ADTK 1.30/1.35...would keep an eye on this one:
Adept Technology Selected to Provide Robots and Vision Guidance for Automated Fuel Cell Assembly System
Monday March 15, 8:01 am ET
Asia Pacific Fuel Cell and Lights Out Factory Automation Select Adept Products to Maximize Yields and Product Quality
LIVERMORE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2004-- Adept Technology, Inc. (OTCBB:ADTK - News), a leading manufacturer of flexible automation for the automotive, electronics, telecommunications, medical device and life sciences, semiconductor, and fiber optic industries, today announced that Lights Out Factory Automation, of Los Angeles, California, has standardized on Adept robots, vision systems and motion controls for fully automating a fuel cell assembly system developed for Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies, Inc. Lights Out Factory Automation has selected the AdeptSix(TM) 6-axis robot, AdeptVision sAVI(TM) Guidance option, Adept SmartModules(TM), and Adept Servo(TM) kits for Asia Pacific's system. The system will be controlled by a single Adept SmartController(TM) which tightly synchronizes the multiple robots, vision feedback and digital I/O using the Adept V+(TM) real-time multi-tasking operating system, to maximize manufacturing yields and product quality.
"Often the commercial success of a new technology hinges upon the development of cost-effective manufacturing processes," said John Dulchinos, vice president of sales for Adept Technology, Inc. "We are very excited about Adept's products being selected by Lights Out Factory Automation and Asia Pacific Fuel Cell for integration into their manufacturing platform for the emerging fuel cell market."
"We work in partnership with a wide range of technology customers with very individual requirements unique to their industry and products, and deliver some of the most sophisticated automation solutions available," said Duane Davis, president of Lights Out Factory Automation, Inc. "This cutting edge fuel cell application required cost-effective and reliable -- yet flexible and high performance -- automation components, and Adept's products, expertise and service were the ideal fit to help us achieve our customer's agressive manufacturing goals."
"One of the major challenges of commercialization of fuel cells is the high production cost. Automation in fuel cell stack fabrication will significantly minimize this concern and help in fuel cell early commercialization. Additionally, of equal importance, production automation will result in a higher precision product with increased reliability, uniformity and performance," said Jefferson Yang, chairman of Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies, Ltd.
The assembly system for Asia Pacific Fuel Cell will use the AdeptSix(TM) 600 robot to transfer parts between incoming feeders, and assembly and test stations. The Adept SmartModules(TM) position the dispensing heads while Adept Servo(TM) kits precisely control bead application. The AdeptVision sAVI(TM) Guidance machine vision option is essential to the success of the multi-layer assembly process by inspecting and precisely orienting each of the components prior to the bonding process, ensuring error-free sealing. The automated system includes automatic calibration of the dispensing needle used to verify tip location during the assembly process or after needle change out.
Lights Out Factory Automation, Inc. is a leading full service systems integrator of automation equipment, with facilities in Los Angeles, California and Shanghai, China. Established in 1994, the company designs, manufactures, installs and supports turnkey automation equipment for their customers in the fuell cell, aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical, fiber optic, food, promotional products and sintered metal industries among others. Lights Out Factory Automation's systems include general and ultra-high precision, vision inspection, vision guided robotic and hard tooled systems. More information can be found at lofanet.com.
Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies, Ltd. (APFCT), incorporated in March 2000, is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan with a branch research laboratory in California, USA. Founded by Dr. Jefferson YS Yang together with a core team of experienced fuel cell engineers and business experts the company's primary business goal is the commercialization of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cells. More information can be found at apfct.com.
Adept Technology designs, manufactures and markets factory automation components and systems for the fiber optic, telecommunications, semiconductor, automotive, food and durable goods industries throughout the world. Adept's robots, controllers, and software products are used for small parts assembly, material handling and ultra precision process applications. Our intelligent automation product lines include industrial robots, configurable linear modules, flexible feeders, semiconductor process components, nanopositioners, machine controllers for robot mechanisms and other flexible automation equipment, machine vision, systems and software, application software, and simulation software. Founded in 1983, Adept is America's largest manufacturer of industrial robots. More information is available at www.adept.com. |
