Cetec ERP announces two new AI-driven features

At the recent ERPALOOZA user conference in Texas, Cetec ERP unveiled two major AI-powered automation tools – Document Scan & Attach and AP Automation – designed to eliminate manual paperwork and accelerate back-office operations for manufacturers. Together, these features advance Cetec ERP’s mission to give manufacturers full control over their systems by reducing friction, improving accuracy and centralising operations within a single integrated platform.

The new Document Scan & Attach feature automatically files paperwork like receipts, work order packets and vendor documents directly into Cetec ERP. Using OCR and AI, the system reads scanned PDFs, intelligently matches them to the correct records and attaches them automatically. Any documents that cannot be matched are routed to a review queue for quick follow-up.

The new AP Automation tool streamlines invoice processing by turning emailed or scanned vendor invoices into vouchers automatically. Invoices are read with OCR and AI, then matched against purchase orders and receipts for a complete three-way match. When matches are verified, vouchers are automatically approved. Any discrepancies are flagged for review.

Starting at $250 per month, the AP Automation feature increases the capacity of accounting departments at small manufacturing companies by reducing administrative overhead and data entry. It also provides improved visibility into accounts payable operations without removing control of cash flow.

“These features take tedious, error-prone work off people’s plates and increase their capacity for more value-added work,” says Scott Ryan, senior consultant at Cetec ERP. “We want to make daily processes simpler, faster and more reliable for our customers.”

Built as a modern, cloud-native solution, Cetec ERP is a complete ERP platform – fully integrated, from quote to cash – for the complex realities of today’s manufacturing.

More information www.cetecerp.com

WIKA Opens New Subsidiary in Morocco

Industrial measurement instrument specialist WIKA has expanded its footprint in north Africa with a new subsidiary in Casablanca, Morocco. The move is part of WIKA’s strategy to operate with agility worldwide through local facilities. By being closer to customers and partners on site, the company aims to process orders even more efficiently and deliver even higher level of service.

“The opening of the subsidiary in Morocco marks an important milestone in our regional growth strategy,” says Marcel Frei, senior vice president forsouth Europe. “Our local presence enables us to offer customers even more flexible, personalised support and to strengthen collaboration with regional partners. All of this increases our visibility in north Africa and helps us unlock new market potential.”

More information www.wika.com

Plasma Cutters Feature Novel Arc-Starting Mechanism

Thermal Dynamics, an ESAB brand, has unveiled its Cutmaster X 90 and Cutmaster X 110, the first two units in its next-generation of heavy-industrial manual plasma cutting systems. A new arc-starting mechanism, which has no moving parts, initiates the arc within a few thousandths of a second after establishing airflow.

An all-new consumables design also allows users to replace only components that are wearing out, further improving the functionality, reliability and arc-starting capability of the consumable set. Furthermore, the new 1TorchFLEX features an articulating head that can flex from 30° to 90°(and then lock in place) to improve joint access for cutting and gouging (consumables for cutting and gouging are included). 

“The Cutmaster X arc-starting mechanism represents the biggest innovation in plasma cutting in decades,” says Kris Scherm, global product manager at ESAB. “Starting the arc in a few thousandths of a second improves cutting performance, and users rank fast arc starts and steady cutting power among their most requested features. Consumables life is also high on their list, and our new cutting tip, cup and cap design will allow users to keep more money in their pockets.” 

The Cutmaster X 90 (90 A at >50% duty cycle) has a rated pierce and cut capacity of 22.2 mm and a 44.5 mm sever capability, whilethe Cutmaster X 110 (110 A at >50% duty cycle) has a rated pierce and cut capacity of 25.4 mm and a 50.8 mm sever capability. The units weigh approximately 27.2 kg and automatically connect to 200-600V single- or three-phase primary power without manual linking. A new industrial housing protects the unit in rugged environments, and a large, crystal-clear digital display with intuitive menus makes operation and training easy.

More information www.easb.com

Flexxbotics Expansion

Flexxbotics, delivering digital solutions for robot-driven manufacturing at scale, is expanding with new offices in Newlab at Michigan Central in Detroit. Driven by growing demand for manufacturing autonomy with autonomous process control, the new facilities position Flexxbotics for even tighter collaboration with customers and partners across the Midwest.Newlab operates five innovation centres around the world that connect high-growth technology companies with industrial ecosystems for cross-sector networking and deployment.

More information www.flexxbotics.com

New Era of Physical AI for Industrial Robots

Factory robot and automation system specialist FANUC is formally partnering with NVIDIA to bring physical AI into mainstream manufacturing as part of a move to shape the next generation of smart factories. Under the agreement, FANUC robots will be integrated with NVIDIA’s advanced AI computing stack, including on-robot systems like NVIDIA Jetson and simulation platforms such as NVIDIA Isaac Sim.

For its part, FANUC has released support for the open-source robotics platform ROS 2, which allows programming via Python, lowering the barrier to building AI-driven robotics applications on top of FANUC’s industrial hardware. The partnership will also enable the creation of high-fidelity digital twins, where simulation can be used for training, testing and optimisation before committing to investment.

More information www.fanuc.eu