Category Archives: Automation

Developers and QA engineers unlock full visibility into the appdev lifecycle process by efficiently logging bug details directly in Applitools via native Rally integration

SAN MATEO, Calif., May 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Applitools, provider of a next generation test automation platform powered by Visual AI and Ultrafast Test Cloud, today announced a new Rally integration as part of the Eyes 10.11 release. Rally is a popular application lifecycle management platform used to track each phase of agile software development, from planning to defect tracking. This integration allows developers and QA engineers to easily log and manage all data collected about bugs, and how to fix them, in a single workflow.

Learn more about the Rally integration in this blog post: (https://info.applitools.com/udlWg).

Applitools Eyes Visual AI technology allows customers to automatically test their applications and identify visual and functional bugs. Once an issue is discovered, customers typically record it in a bug tracking tool, like Rally. Previously, customers had to switch between Eyes and Rally to manually log, manage and fix issues. With the Rally integration, all of the data Eyes collects about bugs is linked seamlessly with Rally's bug tracking system. Instead of developers and QA engineers managing bugs in Applitools and Rally separately, they have all of the information including screenshots, steps to reproduce, and environment details recorded in one place with a single click.

"It has always been a priority of Applitools to ensure we integrate seamlessly with our customers' existing tools and processes," said Moshe Milman, COO of Applitools. "Integrating with Rally was a natural next step. We understand how important it is for our customers to be able to document and track all information about their application lifecycle in one place so that they can assign appropriate handoffs and close the feedback loop efficiently."

With this integration customers that are using Rally and Applitools now have a 360 degree view into the entire application development lifecycle from UX design and development to executing automated tests, analyzing test results, and reporting and fixing defects. Any stakeholder in the appdev process from product managers to UX designers, developers and testers can automatically pinpoint the exact cause of issues using the Applitools Root Cause Analysis capabilities and be able to fix defects on the spot.

"We rely on tools like Applitools for fast and efficient test automation and visual quality, they are an integral part of our automation toolbox," said Tammie Davis, Director of Global Quality Engineering at IHG. "With the newly released Rally integration, teams will have a seamless flow for the defect triage workflow and optimizing the overall user experience."

The Rally integration is a continuation of Applitools' commitment to extending its integration ecosystem with more than 70 SDKs and integrations that fit seamlessly into customers' existing workflows and tools.

About Applitools

Applitools delivers a Next Generation Test Automation Platform through Visual AI and Ultrafast Test Cloud. We enable engineering teams to release high quality web and mobile apps at incredible speed and at a reduced cost.

Applitools Visual AI modernizes important test automation use cases -- Functional Testing, Visual Testing, Web and Mobile UI/UX Testing, Cross Browser Testing, Responsive Web Design Testing, Cross Device Testing, PDF Testing, Accessibility Testing and Compliance Testing -- to transform the way organizations deliver innovation at the speed of CI/CD at a significantly lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

Hundreds of companies from verticals such as Tech, Banking, Insurance, Retail, Pharma, and Publishing -- including 50 of the Fortune 100 -- use Applitools to deliver the best possible digital experiences to millions of customers on any device and browser, and across every screen size and operating system.

Applitools is headquartered in San Mateo, California, with an R&D center in Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information, please visit applitools.com.

Contact:Jeremy DouglasCatapult PR-IR303-581-7760, ext. 16[emailprotected]

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Applitools Integrates With Rally for Fast and Automated Bug Management - PR Newswire India

Although not a new concept, robotic process automation (RPA) has generated a lot of hype in recent times as an enabler of business value. Of course, RPA is not about robots in the classic sense, but rather about software robots that execute processes quickly, reliably and with high quality and customer satisfaction.

Across the nearly 1,500 client executives we interviewed for the 2020 CGI Client Global Insights, automation/robotics was cited as the third top digital initiative. When asked how their organizations are progressing along the intelligent automation spectrum (from basic automation to artificial intelligence in automation), executives reported completing more RPA implementations and more investigations of artificial intelligence (AI) in automation compared to 2019.

