2. Know more about the latest
announcements impacting
industry, from collaborative
VR spaces to sustainable
mining solutions.
3. Industrial is
a front runner
in combining
human ingenuity
with technology
and innovation.
Thomas Rinn
Managing Director,
Global Industrial Sector Lead, Accenture
4. Sustainable solution
powers lithium mines
Schneider Electric and maritime technology company Wärtsilä
have created a sustainable power solution for remote lithium
mines where there is no access to the grid. The solution
optimizes the delivery and use of energy by leveraging
microgrids, thermal power generation, energy storage and a
variety of other renewable energy sources. The ground-breaking
approach reduces CapEx by 27%, CO2 emissions by up to 20%,
and energy costs by 40% compared to local off-grid diesel
power, all while extending the lifecycle of the mine. Vivek
Kapoor, Vice President & Regional Segment Leader, Mining,
Minerals and Metals Segment at Schneider Electric, called the
innovation “the foundation of a net-zero society” that will help
mining operators decarbonize their work, fast.
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5. ABB acquires autonomous
robot maker ASTI
Technology company ABB is set to acquire autonomous mobile
robot (AMR) maker ASTI Mobile Robotics Group to boost its own
robotics and automation capabilities. ASTI develops flexible
robots, including autonomous towing vehicles and box movers,
as well as software for vehicle navigation and cloud-based
traceability systems. ASTI has been growing by 30 percent year
on year and already supports a vast fleet of AMRs in Europe,
with customers across the automotive, logistics, food and
pharmaceutical industries. Together, the companies will help
meet the demand for robots that provide flexibility, as industries
move away from typically linear production lines.
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6. Sandvik acquires
Cambrio software
Engineering company Sandvik AB is set to acquire
computer-aided design and manufacturing software company
Cambrio, to boost its design and planning automation division.
Cambrio’s software is currently used by companies across the
automotive, transportation, energy, medical and aerospace
industries, with software for production milling, turning, sheet
metal fabrication and other functions. Cambrio’s expertise fits
perfectly with Sandvik’s long-term plan to develop fully
automated manufacturing solutions for clients to increase
productivity, from the design and planning stages through
to production and verification.
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7. Epiroc buys sensor experts
Mining Tag
Epiroc, which develops technology and equipment for
mining and infrastructure clients, has announced it will
acquire Mining Tag in Chile. Mining Tag builds sensor-based
solutions that enable monitoring, automation, and optimization
of underground mining operations to boost productivity
and safety. Epiroc develops tools such as drill rigs and rock
excavation and construction equipment, as well as automation,
digitalization, and electrification solutions. Its latest acquisition
will help the Swedish company develop more intelligent
mining solutions.
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8. Hyundai Mobis
stops drowsy driving
Hyundai Mobis has developed a safety system that measures
brainwaves to detect whether a driver is drowsy. “M.Brain”
measures brainwaves in real-time via earpiece sensors worn
by the driver. Software continually analyzes the results and
pushes notifications to a smartphone app if the data shows the
driver is losing focus. If the system detects a real loss of focus,
suggesting the driver is close to falling asleep, LEDs around the
driver’s seat will light up and the seat vibrates. The innovative
system is due to be implemented in public buses in Gyeonggi
Province this year, as part of Hyundai Mobis’ efforts to boost
safety on public transportation. Back in 2019, the company
developed its Driver State Warning system, which tracks
eye movements.
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9. Magna acquires Veoneer
for $3.8bn
Canadian auto parts maker Magna is set to acquire Swedish
automotive safety technology provider Veoneer for $3.8bn.
The acquisition will boost Magna’s own work developing driver
assistance technology for autonomous vehicles and expands
its customer base to new regions, including Asia. Veoneer’s
advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), including collision
warning and parking assistance, use camera and radar data
to monitor surroundings. Magna plans to run Veoneer’s Arriver™
sensor perception and drive policy software platform as a
separate business, while the rest of its expertise will be
combined with Magna’s own ADAS business.
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10. Kajima + Ricoh launch
VR construction space
Kajima and Ricoh have developed a remote site management
system that enables collaboration in a virtual reality (VR) space.
The Ricoh Virtual Workplace was launched as part of the Phase II
construction of the Okawazu Diversion Canal. The construction
design model, cloud data, and live video from on-site cameras
were all shared in the VR space from three separate hubs,
enabling multiple people to collaborate on the project remotely
and make decisions as though they were together at the
construction site. In the future, live 360-degree camera data
and other management tools will be incorporated to further
accelerate and inform remote decision-making.
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11. Vinci acquires
low code experts Gillz
Vinci Energies has acquired Gillz, an expert in low code application
development. Technology built by Gillz helps companies automate
processes in mobile apps, portals and platforms, through its low code
development systems built in collaboration with Mendix and Microsoft
Power Apps. The acquisition will boost the intelligent apps, data, and
analytics work carried out by Vinci’s ICT solutions brand, Axians. Gillz’s
tools help end users speed through platforms and apps, making their work
as agile and productive as possible by harnessing data. The technology
has been used in video applications in healthcare settings, and to control
industrial equipment via smartphones. Axians and Gillz are now
developing AppVenture, a collaborative system that helps them build
intuitive apps alongside organizations, so they iterate together.
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