Instead, the company decided it would move toward automation as a way to cut costs. Its largest holdings include cleaning products maker iRobot Corp (IRBT.O), Japanese factory automation company Fanuc Corp< 6954.T>, and drone aircraft company AeroVironment Inc (AVAV.O). ALSO READ: Woman sues Donald Trump in New York for defamationCUTTING LABOR COSTSDeclining costs of technology are expected to accelerate the growth of robotic manufacturing. Shares of the company are up 18.8 percent since Election Day, triple the 6.3 percent gain in the broad S&P 500 index. ALSO READ: Trump 'won't be worse than Obama,' says Venezuela's presidentMiddleby, meanwhile, recently introduced robots which can prepare French fries as quickly as a human line cook, saving labor costs and improving reliability.

Source: Standard Digital January 19, 2017 07:23 UTC