RPA is widely used as an enabler of efficiency, resiliency and digital transformation. In response to the pandemic, demand for RPA has accelerated to improve COVID-19 measures for hospitals, loan processingfor banks, and savings initiativesfor manufacturers, as examples. RPA also helps organizations:

Additionally, as my colleague Katharina Dubberke shares in her blog on hyper-automation, organizations increasingly are seeking to combine automation with advanced technologies like machine learning and AI to accelerate decision-making.

The number of intelligent automation technology providers continues to grow. Each offers fast ways to get started and the potential for quick wins. But, what are the key steps to ensuring a successful automation journey? We believe a first step is to choose a simple process for an RPA proof-of-concept (POC). Ask yourself, 'What process has been a real thorn in our side?' The answer might be a good RPA candidate.

We also recommend creating a proof-of-value for your intelligent automation journey that is based on the following attributes and answers to key questions:

An Intelligent Automation Day workshop offers a structured way to plan the foundation, vision and first steps of your intelligent automation journey. Based on a preliminary analysis of pre-workshop questionnaires, these facilitated design-thinking sessions often include:

At CGI, we've used such workshops to help both public and private sector clients achieve quick wins in areas such as employee onboarding, invoice verification, and more.

Contact me to learn how we can help you identify and apply the right automation strategies and tools to achieve business outcomes. The only prerequisite is a conscious decision to begin the journey.

Sophie is a lead consultant for CGI based in Munich, where she heads the local intelligent automation practice. Together with her team, she is dedicated to building and distributing knowledge around intelligent automation, creating service offerings, and advising clients on best approaches.

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CGI : Start your intelligent automation journey on the right foot with RPA - Marketscreener.com

Pune, India, May 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global industrial automation market share is projected to reach USD 326.14 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period owing rise in demand for robotic technologies observes Fortune Business Insights in a published report titled, Industrial Automation Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Component (Hardware, and Software), By Industry (Discrete Industry, and Process Industry), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027.Advancements in science and technology have increased the demand for automated technologies such as robotics. These technologies make peoples life easier and their work more effective and accurate, thus fueling their demand. For example, in May Mitsubishi Electric Corporation introduced MELFA ASSISTA, a new series of robots which will work with humans to increase the work output along with accuracy.

Request to Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/industrial-automation-market-101589

COVID-19 Impact:

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic hit the industrial automation industry as factories and manufacturing units were shut due to mandatory lockdown globally. However, key market players such as Siemens and Rockwell Automation continued working to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 by helping the healthcare industry by supplying them with critical medical equipment.

Segmentation

Discrete Automation to Holds Major Share owing to its use in Automotive & Electronics

Based on components, the market is divided into hardware and software. On the basis of industry it is segmented into discrete and process industry. In terms of geography, the market is categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa and Latin America.

By industry analysis discrete automation holds the major share as it includes automotive and electronics which are high in demand. On the other hand, the automation industry is also expected to rise owing to its demand in the chemicals and healthcare industry.

Highlights of the Report

The report gives a thorough analysis of the latest industrial automation trends, top market segments, and majorly driving factors. The different market segments and their regional analysis are also comprehensively discussed in the report. Additionally, the report talks about the dominant strategies adopted by key market players and the impact of COVID-19 on the market.

To get to know more about the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market,

Please Visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/industrial-automation-market-101589

Drivers & Restraints

Techno-savvy Solutions to Drive the Market Growth

As technology is evolving, the key players are coming up with techno-savvy solutions. For example, Tech Mahindra and Honeywell International collaborated in 2020 to make Factories of Future. This will help clients be aware of the latest technologies such as automation and robotics and AI to stop using old traditional methods to increase the output. Besides, the launch of 5G technology will further create multiple opportunities in the market. For instance, ABB Ltd, Ericsson, and Swisscom AG implemented real-time communication competence of 5G. This will help wireless technologies to connect robots to the cloud automation system, enabling faster and better decision-making ability, which will fuel the industrial automation market growth. On the other hand, high capital investments in initial stages to obstruct the market growth.

Regional Insights

Europe to Command the Market owing to Maximum use of Robots in the Region

Europe is expected to hold a major share in the market. As per a report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) published in March 2020, states that Europe has the maximum density of robots with an average of 114 units per 10,000 employees. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is also expected to rise significantly as China is the major hub for producing sensors, chips and other industrial automation systems. As per Axa S.A, a multinational French Firm report, China alone manufactures 95% of total industrial automation products out of 200 billion global IoT components. Singapore is other significant manufacturer of automation equipment in Asia Pacific region. According to the 2019 report published by Singapore Government, the United States nearly holds 205 of Singapores automation industry.

