British manufacturing companies have been lagging behind international competitors over the last two decades, with manufacturers falling dramatically down the global automation tables. Our use of robotics and AI systems is poor, with training of people in relevant digital skills to take advantage of the innovation tech, well below what is needed to catch up. […]
A straight wall is not necessarily a climate-optimised wall. Depending on the wall’s exposure to sun and shade, there is an ideal angle for individual bricks. The calculations come from a digital design configurator and in the future, a robot will help craftsmen to position the bricks precisely. In a workshop with apprentice bricklayers, […]
Humanoid robots are moving rapidly from the lab into everyday life and industry. To accelerate this transition, a large-scale Humanoid Robotics Data Training Centre has officially been launched in Beijing, creating a hub that unites core technology R&D, scenario-based application testing, operator training, and ecosystem collaboration. As a core technology and equipment provider, RealMan Robotics […]
Now more than ever, downtime is costly. To combat this, igus developed i.Cee, a smart plastics system that turns passive components into intelligent assets. By analysing data from sensors embedded in energy chains, bearings, and cables, i.Cee enables dynamic service life prediction, real-time alerts, and automated maintenance scheduling. Whether you are running high-speed packaging lines […]
In a £100,000 investment, Wallwork Group has introduced a UR Cobot to its vacuum braze line in Cambridge. This will make high-volume braze components a commercially viable option for many manufacturers. “Cost-effective, high-volume vacuum braze components have been out of reach until now. Largely due to the amount of assembly and labour time required. This […]
FANUC has received a significant order to supply a state-of-the-art paint system, including paint robots and advanced application technology, to a European luxury carmaker. Almost 50 FANUC robots will paint both car bodies and plastic add-on parts such as bumpers. “We are managing the entire project, including installation,” says Jan Kamenicky, head of paint at […]
FANUC’s ARC Mate 120iC and M-900iB/360 robots have played a starring role in a pioneering waste size reduction project as part of Sellafield’s ongoing decommissioning process. In a first-of-its-kind autonomous application designed and delivered by integrator Cyan Tec, the skip sorting and laser cutting cell has reduced the amount of space needed to store radioactive […]
Researchers from Scottish universities have developed an innovative way to breathe new life into outdated robot pets and toys using augmented reality technology. They have prototyped a new software system which can overlay a wide range of new virtual behaviours on commercially-available robot pets and toys which are designed to look like animals and mimic […]
The wave of smart manufacturing is sweeping across the industry, bringing with it a seismic shift that is characterised by hyper-connectivity, relentless automation and unprecedented data-driven precision. However, manufacturing plants and factories are not just filled with machines; they’re teeming with thousands of non-human identities (NHIs) from robotic arms and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to […]
Camozzi Automation will return to Machine Building Live on 15 October 2025 at the National Agricultural Exhibition Centre, Stoneleigh Park, bringing a host of new products and live demonstrations to Stand 126, including new ranges of grippers for collaborative robots. Recent innovations from Camozzi include: Series CSSP – Pneumatic Collaborative Gripper: Safe, precise, and easy […]
RBTX DOBOT partner launch hailed a success
igus UK marks a major milestone in accessible automation with the successful launch of its RBTX partnership with DOBOT Robotics. The event brought together engineers, system integrators, manufacturers and automation specialists to explore how flexible robotic solutions can be deployed quickly and cost-effectively, without the complexity traditionally associated with industrial automation. Live demonstrations showcased collaborative […]
What role does AI play in art?
The River of Light festival in Liverpool showcased ‘Face Value’, a captivating installation co-created by PhD student Emma Brass from the University of Liverpool and Venya Krutikov, co-founder of The Kazimier and Invisible Wind Factory. Blending artificial intelligence, robotics, and visual art, Face Value invites visitors to confront how technology perceives and redefines reality. The […]
Application phase for 10th vector award is now open
The application phase of the igus vector award 2026 has begun. Now in its tenth year, a joint initiative is honouring designers worldwide who use high-performance plastic energy chains to create cable guides that set new technological standards, with winners to receive up to 5,000 euros in prize money. The vector award has gained international […]
Cobot completes one millionth PCB quality check
Hanover Displays, a UK-based manufacturer of passenger information systems for the public transport sector, has reached a major manufacturing milestone: the completion of its 1,000,000th automated quality test of printed circuit boards (PCBs) using Techman collaborative robots from LG Motion. The automation programme began in 2018, when Hanover introduced its first collaborative robot to improve […]
UR and Scale AI launch imitation learning system
Universal Robots (UR) unveiled the UR AI Trainer at GTC 2026 in Silicon Valley. Developed in collaboration with Scale AI, the AI Trainer marks a tectonic shift as robots move from pre-programmed applications to fully AI-driven tasks. These systems are powered by robust data generated in AI training cells where robots imitate humans. “Our customers, ranging from […]
The beverage palletising shift is accelerating
Martin Ray Winery in Napa Valley has deployed its first lean cobot palletising workcell and achieved a 16-month ROI, with the system installed in just two days. You can find out all about it in a webinar hosted by Robotiq on 19 March. Across Europe and North America, beverage producers, from kombucha and bottled water […]
Customised robotics and automation systems: Astech Projects is an award-winning provider of advanced automated solutions. We work with clients worldwide to design and build robotics and automation systems that meet
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Universal adaptive gripper for faster, gentler picking
Festo has introduced the HPSX Universal Adaptive Gripper, a pneumatic soft gripper engineered to improve speed, hygiene and flexibility in demanding food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics applications. Combining robust design, food-safe materials and adaptive silicone fingers, the HPSX directly addresses long-standing automation challenges where rapid, precise and gentle product handling is essential. “In developing the HPSX, […]
The beverage palletising shift is accelerating
Martin Ray Winery in Napa Valley has deployed its first lean cobot palletising workcell and achieved a 16-month ROI, with the system installed in just two days. You can find out all about it in a webinar hosted by Robotiq on 19 March. Across Europe and North America, beverage producers, from kombucha and bottled water […]
Robotics, vision and AI combine for dairy processes
Automation solutions provider Eberle Automatische Systeme has developed a breakthrough in quality control with a focus on the cheese-ripening process, combining AI with machine vision software from MVTec. The food industry is experiencing a transformative shift in quality control, due in part to advances in artificial intelligence (AI). When combined with rule-based machine vision, AI […]