KUKA Establishes New Software and Digital Business Segment
October 24, 2024
Software is playing an increasingly important role in mechanical engineering. What used to be mostly solved mechanically is now done by electronics and the associated software. “With KUKA Digital, we are expanding our offering in order to position ourselves broadly for a market with strong growth potential. Our customers need products, solutions and consulting approaches to digitalize faster, more efficiently and more easily,” says Quirin Goerz, KUKA Chief Information Officer and CEO of the newly founded digital segment. KUKA is working on expanding the digital world beyond robot and automation solutions and thus driving forward the digitalization of industry across the entire production lifecycle.
Specifically, KUKA’s digital segment is focusing on a software and digital portfolio that is not limited to KUKA robots. Regardless of machine type and manufacturer, customers should be able to use software solutions for their production machines and thus digitalize their production halls from end to end. This involves interfaces, data standards, cloud integration and consulting services. In line with an ecosystem approach, KUKA also relies on a network of competent partners.
We are moving beyond traditional automation solutions to become a digitalization partner for the manufacturing industry. To achieve this, we are using the experience we have gained in robotics and automation over decades and pursuing the goal of helping our customers to achieve higher productivity, resilience and sustainability.
Quirin Görz, KUKA Chief Information Officer and CEO of the newly founded digital division
How KUKA is building the new digital segment
KUKA can look back on more than 125 years of company history, 50 of which have been in the field of robotics. The new segment builds on this knowledge. With Device Insight and Visual Components, KUKA already has strong, independent brands in the areas of Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics and simulation software within the Group.
Device Insight helps companies to digitalize their production and business processes based on IoT, data analytics and artificial intelligence, making them more transparent and efficient. Visual Components develops 3D simulation software as well as offline programming for manufacturing. Manufacturing companies use the software to plan production layouts, simulate processes in advance or program machines offline beforehand.
Product launch later this year: Cloud platform for industrial software
Planning, implementing and later operating a production facility is a complex process. A wide variety of machines need to be harmonized with one another. With regard to the associated software, this currently still means working with isolated solutions and a high level of manual effort. This is why, in addition to Device Insight and Visual Components, mosaixx will be expanding KUKA Digital’s portfolio this year. mosaixx is an open, collaborative cloud platform for Industrial Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and forms the basis for the digital twin with a combination of tools (software), data management, cloud computing and process understanding.
With mosaixx, system integrators and other engineering customers have access to a wide range of software solutions for ECAD and MCAD programs, simulation, offline programming as well as virtual commissioning. mosaixx combines this with KUKA’s many years of experience in the project business to create a future-proof and specialized end-to-end solution. This enables engineers to efficiently structure and securely link their workflows within a project in a shared and location-independent working environment with processes, workflows and cloud storage.
mosaixx thus lays the foundation for end-to-end digitalization – from planning to subsequent application. mosaixx will be presented to the public for the first time at a digital and software event on November 7 at the KUKA headquarters in Augsburg, Germany.
Rittal takes an innovative approach in the design of their enclosures, but they also recognize your specific project may require even more customization.
Data centres are the backbone of the digital world. They serve as the foundation for various online activities like streaming, e-commerce, and website/app usage. In today’s tech-driven world, attention is actively captured by online activities, all of which heavily depend on data centres. The demand for storage and processing is skyrocketing, further propelling this growth is the rapid adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics. The Internet of Things (IoT), which connects the digital and physical worlds through a network of sensors, and the rollout of 5G networks for mobile devices will fuel the exponential growth of data centres.
Teck, Vertical Riser Teck, and AIRGUARD address distinct installation needs for industrial and vertical-riser installations. Each product targets specific installation needs: Teck for general industrial feeders, Vertical Riser Teck for continuous vertical runs, and AIRGUARD to deliver high crush resistance and corrosion protection on long runs. Understanding the differences in application can help ensure the right cable is selected for the job.
Today still, the human hand is regarded as the benchmark when it comes to flexibility of gripping tools. Particularly when it comes to service and assistance robotics, humanoid manipulators that enable the widest variety of gripping variants will be more and more in demand in future.
Fire alarm systems work independently of the building automation system. Having detailed information about the state of the fire protection technology would make the work of many facility managers easier. Schrack Seconet has developed a flexible gateway using ultra-compact industrial PCs and TwinCAT from Beckhoff, which can be used to flexibly convert a customer-specific communication protocol to a wide range of transmission standards such as BACnet or OPC UA.
