TORRANCE, Calif. — June 19, 2018 — CMTC is pleased to announce the addition of Advanced Robotics and Automation (ARA) consulting to our portfolio of manufacturing services throughout our California’s Manufacturing Network. Raminder Sandhu has joined CMTC in the position of Advanced Robotics & Automation Practice Lead. Raminder brings over 30 years of experience in engineering, manufacturing automation and technical sales to CMTC. He has worked at a diverse range of organizations, from Silicon Valley startups to Fortune 50 companies. In addition to Raminder’s expertise, CMTC has developed relationships with key resource partners across the state from industry, economic development and academia to support the advanced robotics and automation needs of small and medium-sized businesses.

Gregg Profozich, Director Advanced Manufacturing Technologies at CMTC, states, “The addition of the ARA program to our advanced manufacturing technology line-up provides small and medium-sized manufacturers access to a network of technical experts with knowledge of robotics and automation in the manufacturing environment.” CMTC is developing a suite of services for four technology focus areas that are primed to have an impact on the manufacturing process. In addition to advanced robotics, we are focusing on SMART manufacturing, additive manufacturing and flexible hybrid electronics as the logical next steps in the continuous improvement cycle for manufacturers. CMTCs goal for 2018 is to deliver these services through our California’s Manufacturing Network of providers.

CMTC continues to leverage national and local partnerships to access technology research, manufacturing applications and workforce skills development through the use of partnerships with national and regional organizations such as; Manufacturing USA Institutes, national research labs, universities and community colleges, and economic development corporations.

Robotics and automation have steadily advanced since first introduced to factory floors in the early 1960s. With advances in sensing and machine learning, today’s robots are more intelligent, versatile, flexible, and steadily falling in cost. With collaborative robots (cobots), workers are able to safely interact with the machines that can now do repetitive, hazardous and ergonomically challenging tasks. The result is improved worker safety and reduced lost-time costs. Industrial robotics and automation has become a priority for manufacturers as tighter labor markets and competitive pressures drive change. Small and medium-sized manufacturers who previously couldn’t afford robotics and automation are increasingly finding positive ROI as the cost of automation falls and the ease of use rises. Teaming human workers with robots on the assembly line will fundamentally change how products are manufactured. Recent studies have shown that the use of robotics and automation is actually helping boost productivity rather than reduce jobs.

CMTC is one of fifty-one Centers across the nation in the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network which is part of the U.S. Government’s effort to develop and deploy technology, management and technical expertise for SMMs focused on improving their productivity and global competitiveness.

Posted June 19, 2018

Source: CMTC

MUNICH — June 19, 2018 — Comau recently unveiled MATE, its first innovative wearable exoskeleton at Automatica in Munich, the international trade fair for Automation and Mechatronics. MATE has been designed to improve work quality in an efficient and highly ergonomic manner by providing consistent and advanced movement assistance during repetitive as well as daily tasks.

The MATE Fit for Workers exoskeleton uses an advanced spring-based passive structure. MATE delivers lightweight, breathable and highly effective postural support without the need for batteries, motors or other failure-prone devices. It is also compact and ergonomically designed thanks to the partnership between Comau, ÖSSUR, a leading non-invasive orthopedics company and IUVO, a spin-off company of The BioRobotics Institute (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna) specialized in wearable technologies. MATE is fully able to replicate any movement of the shoulder while adhering to the body like a “second skin”.

Tobias Daniel, vice president Robotics and Automation Products Global Sales & Marketing, commented, “We are particularly proud to have developed this innovative wearable technology. MATE has been designed in close collaboration with factory workers, thus responding directly to their specific needs. With our exoskeleton, they will be able to do the same tasks but with less fatigue. For Comau, this is also an extraordinary opportunity to reach a global market that, according to the IFR, grew more than 60 percent from 2015 to 2017 and is estimated to continue growing at a rate of 25 percent each year until 2020. We believe that the industrial sector will represent about one third of the exoskeleton’s applications.”

Reflecting Comau’s vision and commitment to innovative, open and easy-to-use technologies, MATE is an important part in the company’s HUMANufacturing Technology strategy, a concept in which people are protagonists within the smart factory together with cutting-edge, digital tools, enabling technologies and ‘intelligent’ industrial robotics within a networked production system. It is also the first of a series of wearable robotics that Comau is developing and commercializing in partnership with IUVO and Össur. A fundamental aspect of the collaboration is the joint desire to progress and evolve human-machine collaboration within diverse sectors, including biomedical, manufacturing and consumer. MATE was designed and developed at the Comau HUMANufacturing Innovation Center in Pontedera (Pisa), Italy.

At Comau’s booth (Stand 331 – Hall B5) from June 19-22, 2018, visitors can see MATE and the benefits of using it thanks to an application that shows the muscles when wearing an exoskeleton aided by sensors.

Features:

• Designed in close collaboration with factory workers engaged in manual activities;
• Naturally comfortable, breathable postural structure;
• Compact structure fully follows the movements of the upper limb without resistance or misalignment; and
• Passive spring-based mechanism —  no risk of battery or motor failure batteries because the system does not use them.

Benefits:

• Reduction of shoulder muscle activity for some muscles of up to 50 percent;
• Users can do the same tasks with less fatigue;
• Consistent, ergonomically-assisted movement support increases the quality and precision of repetitive tasks; and
• Users can improve their quality of work.

