Huawei, ABB Robotics ink MoU to further industrial automation

BENGALURU: At Huawei Connect 2016 that concluded last week, Huawei signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation with ABB, a global leader in power and automation technologies.

Under the MOU, the two parties will cooperate for the integration of Huawei LTE-based OneAir products and technologies into ABB robots and industrial automation solutions. The cooperative mission involves the realization of remote wireless robotic monitoring, management, configuration, OM, Big Data application, and visualized intelligent manufacturing to jointly promote full industrial connectivity.

ABB Robotics is a leading supplier of industrial robots, and also provides robot software, peripheral equipment, modular manufacturing cells and services for tasks such as welding, handling, assembly, painting and finishing, picking, packing, palletizing and machine tending. Key markets for ABB include automotive, plastics, metal fabrication, foundry, electronics, machine tools, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage industries.

Explaining in detail, the press release said that strong solutions focus helps manufacturers improve productivity, product quality and worker safety. ABB has installed more than 300,000 robots worldwide. With industrial upgrade and technological development, wireless technologies have become very popular in the industrial sector. Robotic control now requires reliable wireless technologies to support efficient service operation. LTE (4G) is an advanced and relatively mature mobile communication technology that is widely used throughout the world. It has gained significant momentum in the telecom operator market. Compared with other wireless technologies, LTE has competitive advantages when applied on industrial wireless private networks, promoting Huawei OneAir as an optimal solution to be applied in many industries:

Edward Deng, President of Huawei Wireless Network Solution, commented at the signing ceremony, "Reliable industrial wireless networks are an important component during the automatic, digital, and intelligent transformation of industries. We are positive about the prospect of incorporating LTE wireless communication technology into the industrial sector. Huawei, with its profound wireless R&D and innovation competencies, will join hands with industrial leader ABB to develop E2E wireless products and solutions tailored to industrial characteristics and requirements. In the future, Huawei and ABB will fully leverage their respective strengths and extend cooperation and influence to multiple vertical industries."

"It gives us great pleasure to sign a MOU on cooperation with Huawei to enhance our strong bond and partnership," said Li Gang, Vice President of ABB (China) Co Ltd, Head of ABB China's Robotics Business Unit, and president of ABB Engineering (Shanghai) Co Ltd. "Huawei is a global leader in communications, especially wireless communications. We are convinced that our cooperation and mutual strengths will help reinforce ABB's technological advantages in industrial robotics and automatic production to improve production efficiency and promote internal industrial manufacturing upgrades in enterprises."

The latest ABB robot integrating Huawei OneAir technology was also showcased at  HUAWEI CONNECT 2016.