Kassow Robots featured their unique spin on a humanoid robot at Automate with essentially two cobot arms on a small, energy efficient base that will make a huge difference in areas where heavy payloads and longer routes are the norm. The new models will significantly expand the capabilities of 7-axis cobots in production and logistics, according to Dieter Pletscher, global sales manager, Kassow Robots.
“Where we really make a big difference is the footprint and the compactness of these robotic solutions,” said Pletscher. “The flexibility of the seven axes allows these units to rip around a corner, for example, giving operators a highly flexible and space-saving solution.”
They can be controlled and monitored using a ctrlX app specifically designed from Bosch Rexroth. The app enables real-time integration of the cobots, enabling developers and operators to connect and monitor robots directly from the ctrlX OS environment.
“This simplifies automation solutions and provides another level of system integration,” said Pletscher. “Bosch Rexroth is already hard at work at the next version of the app with additional features such as real-time communication with the robot, the interfaces and the components.”
kassowrobots.com
CW Bearing Doubles Down on Precision
CW Bearing’s product portfolio includes deep groove and angular contact ball bearings, roller bearings, ball screws, and worm shafts, engineered for rotating and linear motion in compact, high-load, and high-speed environments. The company delivers both standard and custom-engineered solutions where accuracy, reliability, efficiency, and long service life are essential.
At Automate 2026, one highlight at the booth was the micro bearing technology provided by CW Dentra. CW Dentra is an essential part of CW Bearing's range of dental bearings, meticulously designed to enhance the performance of high-speed bearings and electric handpiece bearings used in dental handpieces for both the OEM and repair markets. They feature high-speed and slow-speed dental handpiece bearings and electric handpiece bearings in repair/aftermarket and OEM configurations.
cwdentra.com
Balluff Sensors Examines Data-Driven Maintenance in 2026
Tom Knauer, product management, Balluff GmbH, examined how engineers and MRO professionals can apply smart manufacturing technologies to foundational approaches developed as far back as WWII.
Today, manufacturers face labor issues, supply chain challenges, economic uncertainty and the need for reduced energy consumption. Knauer noted that the goal in 2026 is to provide more automation/robotics technology, create flexible factories, utilize smart devices and get the most out of software and AI tools.
During WWII, the RAF used actual production data to address bottlenecks and optimize personnel/resource scheduling. They also analyzed failure data to implement condition-based monitoring and predictive maintenance strategies. The RAF implemented longer (rather than shorter) maintenance intervals when justified by the data.
This comparison helped showcase how vital data-driven maintenance is to meet modern manufacturing challenges and provide OEE and Knauer provided a nice outline for MRO teams to start with a small pilot project and grow this over time. We’re moving past condition monitoring and predictive maintenance and heading into a era of prescriptive maintenance, an advanced, data-driven strategy that uses AI and machine learning to predict equipment failures and automatically recommend the exact actions, timing, and resources required to prevent the issues utilizing sensor-based data.
balluff.com
