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Robots present a common conundrum for small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs). On the one hand, they can help smaller operations improve efficiencies and become more competitive within their industry. But are they worth the initial investment, time, resources, and risk to implement?According to the U.S. Census Bureau, SMMs (manufacturing organizations with under 500 employees) make up nearly 99% of all manufacturing organizations in the United States, yet they are often the least likely to t …

Alta Machine Tools hosted a customer event this week and Automation Distribution offered a live demonstration on  how a collaborative robot can be easily programmed to perform machine tending operations. Using additional equipment provided by Vention, Robotunits, and OnRobot, the Universal Robots UR10 selected the appropriate parts from a tray and inserted them into the Hurco machine. Watch the video below in case you missed this fantastic event and sign up for a persona …

The newest collaborative robot from Universal robots is now available for order. Here are some quick FAQs to familiarize you with this new automation tool. Want to get even more familiar with collaborative robots? Join us for a live demo on October 16. Register here.Click here for UR16e Specs.Q: Why did Universal Robots develop the UR16e? A: The UR16e product seeks to expand what customers can do with collaborative robots by introducing a high payload robot. The UR16e enables customer …

At the horseshoe-shaped assembly line in Youngstown, Ohio, engine parts move like clockwork on a conveyor with 60-second takt time for each station.“It’s a fast-paced line; everything is just-in-time, just-in-sequence,” says Gary Bobalik, director of marketing at Comprehensive Logistics. The company is the leading logistics and contract manufacturing provider to two of North America’s largest automotive enterprises, operating suspension, powertrain and interior component sub-assembly lines.The l …

When an investigation discovered that a large UK food manufacturer failed to install a  safety guard that could have prevented an engineer from major injury when he was trapped while conducting a conveyor belt inspection, the company was hit with a massive fine. This lesson serves as a reminder that every food and beverage processor must plan and implement appropriate safety procedures. As safety requirements evolve, older equipment may require additional safety measures to com …