As the efficiency of robot applications generally increases, the closer human and machine are able to work together. Static safeguards are increasingly reaching their limits. The trend is moving away from full enclosures for robot cells in favour of human-robot collaborations (HRC), which manage without guards where possible, but still guarantee operator safety. In practice, […]
Friendly and likeable. Invisible when not needed. On call around the clock. The butler of the future – called “Care-O-bot 4″ – was developed by the Frauenhofer IPA in Stuttgart, and celebrates its world premiere at the Schunk Expert Days on Service Robotics. The modular design of Care-O-bot 4 allows diverse configurations and application scenarios. […]
In this month’s podcast we look at market prospects for robotics in the automotive industry, the suitability of robots for low volume processes, and the industrial robots that will be showcased at the Hannover Fair in April. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/193168468" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
The key focus at Schnunk’s robotics ‘Expert Days’ event this year will be service robotics, with the event highlighting technical, economic and political imperatives at its headquarters in Lauffen from 25-26 February 2015. The market for service robotics is rapidly growing and according to the International Robotics Association (IFR), about 21,000 service robots were sold […]
Following a recent surge in enquiries from food packers for versatile palletisers, FANUC is working with automation specialists Festo and Pacepacker to develop systems which can handle bags, boxes, crates, trays and slip sheets by means of a single robot arm! “Food packers with space and budget constraints are looking for compact palletising systems capable […]
The Schunk EGL 70 mechatronic parallel gripper combines power and intelligence: with variable gripping force between 50 and 600N, the company says it is one of the most powerful and flexible mechatronic grippers on the market and was specifically developed for industrial applications. Since the finger position, closing speed, and gripping force are freely programmable […]
As the robotics community comes to recognise the potential for productivity improvements offered by alternative guarding strategies, Leuze Electronic has announced a new series of safety laser scanners – the RSL 400 series – that have been designed to offer extended functionality, greater versatility, and simple configuration via Bluetooth and Ethernet. The RSL 400 series […]
A robot systematically goes about its business on the rooftop of the John Deere European Technology Innovation Centre – in summer and in winter, in rain, heat, cold or snow. A debilitating outdoor mission that only one robot manufacturer had the confidence to take on, namely Stäubli. Headquartered in the United States, John Deere is […]
A new report from Visiongain Global looks at market prospects for industrial robots, processes and technologies in vehicle production from 2014 to 2024. Visiongain expects the automation and robotics in automotive manufacturing to reach a market value of $13.66bn in 2014. Visiongain says the period from 2014 to 2024 going to be challenging for the […]
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 […]
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 […]
Cobot completes one millionth PCB quality check
Hanover Displays, a UK-based manufacturer of passenger information systems for the public transport sector, has reached a major manufacturing milestone: the completion of its 1,000,000th automated quality test of printed circuit boards (PCBs) using Techman collaborative robots from LG Motion. The automation programme began in 2018, when Hanover introduced its first collaborative robot to improve […]
UR and Scale AI launch imitation learning system
Universal Robots (UR) unveiled the UR AI Trainer at GTC 2026 in Silicon Valley. Developed in collaboration with Scale AI, the AI Trainer marks a tectonic shift as robots move from pre-programmed applications to fully AI-driven tasks. These systems are powered by robust data generated in AI training cells where robots imitate humans. “Our customers, ranging from […]
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 […]
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 […]
Automation payback – 10 tips for achieving a 12 month ROI
Providers of automation equipment regularly talk around how their machines deliver optimum performance, boost workplace efficiency and increase output. All good stuff. However, for most, if not all customers, the return on investment (ROI) figures can be a real deal breaker. Richard Gladwin, Technical Director at award-winning system integrator Pacepacker Services offers 10 powerful tips […]