Tom Bouchier, managing director of Fanuc UK, says there has never been a better time for UK firms to invest in automation. Here, he outlines the key changes within the automation landscape that are prompting British firms to finally wake up to the benefits of automation. Despite our relatively small landmass, the UK is an […]
The latest easy-automation solution from RARUK Automation makes it viable for any SME, regardless of their size or level of experience, to introduce automatic parts loading in just 2-3 hours. The Robotiq Machine Tending Solution is the latest in a series of off-the-shelf kits that has allowed RARUK Automation – Robotiq’s current ‘Best Expert Partner […]
Marc Garner, vice president of the secure power division of Schneider Electric, examines the rise of digital transformation within industrial manufacturing. The industrial world has come a long way from the early days of steam power and the advent of the manufacturing era. Industry 2.0 brought electrification and mass production in the 1800’s propelled by […]
An automotive manufacturer is relying extensively on the reliability of Contrinex’s robust and high-performance inductive sensors in the automated assembly of engines, where cylinder heads are transferred for mounting on the engine. The assembly of an engine requires cylinder heads to be transferred from one conveyor line to another. At the transfer station, sensors under […]
An Igus 7th axis on a collaborative robot working alongside staff at German screening machine manufacturer Rhewum is helping to increase the workspace from 1300 to 5500mm. Built around the drylin ZLW tooth belt linear system, the 7th axis is quick and easy to set up, low cost and resistant to heat and dirt. The […]
ABB is expanding its FlexPicker Delta robot portfolio with the IRB 365. With five axes and 1.5kg payload, the IRB 365 is both flexible and claimed to be the fastest in its class for reorientating packaged lightweight products. Responding to the rise in e-commerce and growing demand for shelf ready packaged goods, the IRB 365 […]
PPMA Total Show 2022, the UK’s largest processing and packaging machinery, robotics and industrial vision event, is returning to the NEC Birmingham this autumn, and will take place from 27th to 29th September. The three-day event will provide a platform for innovation and live demonstrations of production machinery, act as a central hub for networking, […]
A single demonstration line running on the Omron stand (B34) at this year’s PPMA Total Show will reveal how a dynamic manufacturing operation – in this case filling – can see dramatic efficiency and uptime improvements from the deployment of AI in at least two areas: intelligent machine control; and fault detection and remediation. Too […]
Since the integration of its first Kawasaki robot, storage tank manufacturer Haase has not only been able to significantly optimise its production and efficiency, but also to support its sustained growth in many industries and international markets. With its double-walled underground storage tanks, German company Haase Group has been a market leader in the tank […]
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 […]
ChocoMatic comes to life with igus 7th axis
When customers tap a screen to choose their favourite chocolates, Roose Automation’s ‘ChocoMatic’ robot arm travels along a linear track, selects each chocolate, and delivers them without human intervention. Behind this playful, hygienic automation lies a clever piece of engineering: the 7th axis from igus. Roose Automation wanted to give its robot arm the freedom […]
Cost-effective robotic automation products
Mouser Electronics announces a distribution agreement with igus, a global leader in industrial and automation products. With over 60 years of design experience and a strong reputation for quality, igus offers a range of technically advanced “motion plastics” designed for Industry 4.0 and 5.0. The igus product portfolio includes flexible cables, robotic components, motor control […]
RARUK Automation demos cobot palletising solution
On 11-12 February 2026, Packaging Innovations and EMPACK will be returning to the NEC in Birmingham. RARUK Automation will be showcasing the PE10 Robotiq Palletising Solution designed specifically for Universal Robots collaborative robots (cobots). Palletising is a repetitive and strenuous task that poses risk of injury to workers. For manufacturers looking to increase efficiency, palletising […]
New off-the-shelf and modular palletisers
End-of-line palletising is a task commonly automated across a range of industries, due to bottlenecks and the risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI) to workers. RARUK Automation can now offer two simple approaches to palletising automation, from partner Robotiq. RARUK Automation is the exclusive UK representative for Robotiq, a Canadian manufacturer of end-of-arm tooling and […]
Comau presents advanced automation at ITSA 2025
Comau showcased its advanced automation technologies at Industrial Transformation Saudi Arabia, (ITSA) held from December 1 to 3 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre (RICEC) at Booth number 1-535. As the region’s leading platform for industrial innovation, the HANNOVER MESSE-backed event brought together global and local stakeholders committed to accelerating smarter, greener, and […]
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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Automation and robotics in food manufacturing
At Food Manufacturing Live, Jake Norman, managing director at OAL, discusses applications for robotics in food factories to automate the likes of pick and place operations, palletising, case packing and other areas. He highlights the picking of fresh fruit, with a particular demonstration on the stand showing a robot picking up oranges. “We work with […]
Bridging the gap in food and beverage plants
Food and beverage plants increasingly operate with a blend of equipment generations: legacy machinery that has served reliably for years, and newer automation technologies designed to enhance efficiency, traceability and sustainability. This hybrid setup gives manufacturers flexibility to modernise gradually, but it also presents a growing challenge: how to maintain ageing assets while integrating more […]
FANUC robot pairs hygiene with high performance
To meet the growing demand for food and cleanroom applications, FANUC has unveiled the latest model in its LR Mate industrial robot range. The compact and powerful LR Mate 10-11A Food/Clean has a 10kg payload and is compliant with ISO 4 Class cleanrooms. This makes it ideal for use in highly controlled environments across sectors […]
Packers and processors need to adapt to wonky veg
Following this morning’s BBC news report that fruit and veg will be smaller and look different as the summer’s hot and dry weather hits crops, Scorpion Vision is advising processors and packers of fresh produce to consider upgrading to AI-powered vision technology. Processing systems guided by classic machine vision do not have the intelligence to […]