 3FG15 gripper has a maximum stroke of 150mm that can easily handle multiple processes. The innovative three-finger design with a 15 kg (33 lb) payload provides a strong, stable grip for both form fit (internal) or friction fit (external) gripping, adding flexibility to any implementation. Ideal for CNC machine tendingThe gripper’s design, specifically developed for machine-tending tasks, automatically centres workpieces, resulting in a strong, stable grip and precise placement in machine chucks. With a gripping force from 10 N to 240 N, the 3FG15 competes with much less flexible finger grippers. The gripper is also ideal for packaging and palletising applications, and is seamlessly compatible with any major collaborative or light industrial robot arm through OnRobot’s new award-winning One System Solution, the platform that provides a unified mechanical and electrical interface between the robot arms and any OnRobot end-of-arm tooling (EoAT). 3FG15 Features: Precise stable grip with automatic centring Large 150mm stroke for parts from 20mm to 150mm Form fit (internal) and friction fit (external) gripping 15kg payload Weight 1.15kg, gripping force 10-240 N Fast, flexible deployment The EoAT market in Asia Pacific, excluding Japan, […]

New container deployment system gets the thumbs up

Container owners frustrated with the costs, delays and anxiety of using cranes to deploy their containers can at last breathe a sigh of relief. A new container deployment system from BISON means they can now take complete control over container movements. “We have found a way for companies to safely and rapidly deploy containers anywhere. Now, one operator can get a container onto a chassis and deploy it at the destination without relying on a third party,” says BISON CEO Greg Fahey. Currently, most owners of modified containers pay a lifting service to place the container onto the chassis at the start of the journey, and then pay again to get it lifted off the chassis at the destination. BISON’s new C-Lift T-Series, on the other hand, eliminates this entirely. “Organisations are losing critical project hours while they wait for a crane or traditional container handling equipment to be available to lift a container off the truck. Others are resigned to the fact that the container will stay on the chassis. “But keeping the container on the chassis makes it harder to move in and out of the container, and it stops the chassis being used on other jobs.” says Fahey. The BISON C-Lift T Series retrofits to any standard height ISO container. It is easy to remove and use on other containers and has a lift capacity of up to 20 tonnes (44,000 lb). Battery-powered hydraulics and intelligent self-levelling software provides a controlled lift and compensates for uneven weight distribution. “We have given control and independence back to the container owner,” says Fahey. “Companies can now decide when a container needs to get on site and have the confidence that it will be there on time, at a reasonable cost.”

Bringing the green revolution to electronics

From biomemory to implants, researchers are looking for ways to make more eco-friendly electronic components. Researchers are investigating how to make electronic components from eco-friendly, biodegradable materials to help address a growing public health and environmental problem: around 50 million tonnes of electronic waste are produced every year. Less than 20% of the e-waste we produce is formally recycled. Much of the rest ends up in landfills, contaminating soil and groundwater, or is informally recycled, exposing workers to hazardous substances like mercury, lead and cadmium. Improper e-waste management also leads to a significant loss of scarce and valuable raw materials, like gold, platinum and cobalt. According to a UN report, there is 100 times more gold in a tonne of e-waste than in a tonne of gold ore. While natural biomaterials are flexible, cheap and biocompatible, they do not conduct an electric current very well. Researchers are exploring combinations with other materials to form viable biocomposite electronics, explain Ye Zhou of China’s Shenzhen University and colleagues in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials. The scientists expect that including biocomposite materials in the design of electronic devices could lead to vast cost saving, open the door for new types of electronics due to the unique material properties, and find applications in implantable electronics due to their biodegradability. For example, there is widespread interest in developing organic field effect transistors (FET), which use an electric field to control the flow of electric current and could be used in sensors and flexible flat-panel displays. Flash memory devices and biosensor components made with biocomposites are also being studied. For example, one FET biosensor incorporated a calmodulin-modified nanowire transistor. Calmodulin is an acidic protein that can bind to different molecules, so the biosensor could be used for detecting calcium ions. Researchers are especially […]

Ingenious: The Unintended Consequences of Human Innovation

By Sir Peter Gluckman and Mark Hanson As humans evolved, we developed technologies to modify our environment, yet these innovations are increasingly affecting our behaviour, biology, and society. Now we must figure out how to function in the world we’ve created. Over thousands of years, humans have invented ingenious ways to gain mastery over our environment. The ability to communicate, accumulate knowledge collectively, and build on previous innovations has enabled us to change nature. Innovation has allowed us to thrive. The trouble with innovation is that we can seldom go back and undo it. We invent, embrace, and exploit new technologies to modify our environment. Then we modify those technologies to cope with the resulting impacts. Gluckman and Hanson explore what happens when we innovate in a way that leads nature to bite back. To provide nourishment for a growing population, humans developed methods to process and preserve food; but easy access to these energy-dense foods results in obesity. To protect ourselves from dangerous pathogens we embraced cleanliness and invented antibiotics, which has led to rising rates of autoimmune diseases and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. More recently, our growing dependence on the internet and social media has been linked to mental health concerns and declining social cohesion. And we are only at the beginning of the digital transformation that will influence every part of our existence. Our ingenuity has not only changed our world–it has changed us. Focusing on immediate benefits, we rarely pause to consider the longer-term costs of innovation. Yet we are now starting to see how our choices affect the way our brains develop and our bodies function. The implications are profound. Ingenious opens our eyes to the dangers we face and offers solutions we cannot ignore.

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