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Competitive Landscape

Key Players to form Strategic Partnership to Intensify Market Growth

The global Industrial automation industries are persistently striving to expand their presence and enhance their product portfolios. To do so, they are implementing strategies, such as new partnerships with other significant companies. For example, major market key players Rockwell Automation and PTC partnership and invested USD1 billion. This investment will help PTC s Thingworx IoT, Kepware industrial connectivity, and Vuforia augmented reality with Rockwells automation platform such as FactoryTalk MES and FactoryTalk Analytics platform to provide manufacturing units with complete spectrum of prescriptive to descriptive analysis to achieve their business outputs with reduced downtime and overall equipment effectiveness.

Industry Development

March 2020: Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Hitachi, and Amnimo Inc collaborated to provide their users upgraded services using industrial IoT in their companys technology.

List of Key Players Covered in the Industrial Automation Market Report:

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Industrial Automation Market to Reach USD 326.14 Billion by 2027 - GlobeNewswire

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Executives at large organizations were surveyed about their thoughts on what's coming for network security, revealing that top-of-mind concerns include Zero Trust, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), automation and more.

The survey, "The Future of Network Security," was conducted by FireMon, which offers a security policy platform for firewalls and cloud security groups, and Pulse Media, a social research platform/knowledge community with more than 27,000 members. They polled 500 directors, vice presidents and C-Suite execs involved in IT security for organizations of between 1,001 to 10,000-plus employees.

Completed in January, the survey was conducted to learn:

Those "major trends" mentioned in item No. 1 above include:

Here's a snapshot of findings concerning Zero Trust, SASE and automation:

Zero TrustThe need for this trust model, along with SASE, was driven by the Solarwinds attack, the survey indicated.

It was also driven by the trend toward more distributed workforces, many of which have gone mobile, and the increased role of cloud-based applications. Some 86 percent of respondents report they have already implemented a Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) or plan to do so in the next two years.

SASEThis rising star in the security space was coined by research firm Gartner, describing a way to simplify wide-area networking and security by delivering both of those as a cloud service directly to the source of connection instead of the enterprise datacenter, according to Wikipedia.

The survey indicates this and Zero Trust, among other things, mitigate the ability of malware to spread across networks. Examples of SASE implementation vendors include Zscalar, CATO Networks and Palo Alto Prisma. Almost two-thirds of respondents report they will implement such offerings with two years, with about 25 percent of organizations already doing so.

AutomationNearly 80 percent of respondents indicate their organizations will implement security orchestration and automation in the next two years. What's more, almost all (98 percent) have already implemented automated security policies in some manner.

The survey further explored security policies (a specialty of FireMon), finding that more than 9 in 10 organizations agree that network security policy management (NSPM) is a strategic investment to help them improve speed and responsiveness, though only 9 percent have completely automated their security policies.

Other major themes of the report include addressing security/dev misalignment and managing accelerating heterogeneity.

"Zero Trust Architecture, edge-based protection, security automation, particularly for more efficient management of network security policies, plus a preference for best-of-breed security technology with API-based capabilities are the primary areas where network security leaders' priorities are converging," the survey concluded.

"These priorities point to the importance of managing the accelerating heterogeneity of network security environments. COVID-19 has been a catalyst, however, the change we see in network security has been long in the making. This study illustrates the importance each of these components plays while integrating them into a cohesive security strategy for today and well into the future."

More survey results, commentary and methodology can be found in the report, which can be accessed here upon providing registration information.

About the Author

David Ramel is an editor and writer for Converge360.

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What's the Future of Network Security? Zero Trust, SASE, Automation & More - Virtualization Review

The trend of automation has been gaining steam over the years, fueled by technological advancements to increase efficiency and precision that help in delivering improved products and services. Interestingly, robots are being deployed at an increasing rate across various industries to optimize the process flow. Notably, the automotive industry has been making use of robotics for quite some time now to automate the production process and the trend looks set to accelerate even further.