Inline quality control in battery production is a highly sought-after but also very demanding task in this complex process. This applies to various levels of battery manufacturing: electrode, cells, modules and packs. A common concern throughout – the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Having the right combination of suitable hardware – sensors, cameras or inspection systems – as well as AI-assisted software for evaluating the quality-relevant data generated in the process plays an important role in this. Manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles and stationary energy storage systems (ESS) is an extremely complex process. Many of the sub-processes are themselves complex. It is therefore not a given that the user or plant will achieve a low reject rate.
TURCK Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Brad Hammer as President of TURCK Canada Inc., effective September 8, 2026. Brad brings more than 25 years of experience in the industrial automation industry and joins TURCK Canada from Phoenix Contact Canada, where he most recently served as Vice President of Sales. Brad succeeds Mark… Read More…
Laurentide Controls is proud to announce a strategic partnership with ValvTechnologies, a recognized expert in the design and manufacturing of valve solutions for some of the most demanding industrial environments. Through this agreement, Laurentide Controls becomes the exclusive distributor of ValvTechnologies products in Eastern Canada, further strengthening its ability to provide customers with specialized solutions… Read More…
Sponsored Content The Easy Way to the Industrial IoT
The way to the Industrial IoT does not have to be complicated. Whether access to valuable data is required or new, data-driven services are to be generated, Weidmuller enables its customers to go from data to value the easy way. Weidmuller’s comprehensive and cutting-edge IIoT portfolio applies to greenfield and brownfield applications. Weidmuller offers components and solutions from data acquisition, data pre-processing, data communication and data analysis.
ADVANCED Motion Controls Takes Servo Drives to New Heights (and Depths) with FlexPro Extended Environment Product Line
Advanced Motion Controls is proud to announce the addition of six new CANopen servo drives with Extended Environment capabilities to their FlexPro line. These new drives join AMC’s existing EtherCAT Extended Environment FlexPro drives, making the FlexPro line the go-to solution for motion control applications in harsh environments.
Many motion control applications take place in conditions that are less than ideal, such as extreme temperatures, high and low pressures, shocks and vibrations, and contamination. Electronics, including servo drives, can malfunction or sustain permanent damage in these conditions.
Service Wire Co. Announces New Titles for Key Executives
Bruce Kesler and Mark Gatewood have been given new titles and responsibilities for Service Wire Co.
Bruce Kesler has assumed the role of Senior Director – Business Development. Bruce will be responsible for Service Wire’s largest strategic accounts and our growing Strategic Accounts Team.
Mark Gatewood has been promoted to the role of Vice President – Sales & Marketing. In this role, Gatewood will lead the efforts of Service Wire Company’s entire sales and marketing organization in all market verticals.
Recently, Tri-Mach Inc. was thrilled to announce the addition of a new 45,000 sq ft. facility. Located at 285 Union St., Elmira, ON, this facility expands Tri-Mach’s capabilities, allowing them to better serve the growing needs of their customers.
Positioning for growth, this additional facility will allow Tri-Mach to continue taking on large-scale projects, enhance product performance testing, and provide equipment storage for their customers. The building will also be the new home to their Skilled Trades Centre of Excellence.
Convergix Automation Solutions has completed the acquisition of AGR Automation (“AGR”), a UK-based provider of custom, high-performance automation design and systems integration primarily to the life sciences industry.
Following Convergix’s acquisitions of JMP Solutions in August 2021 and Classic Design in February 2022, AGR marks the third investment in Crestview’s strategy to build Convergix into a diversified automation solutions provider targeting the global $500+ billion market, with a particular focus on the $70 billion global systems integration and connectivity segments. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
When torque requirements exceed what a standard single face electromagnetic clutch can deliver — or when the available envelope simply doesn’t have room for a large-diameter friction face — engineers reach for the high-torque side of the Ogura catalog: multiple disk clutches, multiple disk brakes, and tooth clutches. These are not simply “bigger” versions of… Read More…
Mining operations run on power. Across crushing, conveying, hoisting, pumping, ventilation and mineral processing, electrical infrastructure keeps production moving and helps connect the assets, systems and people that make safe, efficient operations possible. But the same electrical systems that support higher productivity also introduce risk, especially in environments shaped by dust, moisture, vibration, remote locations,… Read More…
