The new ICE11 IO-Link master from Pepperl+Fuchs for PLC-based applications is multiprotocol-capable and now supports not only PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and MODBUS TCP but also EtherCAT and CC-Link IE Field Basic. It can be used worldwide in various application areas such as robotics, intralogistics, and motion control applications. IO-Link masters enable efficient and reliable communication between […]
Developments in manufacturing and robotics technologies are offering patients a prosthetic experience like never before as Dave Walsha, sales manager at DC motor supplier EMS explains. Upper limb prosthetics are abandoned by some 18 per cent of patients, though some studies cite this figure as high as almost one in two. Evidently, replicating the complexity […]
Trio Motion Technology has launched a new motion controller at SPS based on Intel multi-core processors, running Microsoft Windows alongside Trio’s Advanced Motion-iX core. The PC-MCAT-2 will give OEM machine builders a control solution that allows easy integration of Windows applications together with advanced motion functionality. Based on Trio’s Motion First Automation approach to machine […]
Stephen Hayes, managing director of automation and control technology specialist, Beckhoff UK, explains how control technology can play a key role in solving the UK’s productivity puzzle. According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, output per hour worked was just 0.6 per cent above its pre-pandemic 2019 average in the first […]
Fuzzy Logic and Visionic say they are removing the technological and financial obstacles to the robotisation of applications that were previously unheard of, or perceived as impossible, such as pressure cleaning and the decontamination of engine parts in the aeronautics industry. Visionic designs off-the-shelf optical guidance and control solutions for complex industrial manufacturing processes. As […]
Those considering the purchase of a robot system now have to decide whether the best and most appropriate choice will be a cobot, or whether a traditional industrial robot will offer the optimum solution, as the experts at Stäubli explain. There is little doubt that the concept of humans and robots interacting and collaborating continues […]
On 24 November at 9:30, the next in the Pilz UK free Machinery Safety webinar series ‘the Machinery Safety Experts’ will be looking at the revised version of ISO 13849-1. The standard is the basis for evaluating the safety of complex machine control systems. It is a basic functional safety standard and contains internationally unified […]
Following an incredibly successful event in 2023 Manufacturing and Engineering Week continues to evolve, becoming Smart Manufacturing and Engineering Week in 2024. The small adjustment reflects the forward-looking nature of the event and focus on the new technologies, tools and solutions driving the sector forward. Commenting on the change Verity Noon, marketing director at Nineteen […]
The OX family of sensors from Baumer continues to push the boundaries of performance by combining measurement precision of up to 5 micrometres in an ultra-compact package. Using profile analysis, the ‘smart’ 2D OX series sensors are now able to solve a variety of challenging robot positioning and inspection tasks more efficiently and more economically […]
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 […]
Maximise robot productivity through training
The world of manufacturing continues to become ever more competitive as businesses strive to address multiple challenges such as maintaining their supply chain, mitigating rising energy costs, improving productivity, whilst enhancing their environmental credentials. The experts at Stäubli explain how effective training with robots can help deliver enhanced productivity. Productivity is influenced by a number […]