While traditional robots took care of tasks like welding, which requires immense precision to avoid disrupting the process flow, or repetitive tasks like assembling of parts, technological advancements are leading to the introduction of collaborative robots. These robots can be safely operated alongside humans and assist them in a wide number of tasks owing to their flexibility in comparison to traditional robots. Moreover, automation is also making its way into the agricultural space and farmers are making use of innovations like autonomous tractors to enhance harvesting activities and increase production yields.

Meanwhile, robotics is also becoming an integral part of healthcare, especially when it comes to surgeries. Markedly, robots allow surgeons to carry out delicate surgeries with improved precision and control in comparison to traditional surgical methods. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of robotics in the other areas of healthcare. Robots are being used to disinfect hospitals and other healthcare premises to curb the spread of the virus while they are also helping medical practitioners to remotely monitor their patients.

Robots were already being used for delivery but the outbreak of the pandemic only helped in accelerating that demand. To avoid the risk of transmission of the virus through contact and practice social distancing, robots also saw increasing deployment to ensure contactless deliveries.

Reflective of the positive developments that have been taking place with regards to automation, the robotics market looks set to grow in the near term. Notably, per a report by Mordor Intelligence, the robotics market is expected to reach $74 billion by 2026 from $23.67 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 20.4% from 2021 to 2026.

The trend of automation looks set to accelerate going forward as robots ensure that a task is carried out with better precision and efficiency, thereby delivering improved products and services. Hence, this seems to be an opportune moment to take a look at companies that stand to benefit from this continued uptick in automation. Notably, we have selected five such stocks that carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Deere & Company (DE Quick QuoteDE - Free Report) , together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes various equipment worldwide and the company is also focusing on automation by introducing products like autonomous electric tractor, autonomous drone sprayers, and so on. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings increased 0.9% over the past 60 days. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 84.2%.

Cognex Corporation (CGNX Quick QuoteCGNX - Free Report) provides machine vision products that capture and analyze visual information in order to automate manufacturing and distribution tasks worldwide. The company also provides a range of inspection tasks, including part location, identification, robotic guidance, and so on. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings increased 3.6% over the past 60 days. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 43%.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK Quick QuoteROK - Free Report) provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions and the companys Architecture & Software segment provides products including programmable automation controllers, design, visualization and simulation software, among others. It currently has a Zacks Rank #3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings increased 2.1% over the past 60 days. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 18.6%.

ABB Ltd (ABB Quick QuoteABB - Free Report) manufactures and sells electrification, industrial automation, and robotics and motion products for customers in utilities, industry and transport, and infrastructure worldwide. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings increased 3.3% over the past 60 days. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 29.6%.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. ISRG, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures and markets da Vinci surgical systems, including surgeon's consoles, patient-side carts, 3-D HD vision systems, among others, and its related instruments and accessories. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings increased 8.4% over the past 60 days. The companys expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 30.2%.

Blockchain and cryptocurrency has sparked one of the most exciting discussion topics of a generation. Some call it the Internet of Money and predict it could change the way money works forever. If true, it could do to banks what Netflix did to Blockbuster and Amazon did to Sears. Experts agree were still in the early stages of this technology, and as it grows, it will create several investing opportunities.

Zacks has just revealed 3 companies that can help investors capitalize on the explosive profit potential of Bitcoin and the other cryptocurrencies with significantly less volatility than buying them directly.

See 3 crypto-related stocks now >>

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5 Stocks to Watch as Automation Drives Demand for Robotics - Zacks.com

During the life cycle of offshore wind farms (OWFs), operators must maximize the uptime of wind turbines to generate as much energy as possible. As OWFs are constructed further from the coast, maintenance and inspection with crewed vessels becomes increasingly risky, time-consuming and expensive. To overcome this challenge, the industry is turning to remote and autonomous technological solutions that can support OWFs far out at sea.

The integration of autonomous technologies brings significant benefits for the offshore wind industry, including improved safety and efficiency and reduced overall environmental impact. A key example is the accelerated design and development of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) that can perform tasks in remote offshore locations while being controlled from remote operations centres (ROCs) as far away as in different time zones. With a wide range of applications, from seabed and asset data acquisition to research, surveillance and marine exploration, USVs are set to transform the maritime business and lay the foundations for a new way of working in the offshore wind industry.

