According to the latest World Robotics statistics issued by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the world´s 10 most densely robot-populated countries are: Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, USA and Belgium (with Luxemburg). Singapore has 918 units per 10,000 employees for the 2019 reporting period, while South Korea has 868. Japan (364 robots per 10,000 employees) and Germany (346 units) rank third and fourth respectively. Sweden remains in 5th position with a robot density of 274 units. The UK is 24th on the list (89 units).

For further information www.ifr.org

Trumpf has opened a new smart factory at its headquarters in Ditzingen, where the facility is already producing sheet-metal parts for the company’s machine tools. Designed as a fully connected manufacturing environment, the smart factory also serves as a demonstration centre where SMEs and other businesses can see efficient fabricated-part manufacturing in action. The smart factory hosts 30 connected machines across three production halls covering a total of 5000 sq m. Along with Chicago (US) and Taicang (China), Ditzingen becomes Trumpf’s third fully connected manufacturing facility.

For further information www.trumpf.com

Proto Labs, a global technology-enabled digital manufacturing specialist, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 3D Hubs, an online manufacturing platform that provides engineers with on-demand access to a global network of approximately 240 manufacturing partners. According to 3D Hubs, the transaction creates the world’s most comprehensive digital production offer for custom parts, providing the company with a network of manufacturing partners to fulfil a breadth of capabilities outside of its current envelope, as well as a broader offering of pricing and lead-time options.

For further information www.hubs.com

The VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) has acquired a minority stake in Munich-based Spanflug Technologies GmbH. This ambitious start-up has been operating since 2018 and is a spin-out from the Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management (iwb) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Spanflug aims to automate the quotation and parts procurement processes for manufacturers. The firm provides a platform on which customers can interact with suppliers and process their orders, and software that suppliers can use to generate their offers automatically.

For further information
www.vdw.de

BCN3D, an additive manufacturing provider of 3D printing solutions, closed 2020 with record growth, appointing 11 new sales partners and doubling its number of employees. Additional achievements during the past year include €2.8m of investment, launching a full new product portfolio, and moving to new facilities. In order to support this expansion, BCN3D hired 70 new employees during 2020, effectively doubling its team. Now reaching a total of 150 staff, the company relocated to a new plant near Barcelona to allow for more space dedicated to the production of its 3D printing solutions.

For further information www.bcn3d.com