Walter integrates SERI clamping systems into its portfolio

Machining expert Walter is integrating SERI’s high-performance clamping fixtures into its range of services. The move means that, for the first time, Walter is able to offer its customers a complete machining process from a single source, right from the clamping system and machining strategy to tooling, project set up, management and services.


With the integration of SERI clamping fixtures and related services into the Walter portfolio, Walter now provides a total solution for individual machining challenges. For manufacturing companies, this means they can design the entire machining process and manage procurement with just one partner. They also receive support with set up and start up in production.

Walter’s process experts deliver a machining solution in which all components are harmonised to achieve optimal results in the process. It eliminates the need to co-ordinate with multiple partners, enables faster implementation of changes, and ensures that status reports are available in a consolidated format at any time.

The optimally co-ordinated tools and clamping fixtures not only ensure a smooth start to production but also support long-term productivity. Thanks to SERI’s years of experience, Walter supplies machine-ready fixtures that have already undergone extensive testing in advance. They are designed for easy maintenance, based on standard hydraulic components, and feature easily replaceable wear parts.

SERI clamping fixtures stem from over three decades of expertise in mechanical engineering, machining and project management. Established in 1988 as an independent company in Portugal, SERI specialises in clamping systems for manufacturing components used by the automotive and aerospace sectors. These predominantly include chassis, e-mobility and combustion engine parts. SERI has been part of Walter AG since 2022.

More information www.bit.ly/4tP9rnP

Awards for Stratasys

Stratasys was recognised with multiple industry awards at the recent 2026 RAPID + TCT conference, North America’s largest additive manufacturing and industrial 3D printing event. The awards focus on innovation in real-world additive manufacturing applications and leadership in environmental, social and governance (ESG) best practices. Stratasys, together with Addion GmbH, were named a TCT Award winner in the healthcare category. The company also earned four awards at the Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association (AMGTA) Member Summit.

More information www.stratasys.com

Zebra makes investment in Apera AI

Zebra Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Zebra Technologies Corp, has made a strategic investment in Apera AI, a provider of 4D Vision for industrial robots. This venture investment reinforces Zebra’s focus on digitising and automating workflows to accelerate frontline operations for organisations in the manufacturing and logistics industries and beyond.

Apera AI’s 4D Vision system equips robots with real-time visual intelligence, enabling them to locate, identify and manipulate complex parts with speed, precision and reliability. Apera AI uses light-resilient stereo vision and AI models to function reliably in dynamic, real-world factory conditions, adapting to shifting bins, changing lighting conditions, worn grippers and complex part geometry.

More information www.zebra.com

Boosting efficiency with automated robot welding system

Panasonic Factory Solutions has implemented its TAWERS G4 Welding Robot System for Stadler Anlagenbau, helping to automate manual welding processes, significantly reduce cycle times, and increase production efficiency and scalability.

Stadler manufactures specialist systems for turnkey recycling and waste sorting plants, with all systems and components produced in-house. The company already uses Panasonic G3 systems to manage welding across conveyor belt frame systems, pre-assembly and final assembly operations.

The new TAWERS G4 Welding Robot System further improves welding process management by combining control functions into a single system for high-quality arc welding. It features greater controller processing power, faster axis speeds and optimised controller-to-robot communication. In addition, the system includes a high-resolution touchscreen for simplified programming, while enhanced contact tips improve welding quality and reliability.

Before installation, Stadler carried out extensive simulations and test welds at Panasonic’s Robot & Welding Test Centre in Neuss, with employees receiving specialist training to maximise the system’s capabilities.

Bruno Stützle, head of production at Stadler, says: “Panasonic’s robot welding systems are easy to operate and maintain. As a result, the cycle and throughput time for some products, including all preparation, has been reduced to one-third of the original time. Apart from scheduled maintenance cycles, the G4 has exhibited faultless reliability since installation.”

Stadler also uses Panasonic’s Desktop Programming & Simulation (DTPS) software across its production line, providing remote digital access to real-time production and operating data. The system allows simultaneous planning and simulation of manufacturing processes, improving flexibility while saving time and resources.

The addition of a third TAWERS Welding Robot System has significantly increased Stadler’s production efficiency, giving the company greater scalability as it expands internationally and explores new opportunities.

More information www.bit.ly/4tHK6fy

Flexxbotics updates FANUC industrial robot connector driver

Flexxbotics has updated the FANUC industrial robot connector driver within its ‘Transformers’ open-source project on GitHub, expanding robot-to-machine interoperability, real-time robot awareness and secure bi-directional control across automated production environments.

The enhanced FANUC connector driver is designed to simplify one of manufacturing’s long-standing challenges: enabling industrial robots to communicate effectively with the wide range of machines, safety systems, inspection equipment and plant assets used across modern factories.

Available now under the permissive Apache 2.0 licence, the updated connector allows FANUC robots and cobots to communicate in a standardised way with more than 1000 makes and models of factory equipment through Flexxbotics’ software-defined automation runtime.

The updated driver delivers standardised interoperability across both open industrial protocols and proprietary vendor interfaces, secure read/write execution for closed-loop robotic cell automation, and improved real-time visibility of machine states and process variables. It also supports high-frequency, parallelised data pipelines, capturing more operational data including robot speed, force, torque, cycle performance and other telemetry to support advanced orchestration, granular data collection and physical AI training.

“Robotic automation has historically required custom point-to-point integration in every workcell and process,” says Tyler Modelski, CTO and co-founder of Flexxbotics. “By further extending our FANUC industrial robot transformer, we’re making connectivity with plant machines and equipment standardised and many-to-many, which enables robotics to scale securely across factories.”

The updated transformer also supports applications that include robotic machine tending, automated job changeovers, cluster orchestration, closed-loop autonomous process control and digital thread traceability for regulatory compliance.

Tyler Bouchard, CEO and co-founder of Flexxbotics, adds: “Open interoperability is essential for scaling robotics beyond isolated work cells. By providing our FANUC connector driver as open source, we’re giving manufacturers a production-ready foundation for building truly autonomous robotic factories.”

More information www.flexxbotics.com