Fugro-designed Blue Volta electric ROV, performing a seabed inspection off the coast in Australia.

USV technology does not replace the need for skilled personnel within the industry; rather, it has the potential to allow them to work more efficiently and in a safer ROC environment. The ability to deploy, manage and operate uncrewed vessels from ROCs anywhere in the world means that fewer people need to work in extreme and potentially hazardous offshore environments. Additionally, USVs offer an extremely efficient mode of data acquisition, allowing maritime staff to prioritize complex analytical tasks rather than spend time supporting the delivery stages. This leads to another advantage: increased output and speed of delivery of high-quality insights to clients, using cloud-based processing and reporting solutions so that clients can receive the first results just hours after initial data acquisition, anywhere in the world.

The integration and adoption of USVs will also significantly benefit the overall environmental impact of marine expeditions and operations. Some USVs have hybrid diesel-electric engines that allow vessels to operate further offshore, increasing the operational window while also significantly lowering the carbon footprint. At Fugro, we see USVs playing a prominent role in the future of maritime exploration and operations and, as such, we have partnered with SEA-KIT International, a global provider of hi-tech solutions to maritime and research industries. Through this partnership, we are helping to drive the development of USVs to support the greater use of remotely operated vehicles and autonomous underwater vehicles to inspect marine assets.

Impression of the Fugro Blue Essence USV, preparing to RoboDock at IJmuiden port, The Netherlands.

While the benefits of USVs are undeniable, these technological advances have uncovered further challenges. Offshore robotic solutions work most efficiently when there is a local, in-field facility that can accommodate the systems for safety, recharging and data transfer in an autonomous capacity that does not need onboard personnel. Without this offshore support, USVs and other autonomous robotic solutions regularly have to travel large distances to coastal locations such as marinas or ports for recharging and data transfer, which consumes time and fuel that could otherwise be used to deliver operation and maintenance plans.

Thus, to ensure that OWFs can maximize the capabilities of autonomous solutions, Fugro is developing an automated docking platform from which uncrewed vessels can perform inspection and maintenance operations. This RoboDock platform will enable various uncrewed vessels and drones to carry out inspection tasks both above and below the seas surface, as well as serving as a recharge station. Effectively eliminating the need for autonomous assets to return to shore, RoboDock will incorporate storm-resistant docking points, automated launch and recovery, and charging points. The platform will also facilitate data download to and communication with the onshore ROCs, and ongoing monitoring of wind farms.

Fugro Blue Essence USV performing inspection off the coast in Australia.

This cutting-edge technological breakthrough will not only allow the offshore wind industry to accelerate the adoption of remote and autonomous solutions, but will also have huge safety advantages. By deploying RoboDock, the offshore industry can remove human workers from extreme environments to de-risk offshore operations. Additionally, compared to current practices that require large support vessels, robotic operations will consume far less energy, making them a more sustainable long-term solution.

RoboDock is designed to be operational year-round and will withstand challenging weather conditions. While the initial prototype will be small-scale, the platform will demonstrate its potential as a scalable technology that could be used to create large floating offshore hubs and maintenance islands for deploying robotic and autonomous technologies. For example, RoboDock stations could offer coastal security and coastguard operations support, aiding in maritime search and rescue, and shipping traffic and environmental monitoring.

RoboDock also offers a number of potential applications within the scientific community. These include advanced monitoring, research and acquisition of environmental and metocean data via the addition of sensors to the RoboDock platform, or cameras for advanced subsea flora and fauna surveys. In this way, the platform could help scientific researchers gain a better understanding of the pressures affecting marine and coastal environments, and therefore support environmental protection programmes. As a support system, RoboDock could benefit activities as varied as wind farm security, coastguard operational support, maritime aid, search and rescue, monitoring of shipping traffic and many more.

The offshore wind industry will significantly benefit from the uptake of remote technology at every level. Innovations such as RoboDock will help to bring about faster, more efficient and safer operations, functioning on a significantly more sustainable scale and accelerating the maritime industrys digital transformation. Robotics and automation will ensure a continued drive to increase the maximum energy output of wind farms throughout their entire life cycle and will expand the capabilities of offshore wind and other maritime operations.

