KUKA’s central iiQWorks software platform supports the entire automation process and enables seamless data exchange across all planning and production stages. With the help of digital twins, working with robots is now easier and faster than ever before. Offline programming and virtual commissioning provide innovative automation solutions aligned with the principles of Industry 4.0.

The Kuka iiQWorks engineering suite eliminates the barriers between different production steps and makes robots easier than ever to deploy by programmers, start-up technicians, sales engineers and project managers. In combination with the new KUKA operating system iiQKA.OS2, iiQWorks allows users to create a complete digital twin of a KUKA robotic system. This enables users, for example, to conduct feasibility studies, expand existing facilities, and plan new ones with high precision – whether for brownfield or greenfield projects.

The central element of the engineering suite is iiQWorks.Sim: with the simulation software, KUKA robots can be programmed offline, namely without access to a real robot. A digital twin provides a realistic simulation of the planned application. This capability simplifies the process of planning, designing and optimising the robotic cell. At the same time, users retain full control of the process in all phases.

iiQWorks offers various advantages. First of all, it ensures fast and reliable planning processes by mapping all the key steps of the digital customer journey centrally in iiQWorks: from initial information to configuration and maintenance of the company’s own automation solution. Thanks to the digital twin, robot programs and cell layouts can also be checked in advance for practical suitability, cycle times and process stability. In this way, iiQWorks accelerates time-to-market, giving businesses a competitive edge.

More information www.kuka.com

Panasonic Factory Solutions has enabled automotive manufacturer Thyssenkrupp Bilstein, a global specialist in automotive shock absorbers, to digitise its damper shopfloor in Romania utilising Panasonic’s Tawers G4 welding robot systems. The Tawers G4 will upgrade and replace two older welding robot cells, which after a decade of reliable operation are now coming to end-of-life. One of these welding robot cells has been completely upgraded to the G4 System, with its de-installed components used as spare parts to prolong the life of the second-oldest robot cell.

As one of the biggest employers in Romania’s Sibiu county, Thyssenkrupp Bilstein manufactures OEM damper assemblies and components for the automotive aftermarket sector. Panasonic’s Tawers G4 Welding Robot System enables Thyssenkrupp Bilstein to increase speed, flexibility and usability on its production line, helping it to maintain a crucial competitive advantage and achieve its digitisation goals.

In total, six Panasonic Tawers welding robot systems are operating in the plant. The G4 features increased controller processing speeds, and optimised communication between the controller and the robot. When compared with previous models, the newly integrated transformer has enabled the G4 to be smaller, saving space and costs without compromising reliability. Furthermore, the G4’s teach pendant touchscreen simplifies programming on the production line.

The Tawers G4 features its DTPS offline programming software, enabling remote digital access to real time production and system operating data. This means engineers can reprogram all parts or some of the parts of the welding process while the robot is still running in production. Undertaking these activities outside of the shopfloor provides flexibility and saves a huge amount of time.

More information https://eu.connect.panasonic.com

ABB will launch a process to decide on the 100% spin-off of its robotics division. The intention is for the business to start trading as a separately listed company during Q2 2026. The board believes listing ABB Robotics as a separate company will optimise both companies’ ability to create customer value, grow and attract talent. Both will benefit from a more focused governance and capital allocation.

ABB Robotics says there are limited business and technology synergies between the ABB Robotics business and other ABB divisions, with different demand and market characteristics. The division believes this change will support value creation in both the ABB Group and in the separately listed pure play robotics business. The company will be listed with a strong capital structure, is well invested with a solid cash flow profile and operates through its local-for-local set-up with regional manufacturing hubs in Europe (Sweden), Asia (China) and the Americas (United States).

The ABB Robotics division has approximately 7,000 employees. With 2024 revenues of $2.3bn it represented about 7% of ABB Group revenues and had an Operational EBITA margin of 12.1%.

If shareholders decide in favour of the proposal, the spin-off is planned to be done through a share distribution, whereby ABB Ltd’s shareholders will receive shares in the company to be listed (working name ‘ABB Robotics’) as a dividend in-kind in proportion to their existing shareholding.

As from the first quarter of 2026, the machine automation division, which together with ABB Robotics currently forms the robotics and discrete automation business area, will become a part of the process automation business area, where the customer value creation ability in divisions will benefit from technology synergies for software and control technologies, for example towards hybrid industries.

More information www.abb.com