Omron has launched a virtual exhibition that enables visitors to walk through a 360 degree virtual tour, guiding them around ‘the factory of the future’ – one in which different innovations have been introduced to increase flexibility, enhance efficiency and boost productivity. The virtual exhibition highlights, in particular, six new technologies that can be used […]
Collaborative robot specialist Reeco is expanding to meet the growing demand of its customers in the UK and internationally. The company is doubling the size of its premises in Newtown, Mid-Wales, from 5,500 sq. ft. to more than 11,000 sq. ft. The enlarged space will enable Reeco to have dedicated factory areas for assembly and […]
Shibaura Machine partner TM Robotics has won a large contract to supply a substantial number of THE600 SCARA robots to a global electronics assembly plant. The contract was given to TM Robotics’ Mexican distributor, Global Manufacturing Incorporated (GMI), which beat competitors both on price and specification. The arrangement includes the supply of the new THE600 […]
Neil Sandhu, product manager for imaging, measurement, ranging and systems at Sick UK has formally been appointed chairman of UKIVA during the vision association’s online AGM. Sandhu takes over from Allan Anderson, managing director at ClearView Imaging, who had completed a two-year cycle as chairman. Anderson was elected at the same meeting to once again […]
Kent apple producer Adrian Scripps is leading the sector in terms of automation – and Brillopak’s award-winning UniPAKer robotic crate packing cell is the cornerstone of its intrepid approach. Adrian Scripps’ unwaning commitment to automation has been key to building and maintaining its market-leading position as Tesco’s largest apple supplier. Few apple packing facilities have […]
Universal Robots (UR) is pleased to announce a new partnership with award-winning quantum physicist and ballet dancer, Dr Merritt Moore. In her examination of how the arts can take technology beyond the laboratory, Dr Moore has developed ground-breaking dance performances alongside a UR collaborative robot (cobot). The cobot has been named “Baryshnibot” by her Instagram […]
A labour-intensive process to position powerful permanent magnets onto large generators for offshore wind has been made 60 times faster by automation experts at the University of Sheffield AMRC, cutting down the cycle time from one hour to just 55 seconds for each magnet. Magnetic gear technology company Magnomatics wanted to explore how robotic technologies […]
Simmatic Automation Specialists, a leading provider of complete pneumatic solutions, has been named Vacuum and Pneumatic Products Innovators of the Year 2020 for the Midlands Enterprise Awards. The Midlands Enterprise Awards has taken place for four years now, and is in place to give recognition to SMEs all over the region who are striving to […]
Coval asserts that its FPC series suction cup is a universal solution for all types of flow pack packaging. FPC stands for FlowPack Cup, and Coval says the suction cup is a real technological breakthrough for a constantly evolving packaging method. FlowPack packaging provides a number of advantages, including direct food contact, large visible area […]
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 […]
Annual robot shipments to top 760k units in 2030
The industrial robot industry saw 5.1% growth in 2025, following a contraction of -2% in 2024, Interact Analysis reports. The market is now forecast to record steady growth out to 2030, at an average annual rate of 6.7%, rising from 549,555 units in 2025 to 761,303 units in 2030. The latest industrial robots report from […]
Universal Robots hosts Food & Beverage Masterclass
The Food & Beverage Masterclass, hosted by Universal Robots in June, 2026 at Riseholme Park in Lincoln, brought together industry professionals for a practical and engaging half-day event focused on end of line automation with collaborative robots (cobots). Designed to give attendees a clear understanding of how automation can be successfully implemented in food and […]
Cobot shipments will more than double by 2030
The collaborative robot market is entering a phase of sustained but uneven growth. Interact Analysis‘ latest Collaborative Robots – 2026 report points to a market that is maturing in some respects, particularly pricing, but volatile in terms of regional and application demand. Collaborative robot shipments reached nearly 58,000 units in 2025, having grown 14.5% over […]
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Gourmet-food-maker automates packaging process
Rockwell Automation has announced that Cranswick, one of Britain’s leading manufacturers of premium gourmet foods, has commissioned a new robotic end-of-line pick-and-place system using autonox Robotics. Every year, Cranswick produces millions of “pigs-in-blankets” (sausages wrapped in bacon) for the Christmas market. The final stage of the process – picking the sausages off the conveyor belt […]
Universal Robots hosts Food & Beverage Masterclass
The Food & Beverage Masterclass, hosted by Universal Robots in June, 2026 at Riseholme Park in Lincoln, brought together industry professionals for a practical and engaging half-day event focused on end of line automation with collaborative robots (cobots). Designed to give attendees a clear understanding of how automation can be successfully implemented in food and […]
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, […]
Robotics in 2021: collaboration and mobility
According to a 2020 survey by Mckinsey Global, COVID-19 has caused companies to accelerate the digitalisation of their internal operations by three to four years. The surge in digital uptake will propel the robotics industry forwards, shaping its contribution to businesses in 2021. Here, Stewart Goulding, managing director at precision drive system supplier EMS, explores […]