Aerial view of Fugro Blue Essence USV performing a survey using Fugro Blue Volta electric ROV.

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Robotics and Automation Advance the Offshore Wind Industry - Hydro International

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Global Lab Automation Market (2021-2026) by Product, Type, Geography, Impact of COVID-19, and Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Laboratory Automation Market is estimated to be USD 4.67 Billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 6.13 Billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 5.6%

Laboratory automation is a multi-disciplinary advanced approach used in the laboratory to increase productivity, increase the efficiency of time and the laboratory processes. Automation technology is used to streamline or alter manual handling of instruments and processes. The degree of automation required by a lab depends on its workflow. Some labs might prefer automation for a few instruments, while others might choose to prefer automating its research phase.

Lab automation is expected to grow during the forecasted period considering multiple factors such as the adoption of lab automation in pharma and R&D institutes, increase in demand for miniaturizing process equipment.

Various factors contribute to the growth in the laboratory automation market such as rising geriatric population, miniaturization of processes, benefits of lab automation, progressing markets of drug discovery and diagnostics, and government funding for biotech and drug discovery research, while on the contrary low priority for lab automation among small and medium-sized laboratories acts as a restraining factor on the market.

Competitive Quadrant

The report includes a Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share etc.

Why buy this report?

Report Highlights:

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Restraints

Opportunities

Companies Mentioned

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7zdcgb

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Insights on the Lab Automation Global Market to 202 - Impact of COVID-19 and Ansoff Analysis - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire

Record Revenue and Continued Margin Expansion in Both Life Sciences and Semiconductor Solutions

CHELMSFORD, Mass., May 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brooks Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq: BRKS) today reported financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2021, ended March 31, 2021.

Financial Results Summary

Quarter Ended

Dollars in millions, except per share data

March 31,

December 31,

March 31,

Change vs.

2021

2020

2020

Prior Qtr

Prior Year

Revenue

$

287

$

250

$

220

15

%

30

%

Semiconductor Solutions

$

157

$

131

$

125

20

%

26

%

Life Sciences

$

130

$

118

$

95

10

%

36

%

Diluted EPS Continuing Operations

$

0.32

$

0.36

$

0.12

(12)

%

158

%

Diluted EPS Total

$

0.32

$

0.35

$

0.12

(9)

%

158

%

Non-GAAP Diluted EPS Continuing Operations

$

0.61

$

0.47

$

0.25

30

%

145

%

Adjusted EBITDA

$

71

$

58

$

35

23

%

105

%

Today the Company also announced plans to separate into two independent, publicly traded companies by establishing a standalone life sciences company, comprised of the Life Sciences business and a standalone automation company, comprised of the Semiconductor Solutions business. The separation is expected to be completed by end of the calendar year 2021 and does not affect the presentation of the financial statements included within this release. Please see the Company's separate press release for further information.

Management Comments "Record level revenue in the second quarter is yet another proof point of the strength and continued momentum of our Life Sciences and Semiconductor Solutions businesses," commented Steve Schwartz, President and CEO. "While today's separation announcement reflects years of strategic investment and innovation, we believe that the Life Sciences and Semiconductor Solutions businesses are now of size and scale to operate and benefit from their own standalone structures. Looking ahead, we see strong demand in both businesses supporting continued acceleration as we enter the second half of our fiscal year."

Story continues

Summary of GAAP ResultsSecond Quarter, Fiscal 2021

Revenue for the second quarter was $287 million, up 30% year over year, supported by growth in both Life Sciences and Semiconductor Solutions. Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.32 per share compared to $0.12 per share in the second quarter of 2020.

Life Sciences revenue of $130 million grew 36% year over year. Year-over-year organic growth was also 36%. Life Sciences Products grew 69% year over year, and Life Sciences Services grew 20%. Excluding the effect of the recent exit of the RUCDR alliance, Life Science Services grew 28%.

Semiconductor Solutions revenue was $157 million, an increase of 26% year over year.

Operating income was $31 million, compared to $15 million in the second quarter of 2020. Operating margin was 10.6%, up 400 basis points year over year and was driven by gross margin of 44.4%, up 340 basis points year over year. The gross profit result in the second quarter of 2021 includes a charge of approximately $5 million related to liabilities for import tariffs. Operating expenses in the quarter include approximately $12 million in unallocated corporate expenses related to strategic M&A initiatives, including the preparation to separate the two businesses.