Posted June 19, 2018

Source: Comau

FREEPORT, Maine — June 19, 2018 — We spend 95 percent of our time inside — nearly half of that related to work. Yet studies show that when we spend time outdoors, we are more productive, more creative and happier. Committed to helping people enjoy the outdoors for more than 100 years, renowned outdoor retailer L.L.Bean has partnered with leading coworking provider, Industrious, to launch an initiative to bring more outdoor time into the workday with the introduction of “Be an Outsider at Work.” The initiative will launch in New York City’s Madison Square Park on Thursday, June 21st with the first-ever outdoor coworking space, complete with individual workspaces, collaborative conference areas, cycling desks and outdoor teambuilding activities — giving new meaning to being “Out of Office.”

A new survey from L.L.Bean found that while most people enjoy the outdoors, many of them rarely take time to work outside. In fact, 87 percent of indoor workers consider themselves someone who enjoys the outdoors but 75 percent of indoor workers rarely or never take time to work outside. That’s why L.L.Bean has partnered with coworking leader Industrious, and leveraged its well-established expertise in design, productivity and the coworking industry to create the first-ever outdoor coworking space that provides an opportunity for people to experience the benefits of working outdoors.

“So many of us love spending time outdoors and appreciate the benefits, yet for many people outdoor time is only spent away from work and on weekends,” said Steve Smith, president and CEO of L.L.Bean. “We hope that the ‘Be an Outsider at Work’ initiative will inspire employees to be creative in finding new ways to incorporate outdoor time in their day. We also hope that by demonstrating the benefits, employers will be supportive of this idea.”

Survey Reveals We Want More Time Outside

To better understand the barriers and benefits to working outdoors, L.L.Bean has partnered with workplace strategy expert Leigh Stringer, author of The Healthy Workplace: How to Improve the Well-Being of Your Employees — and Boost Your Company’s Bottom Line.

“As humans, we have a preference to be in and among nature over man-made environments, so why not adopt the notion of working outside?” said Stringer. “Our survey revealed there’s a strong desire to spend more time outside during the workday, and our goal with this initiative is to show that there are many different ways to do so — we’re turning the workspace inside out.”

The L.L.Bean 2018 Work and the Outdoors Survey revealed:

• A majority of those surveyed who work indoors would like to spend more time outside during the workday, yet see their job as their biggest barrier. The survey found that 86 percent of indoor workers would like to spend more time outside during the workday, and 65 percent of survey respondents said their job is the biggest barrier to spending time outdoors.
• Workers strongly support the idea of outdoor workspace, yet company culture does not always support it. The survey found that 82 percent of indoor workers liked or loved the concept of an outdoor workspace. Only half of respondents say their colleagues and boss would be supportive of working outside, or would not care as long as work is getting done.
• Workers believe there are tangible benefits to working outside. The top 5 perceived benefits to working outdoors are:
  • Improve their mood (74 percent)
  • Lower their stress level (71 percent)
  • Provide relaxation (69 percent)
  • Promote health and wellness (66 percent)
  • Increased happiness (64 percent)
• Workers claim they are most likely to do creative and relationship-based work outdoors, and see less potential for work involving technology and equipment. Indoor workers are most likely to do creative work (77 percent), brainstorms (73 percent) or one on one discussions (73 percent) outside, and least likely to do computer-based work (41 percent) or conference calls (32 percent).

“Companies are beginning to realize that the digital transformation is making the workplace more flexible, collaborative, and open than ever before,” said Jamie Hodari, CEO of Industrious. “People thrive in coworking spaces and we think there is potential for even greater benefits if they work together outside. This is the first time we’re bringing our coworking expertise outdoors, and we’re thrilled to partner with L.L.Bean and take on the challenge of creating this unique workspace.”

How to Be an Outsider at Work

“Be an Outsider at Work” will launch in New York City’s Madison Square Park on Thursday, June 21st and be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., complete with wifi, power and collaborative workspaces, designed by Industrious. Everyone is invited to reserve a free workspace at www.BeAnOutsiderAtWork.com or stop by the park. L.L.Bean’s Outdoor Discovery Program experts will also be on-site to facilitate a short team-building exercise, which will involve a group problem-solving activity designed to highlight teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.

After New York City, the activation will travel to Boston, MA July 10-12, Philadelphia, July 17-19, and Madison, Wis., July 24-26.

For those that can’t make it to one of L.L.Bean’s outdoor coworking spaces, there are many simple ways to incorporate the outdoors into your workday, such as:

• Host a Blue Sky Brainstorm: Boost creativity by taking a brainstorm into an outdoor space
• Share Al Fresco Feedback: Try sharing feedback with colleagues in the fresh air. It’s a naturally de-stressing environment, and walking together in a single direction helps keep the conversation future-focused.
• Take a Refresh Session: Get outside even just for a break or over lunch. Research shows taking a 5-15 minute walk can rejuvenate you for the tasks ahead and refocus your day.
• Optimize Outside for Work: Create a dedicated outdoor workspace or a toolkit complete with wifi, anti-glare screens, and shade at home or with your employer
• Outerviews: Put the view back in interview by hosting them outside. It will reduce participant anxiety, feel like more neutral territory and encourage open dialogue in the open air.

Posted June 19, 2018

Source: L.L.Bean