Robotics : Innovation & Job News

The specialized test and manufacturing equipment provider has secured a number of large projects in the automotive industry, such as automotive heating systems. The new business has meant the company can hire three people so far this year and looks to add another six by the end of the year.

On top of that Puritan expects to double its revenue this year, from $2 to $4 million, as it transitions into more custom work that relies on knowledge-based jobs.

"The only thing that is not leaving the state is research and development," says John Kurt, operations manager for Puritan. "What we're trying to do is focus more of our efforts in the research field."

Not bad for a company that started out as a machine screw company in the 1950s before transitioning to more robotics and testing in the 1980s. Earlier this decade the 15-person firm began focusing on more niche, custom work involving testing and robotics.

The company is developing a new global test system standard for automotive components and establishing itself as an associate alliance partner with National Instruments. Its also working to integrate FANUC Robotics (think the lonely robot from the GM Superbowl commercial) into the manufacturing and testing process.

Source: John Kurt, operations manager for Puritan
Writer: Jon Zemke

Michigan beat out competing states like Virginia and Florida and even the Canadian province of Ontario for the project. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation and local municipalities approved $44 million in tax breaks and incentives to make the deal happen.

"This project will result in the immediate creation of new jobs and laboratory facilities and the possibility exists for continued growth," says David K. Heebner, president of General Dynamics Land Systems. "After comparing Michigan's state tax credits both nationally and internationally, it made the most business sense for General Dynamics to continue our commitment in Michigan."

General Dynamics Land Systems formed in 1982 when Falls Church, Va.-based parent General Dynamics Corp. acquired Chrysler Corp.'s defense operations. General Dynamics Land Systems has 8,000 employees in 12 states. General Dynamics employs 83,500 worldwide and reported 2007 revenues of $27.2 billion. It is a leader in production of land and amphibious combat systems, mission-critical information systems and technologies, shipbuilding and marine systems and business aviation.

Source: Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Writer: Jon Zemke

It's designed "to keep first responders safe from harm's way," [co-founder Sridhar] Lakshmanan said.

The company's robots are designed to meet the security needs of military, law enforcement, security services and first responders. Small and light weight (about 10 pounds), they are designed to go into dangerous environments --collapsed buildings, fires, hostage situtaions-- and collect important information. Easy to control and highly maneuverable the robots will cost less than $10K each.

Vin Varghese, M-Bot's CEO and president, says "SPARK's support will enable us to grow our sales and marketing force. We've already brought in one person and hope to add more soon."

Providing marketing and sales expertise, SPARK’s Business Accelerator will help M-Bot implement its go-to-market strategy and recruit key employees as it grows.

Scott Olson, executive director of Ann Arbor SPARK’s business accelerator says, “Innovation-based companies like M-Bots need business acceleration support to shorten the time required to attract capital, identify customers or obtain other vital resources.”

M-Bot currently has five fulltime employees and was founded in 2005 by a U-M graduate and pair of university professors and a former Ford executive.

Varghese says the company already has several commercial orders and will be able to start filling them by the end of April. "The investment has helped us with product release and started us thinking about expanding our technology side over the next year."

“The move from prototype to production is a large step for many companies, including M-Bots, and most of the time, capital availability is a challenge,” said Mike Semanco, Hennessey Capital president & COO.  “Hennessey Capital views M-Bots’ management team and its product offering as a future Michigan success story.”

Source: Ann Arbor SPARK and Vin Vanghese, M-Bots

Kuka Robotics announced Monday that an injection molding cell using one of its robots won the Gold award in its division and was named the "2007 Robot of the Year" at the National Robotics Challenge held March 9-10, 2007 in Marion, Ohio.

Designed, built, and programmed by the robotics team at Ohio Northern University, the cell featured the Kuka KR3 robot, which processed poker chips within the injection-molding cell. The robot is one of seven that Kuka Robotics recently announced it had provided to ONU's Robotics Technology Center of Excellence.

KUKA Robotics Corporation --located in Clinton Township-- was selected last month by Ohio Northern University to provide robotics for its newly remodeled and expanded robotics technology centerin order to provide students with hands on design and programming experience using KUKA robots, controllers and software. 

More on Ohio Northern's technology programs can be found at www.onu.edu/a+s/techno.

Source: Kuka Robotics

Granholm has been a motivating force in helping establish new FIRST Robotic teams in Michigan, championing a grant that helped fund 14 new teams this school year, which increased participation 9 percent in our state over last year.

Granholm told the students that "it's no secret Michigan's economy is challenged," but she also assured them they -- and the skills they're building at FIRST -- are the keys to Michigan's economic future.

She also bragged a bit, pointing out that Michigan is No. 1 in the nation in terms of the percentage of high schools in the state that have FIRST teams.

Read the entire article here.

KUKA Robotics Corporation, based in Clinton Township, announced last week that it has been selected by Transbotics Corporation to provide robotics to work in conjunction with a new line of Automatic Guided Vehicles, known as AGVs.

"We are extremely pleased to have been selected as Transbotics’ robotics supplier, " said Kevin Kozuszek, director of marketing for KUKA Robotics Corporation.

The robots and AGV system will streamline material handling processes for many manufacturers. Paired together, KUKA says that it will provide a complete solution for material handling, from receiving to production to shipping.

The new Automatic Trailer Loading AGV Transbotic Corporation recently previewed at the ProMat trade show in Chicago will use Kuka's palletizing robots to palletize and de-palletize products presented via the AGV.

KUKA Robotics Corporation also announced the arrival of Stuart Shepherd as their new president. Coming in with over 27 years of international robotic automation industry experience in sales, marketing, engineering, operations management, customer service and training, Shepherd founded and was the president of Shepherd Solutions, a business development and management-consulting firm that focused on robotic automation OEMs. 

KUKA, along with its German parent company KUKA Roboter GmbH is one of the world's leading manufacturers of industrial robots. Their annual production volume is approaching 10,000 units, with an installed base of over 75,000 units.
 
The company employs 100 people locally and expects to grow over the next year.

Source: Kevin Kozuszek, KUKA Robotics Corporation