In the following analysis of the non-GAAP results, Brooks adjusted the GAAP results to provide investors better perspective on the results of operations which the Company believes is more comparable to the similar analysis provided by its peers and/or representative of the normal operations of the business. In this context, the Company has removed the effect of the charge in the second quarter of 2021 related to liabilities for import tariffs related to imports in prior fiscal years. The cost of import tariffs which pertain to the current fiscal year imports remain in the results discussed below. A description of all adjustments and reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most nearly comparable GAAP measures follow the consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and statements of cash flows included in this release.

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Brooks Automation Reports Results of Second Quarter of Fiscal 2021, Ended March 31, 2021, and Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend - Yahoo Finance

Ahead of the Manufacturing Automation and Robotics Symposium on 20 May 2021 we asked some of this years speakers for their top tips to help manufacturers who are thinking about automating their production processes.

Manufacturing Automation and Robotics Symposium brings together Operations, Automation & Control and Manufacturing executives in an interactive format that sits delegates alongside some of the UKs most experienced industrial robotics and automation users, and experts from world-class solutions providers.

The Manufacturing Automation and Robotics Symposium is a great opportunity to get insight from new contacts, build relationships and to see what is going on in businesses you wouldnt get to see otherwise.

The Manufacturer caught up with one of the speakers at the symposium Kevin White, Process Control & Automation Manager, Engineering, Technical and Production Services Department at Tata Steel to find out more.

Why should manufacturers think about automating their production processes, if they havent thought about it before?

From a personal perspective, thats really interesting, because having started in British Steel (as it was then) in the 80s it was already really heavily automated. When I work with SMEs now or I work with one of the institutes, and we look into smaller companies I find it quite surprising how many still are not very heavily automated over 30 years later, and how many opportunities there are.

Now, in order to have a handful of sensors at low cost on a production line, feeding back to a cloud service and visible at your desk or on a mobile device you only need to pay a few tens of pounds a month.

Even before you fully automate, just being able to monitor equipment and processes remotely and make some optimisation decisions close to real time is a cost-effective first step. Its becoming very much easier without needing to have full time technical expertise on staff. I think a lot of the technical capability available to SMEs is much more affordable than ever it was and pays back a lot more quickly.

If you can get the operators doing less of the jobs they would rather not do, and to give them an opportunity to actually add more value to the business through continuous improvement or optimisation activities then its a win-win situation.Kevin White, Process Control & Automation Manager, Engineering, Technical and Production Services Department at Tata Steel

Do you think one of the biggest misconceptions then from SMEs is the actual cost of automating?

To a point you are right, complete automation of an existing line is a costly undertaking and you do obviously need machines that are suitable for that level of automation and it may not be possible with equipment that is currently installed. For that reason, unless a line is having a major upgrade, full scale automation may not be the best approach.

The drivers for Automation can be very specific to individual businesses and processes, but you can certainly get some of the benefit of current automation technology without perhaps fully automating your line.

This could include more timely access to data, additional energy monitoring, asset health indication, reduced errors in data or reduced time spent compiling reports.

What are the key elements of a successful automation project?

I think there is a huge risk in misunderstanding or underestimating the impact automation has on the staff on the shop floor and the operators. If you have not got the operation staff on board, you miss out on the experience and knowledge that they have gained.

You really need to get the experience and the knowledge of the people who have been running those lines and get them working as part of a team with the automation. Whatever part you are trying to automate or if you are introducing a decision support or guidance system, without the support of the operators it is usually very difficult to get embedded success.

It is possible for engineering teams to force through changes but they rarely deliver the anticipated benefits and often arent sustained.

So how do you integrate your staff in the automation process?

I think one of the valuable steps is to make sure that the automation that you are introducing is trying to remove some of the mundane, the dirty or the high risk parts from the job. If you can get the operators doing less of the jobs they would rather not do, and to give them an opportunity to actually add more value to the business though continuous improvement or optimisation activities then its a win-win situation.

What are the pitfalls manufacturers should avoid when thinking about automation?

Quite often people are very concerned of things like supportability and interoperability, but those things are less of a challenge than they were for a number of reasons.

