As a result of digitalisation, many everyday objects are able to collect data, analyse external information and communicate with each other. But what happens when this type of technology is applied to the factory, both large companies and SMEs? What elements will characterise the factory of the future? Industry 4.0 has a value creation potential […]
Metsä Wood UK’s head office in Boston, Lincolnshire is just one of many sites across the globe which specialise in providing sustainable, premium-quality wood products for many industries including the construction and industrial sectors. Metsä Wood employs around 1500 people and 2019 sales reached EUR 0.4 billion: its primary products are Kerto LVL (laminated veneer […]
Large swathes of industry are implementing powered and robotic applications to ensure high-quality repeatable processes. Hospital and medical professionals are also keen to implement these applications, especially with the current pressure on the medical system. Here, Stewart Goulding, managing director at precision drive system supplier EMS, discusses the rise of robotics in surgery. There are […]
Robotic arms are often tasked with picking items not presented in the same orientation, shape or size. To provide consistent positioning, manufacturers frequently add fixtures, bowl feeders and other hardware, adding cost and complexity to what ends up being rigid applications that lack the ability to easily pick different objects or achieve quick changeover times. […]
RARUK Automation is launching a major innovation that will enhance operations for all those looking to automate the internal transportation of goods. The new MiR250 autonomous mobile robot (AMR) is an agile, rapid-charging, cost-effective means of transporting payloads of up 250kg around premises such as factories, warehouses and healthcare facilities – essentially any business seeking […]
A robotic gripper with zero point clamping for automated pallet exchange on machining centre tables without their own media supply has been introduced by the Stark division of the Roemheld group. It is available in Britain and Ireland through subsidiary company Roemheld UK, Hitchin. The services needed for clamping and releasing the workpiece, whether hydraulic, […]
A leading pharmaceutical manufacturer specialising in asthma inhalers has transformed its in-line testing operations thanks to an automated quality control solution developed by Mitsubishi Electric and leading system integrator Optimal Industrial Automation. The innovative system uses two Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arms (SCARA) and system-matched components, such as a MELSEC-iQ platform PLC and MAPS SCADA […]
Igus has now added two new sizes to its twisterband HD range with inner heights of 11mm and 18mm. The key advantage over slip ring systems is that it guides electrical, fibre optic and pneumatic cables all together. Target applications include rotary tables and robots. twisterband HD energy chains are already being used successfully in […]
Automation just got easier for food and beverage and other “clean” applications such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals that need to handle items from eggs to fruit, to bottles or irregular-shaped containers. The flexible OnRobot Soft Gripper uses three interchangeable silicon-molded cups in star and four-finger configurations to pick up almost any small object under 2.2 […]
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 […]
igus makes predictive maintenance simple
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 […]
igus introduces new humanoid robot
Humanoid robots are beginning to support industries in various ways, but what do they really bring to the table? Motion plastics specialist, igus is offering its first humanoid robot, ‘Iggy Rob’. According to estimates, 20 million humanoid robots could be in use in industry by 2030. The demand for this technology is increasing rapidly among […]
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 […]
See automation in action at MachineBuilding.Live
As a result of their popularity at the 2024 event, the number of Action Areas at MachineBuilding.Live 2025 has been increased. On these special stands, leading experts from across the machine building and factory automation spectrum will be providing live demonstrations of their latest technologies and innovations. Many of them will be making their UK […]
Vision system combined with robotics
On stand 163 in the Action Area at MachineBuilding.Live, Visicon will highlight the magic that happens when you combine the latest in machine vision systems with robotics. The combination of vision and robotics enables you to unlock the potential of automation with an affordable and accessible solution. Visicon is an integration partner in the UK […]
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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OMRON robots automate poultry packing line
CP Foods UK is a major poultry producer supplying leading retailers, manufacturers and foodservice operators across the UK. With operations rooted in food safety, quality, and adaptability, the company constantly seeks ways to respond to shifting retailer and consumer demands. In its UK facilities, CP Foods UK prepares and packages chicken products for a dynamic […]
Automation and robotics for brewing and beverage
ABB and its machine and factory automation business, B&R Industrial Automation, will exhibit brewery and beverage technologies together at drinktec 2025, the world economic summit for the beverage and liquid food industry, giving visitors a chance to see how ABB technologies combine to optimise operations across the full production cycle. Spanning process control, adaptive manufacturing […]
Cobot sparkles in food factory cleaning solution
Samey Robotics and Rbot9 have chosen the FANUC CRX-10iA/L collaborative robot to power a game-changing cleaning system they have jointly developed for food factories. Named VOTTA, inspired by the Icelandic word for ‘certify’ and echoing the sound of ‘Þvotta’ (‘washing’), the system offers overhead, automated cleaning of large-scale areas without bulky structures or layout changes. […]
The future role of robots in manufacturing
With the Covid crisis bringing a greater focus on jobs, there is increased speculation about the future role of robotics in the manufacturing industry, as Martin Walder, VP of Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric, explains. “Over the last few years, we have seen a significant increase in the demands for robots, and indeed cobots. As […]