Zebra Technologies has announced it intends to acquire Photoneo, a leading developer and manufacturer of 3D machine vision solutions. The 3D segment of the machine vision market is the fastest growing, and this acquisition will further accelerate Zebra’s presence in the category. By combining Photoneo’s 3D machine vision solutions with Zebra’s advanced sensors, vendor-agnostic software […]
Wieland Electric presents the latest generation of highly efficient safety light grids and safety light curtains. The importance of occupational safety grows in modern industrial and logistical environments as machines and systems become more complicated. Against this backdrop, Wieland Electric introduces its next generation of safety light curtains and safety light grids, which complement the […]
Since 1972 Mechan Controls has been leading the way in design and innovation for machine guarding safety products. Mechan has an extensive range of non-contact safety products, including magnetic, coded magnetic, and uniquely coded RFID and OSSD safety switches. Over the past two decades, Mechan Controls has been investing in researching and developing various types […]
A wine harvester has designed an autonomous ‘steep slope’ harvesting vehicle with igus energy chains. Christmas means friends, food and, for many, a few drinks. White wine is the most popular alcoholic beverage in the UK and we consume about £12bn of alcohol in the four weeks leading up to Christmas. To keep supplying wine, […]
The industrial robot market is facing a mixed picture over the coming years according to the latest forecast from Interact Analysis, with 2024 set to end on a challenging note. Global robot shipments are projected to decline by 0.2%, following a flat performance in 2023. “Compared with our May 2024 forecast, we have revised our […]
Automate UK has announced the appointment of Peter Williamson as its new Chairman, succeeding James Causebrook, who stepped down this week having reached the end of his two-year term. James’ term was a key period for the organisation incorporating its rebranding, the finessing of its core values and the enhancement of its offering to provide […]
Automation can enhance jobs, making them safer and quicker for humans. Nevertheless, reaping these benefits means closing a wide automation skills gap, explains Stephen Hayes, managing director at automation specialist Beckhoff UK. We are routinely told that millions of jobs will be lost to automation, but the real impact depends on how we manage the […]
FANUC has introduced the latest model to its extensive robot range, bringing greater versatility to lifting and handling operations. A large and heavy-payload industrial robot, the new M-950iA/500 boasts a wide motion range thanks to its serial-link configuration, meaning no interference of the main J3 arm with the J2 arm due to the absence of […]
The rapidly increasing aging population will lead to a shortage of care providers in the future. While robotic technologies are a potential alternative, their widespread use is limited by poor acceptance. In a new study, researchers from Chiba University have examined a user-centric approach to understand the factors influencing user willingness among caregivers and recipients […]
Motion plastics and low-cost automation at MACH 2026
igus returns to MACH with a comprehensive range of engineering innovations designed to improve machine reliability, reduce downtime and deliver long‑term cost savings for manufacturers across all industry. With the UK operation based in Northampton, igus develops lubrication‑free motion plastics that replace traditional metal components, increasing performance while eliminating the need for grease and maintenance. […]
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 […]
Extending cobot capabilities for higher payloads
As part of Bosch Rexroth, Kassow Robots continues to push the boundaries of collaborative robotics by expanding the capabilities of collaborative robotics. With the introduction of the KR 1824 and KR 1240, the company enables manufacturers to automate more demanding, higher-payload processes – bridging the gap between traditional industrial and collaborative robots. Designed for seamless […]
Cobot motion and sensing for extended automation
The latest advances in technologies such as sensing, actuation, and perception are enabling cobots to tackle more complex and delicate processes in manufacturing and logistics activities, as the experts at Yamaha Robotics explain. Companies operating factories and warehouses can now choose from a wide variety of robots, ranging from familiar industrial types like cartesian and […]
ABB Robotics launches high-speed PoWa cobot family
ABB Robotics is combining the flexibility of cobots with higher payloads and performance, with the launch of its new PoWa cobot family into the rapidly expanding global collaborative robot market, which ABB Robotics estimates will grow by 20 percent annually through to 2028. “Cobots are growing significantly faster than traditional industrial robots, driven by demands […]
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 […]
2025: (Finally) The year of the robots
2025 is going to be the year of the industrial robot in the United Kingdom. In fact, we are almost in a place where we could use the phrase ‘perfect storm’ without sounding hackneyed. Richard Stone, who is the founder of Stone Junction, a specialist technical PR agency, and who has been working with robot […]