If you are dealing with the main manufacturers, then their support lifecycle is quite long and with a little care, investments can be supported as far as 20 years into the future. Where IoT products are chosen, perhaps created by small or start-up companies then the likelihood of long term support is limited so its important to select the right product for the right job.

For a company considering Automation for the first time, the biggest challenge for me is the expertise level of the integrators or the automation company you are relying upon.

Whatever your industry is, the likelihood is there are some integrators that specialise in your industry, and know your processes.

You can probably try to save some money by trying to go to a more generic automation company that does all kinds of things, but unless you have got the experience in your own business of automating process lines, then you are really far better off dealing with specialists who know your business.

Unless you are prepared to build up detailed automation expertise in your own business, you would benefit from the skills and experience of a specialist automation company in your industry.

Top Tips to start your automation journey

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Where to start your automation journey - The Manufacturer

A recent ransomware attack in the US that shut down a major oil pipeline to the East Coast has highlighted the severity and outcome of these types of attacks. An AP article covering the event said that Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo pointed to ransomware attacks as what businesses now have to worry about, and that she will work very vigorously with the Department of Homeland Security to address the problem, calling it a top priority for the administration. Unfortunately, these sorts of attacks are becoming more frequent, she said on CBS Face the Nation. We have to work in partnership with business to secure networks to defend ourselves against these attacks.

While the first step in developing a cybersecurity plan is to analyze operations and find vulnerabilities, the second step is to properly segment networks, manage their access, and create and test a recovery plan. The third step is personnel training.

According to 2021 Cybersecurity: Assess Your Risk, a new report from PMMI Business Intelligence, The best cybersecurity plan is only as good as the individuals tasked with carrying it out. With this in mind, manufacturers will have to decide who they want to be responsible for establishing and maintaining cybersecurity practices. In addition to allocating responsibility, manufacturers should properly train all of their employees on cybersecurity best practices, returning to instruction regularly when protocols change and to refresh employee knowledge.

Creating a dedicated team that focuses exclusively on cybersecurity may be a step to consider. In the past, many manufacturers relied on their IT department to manage all of their cybersecurity concerns, and this is still a common model. Thirty-two percent of companies interviewed stated that cybersecurity is another responsibility left to their IT department.

To get better cybersecurity results, companies have started creating dedicated departments or teams within the IT department that are responsible for cybersecurity. About 41% of organizations currently have a distinct IT security team with dedicated OT specialists a model that facilitates cooperation between IT and OT while simultaneously ensuring that cybersecurity is a top priority.

Common decision makers for IT are IT business analysts, CIOs, and IT architects, while OT plant managers, COOs, and control engineers commonly handle OT issues. IT and OT often have competing priorities - while OT seeks to maximize uptime, IT best practices require frequent updates/ patches which can adversely impact production operations uptime. However, the majority of manufacturers interviewed said collaboration between IT and OT has led to more secure solutions such as separate networks.

While a dedicated cybersecurity team ensures that digital safety protocols stay top of mind and up to date, effectively implementing such protocols requires the cooperation and diligence of every employee. Consequently, it is essential that manufacturers thoroughly educate their employees on the necessity of cybersecurity, properly train them to follow protocols, and regularly retrain them with updated best practices.

Cybersecurity protocols need to be comprehensive to ensure that an operation is properly secured, and straightforward and manageable enough that employees will actually adhere to them regularly. Protocols should not be unnecessarily complicated, and they should not hamper daily work routines too much, or lapses in security will result as employees struggle to adapt. Said one Automation Director at a pharmaceutical company, Employees can be the wildcard, training and retraining are critical for people to obey rules and maintain awareness and compliance.

Many manufacturers already struggle with a general lack of labor and skills, and they may not have the resources available to form dedicated cybersecurity teams. Manufacturers may find significant value in choosing to partner with a third-party cybersecurity expert instead. There are many services available to the industry that assist with assessing vulnerabilities, implementing protocols, and training staff.

Risk assessment

Security analysis

Training

Cyber insurance

Download this FREE report below.

Source: PMMI Business Intelligence, 2021 Cybersecurity: Assess Your Risk

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Personnel Training: A Critical Third Step in Cybersecurity - Automation World