Why it pays UK food manufacturers to automate
By February 26, 2015 Read More →

Why it pays UK food manufacturers to automate

Food and drink manufacturers are this week backing calls to boost UK food production following reports that the nation’s self sufficiency is on the slide and within a generation over half of the UK’s food will be imported. Dennis Allison (pictured right), managing director of Pacepacker Services, explains why it pays UK food producers to […]

Robot safety functions mean homing once is enough
By February 25, 2015 Read More →

Robot safety functions mean homing once is enough

With SafeMOTION Release 1.9, B&R has updated the robot safety functions for the ACOPOSmulti servo drive family. In addition to two new functions – Remanent Safe Position (RSP) and Safely Limited Acceleration (SLA) – this update also introduces machine options for SafeMOTION parameters and improves both system availability and user-friendliness in applications where robot safety […]

Posted in: All News, B&R, Control, Safety
New platform for Universal Robots accessories and peripherals
By February 24, 2015 Read More →

New platform for Universal Robots accessories and peripherals

Need a gripper, effector, accessory or peripheral for your Universal Robot? URCaps is a platform where distributors and integrators can present accessories that run successfully in UR robot applications at end users’ facilities. Universal Robots says that Caps are to robots, what apps are to smartphones: useful accessories, hardware and software extending the capabilities of UR […]

Food industry is at a robotics tipping point
By February 24, 2015 Read More →

Food industry is at a robotics tipping point

In the last 12 months there has been a noticeable uptake in robotics in the food processing sector. Although way behind the rest of the EU and US markets in terms of sales, global food security, volatile commodity prices and the much reported grocery price wars are all driving manufacturers towards the same conclusion; efficiency […]

Blue laser profile scanner for challenging targets
By February 21, 2015 Read More →

Blue laser profile scanner for challenging targets

Micro-Epsilon UK has launched a range of 2D/3D laser profile sensors (laser line scanners) that operate using blue (violet) laser technology rather than red. The special characteristics of the blue wavelength laser light make the scanners suitable for a wide range of high precision profile and dimensional measurements on a variety of materials including shiny […]

Robots help to reduce manufacturing costs
By February 17, 2015 Read More →

Robots help to reduce manufacturing costs

ITW Imagedata is a specialist manufacturer of film ribbons and consumables for the global card industry. When it needed a new printer ribbon assembly machine for its highest volume products, it turned to Automation Consultancy GB Innomech. Seamlessly integrated into ITW’s existing production line, the new spool pairing and assembly machine is already helping the […]

SafeROBOTICS opens up food and beverage applications
By February 14, 2015 Read More →

SafeROBOTICS opens up food and beverage applications

With their SafeROBOTICS functions, B&R says its controllers open the way for new solutions for cooperation between humans and robots. These solutions built on SafeROBOTICS will be the focal point of B&R’s stand at the Anuga FoodTec trade fair in Cologne, Germany, 24-27 March. Pictured right: B&R will present SafeROBOTICS solutions at Anuga FoodTec 2015. […]

Mapping emotions for collaborative robots
By February 12, 2015 Read More →

Mapping emotions for collaborative robots

For reasons of safety, industrial robots tend to be segregated from humans, which can restrict the types of tasks that robots perform. This has led robot technologists to search for solutions to set robots free from their cages. If this can be achieved, the combination of dexterity and problem-solving skills of humans along with precision […]

Robotics will drive surge in manufacturing productivity
By February 10, 2015 Read More →

Robotics will drive surge in manufacturing productivity

Research from Boston Consulting Group predicts that by 2025, adoption of advanced robots will boost productivity by up to 30% in many industries and lower total labour costs by 18% or more in countries such as South Korea, China, the US, Japan, and Germany, The BCG research indicates that the use of advanced industrial robots […]

Posted in: All News, Comment
The growth of collaborative robotics
By February 10, 2015 Read More →

The growth of collaborative robotics

In this month’s podcast we look at the growth of collaborative robotics, investigate why it is essential to invest in robotic automation, and look at how use of robots will boost productivity by 30%. We also highlight a new seminar on robotic safety for integrators. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/193152270" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

Posted in: Podcasts, Safety