This month we look at the issue of programming robots within an Industry 4.0 environment, we highlight a new report that suggests robots are helping to create jobs in the electronics industry, we look at how robots are driving down costs in food manufacturing, and we look at a new, flexible gripping concept. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/161810637″ […]
SICK says that its new ScanningRuler 3D camera technology can boost productivity in robot picking applications. The ScanningRuler’s large field of view enables accurate 3D imaging of stationary objects, boosting the productivity of high-throughput robotics applications and making it easier for robot integrators to achieve volume picking in heavy industrial applications. By combining 3D and […]
Be sure to visit ABB’s stand (F42) at The PPMA Show. Exhibiting with packaging system specialist and ABB system integrator, RM Group UK, ABB will be showcasing key features of its IRB 460 robot, claimed by ABB to be the fastest palletising robot in the world. This robot takes the lead in ABB’s comprehensive palletising suite […]
When an international pharmaceutical company based in Germany needed a flexible handling solution for supplying ready-to-use syringes to its final packing facility, it turned to robot-aided handling specialist Robotronic. The company’s solution was a modular robot cell, built around robots from Mitsubishi Electric. The pharmaceutical industry sets high standards in respect of hygiene, quality and […]
B&R reports that it has expanded its UK operation with the opening of new offices in Manchester. The new facility will serve customers in diverse fields such as renewable energy and the chemical industry, as well as in more established markets such as food and beverage, packaging and plastics. The new office has been opened in […]
Omron’s experts will be on hand at the PPMA Show to put its robotics capabilities in a fuller automation context, in the shape of a Delta pick-and-place robot. “This is a chance for visitors to see a Delta robot in action, but also talk through the benefits of robotics with regard to cost reduction, efficiency, […]
London-based design consultancy RoboFold is using two ABB IRB6400 industrial robots to help architects and designers to explore new ways of bending and forming metal, opening up new possibilities for architectural and furniture design. More usually employed for cast cleaning and pre-machining in metal industry applications, the two IRB6400 robots are used by RoboFold to […]
RA Rodriguez reports that industrial robots, in particular the Universal Robot, are becoming an increasingly important part of its business. By comparison with other robotic equipment on the market, RA Rodriguez says the Universal Robot distinguishes itself as being compatible for tasks that require human interaction, easy to use, reasonably priced and light weight for […]
When an increasingly unreliable label applicator robot at a Flintshire-based paper mill led to a growing number of breakdowns, the company knew it was time to seek a replacement. While the specification for a replacement was presented to a number of robot companies, it was KUKA who were best able to match the brief in […]
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 […]
Cartesian systems provide low cost entry into robotics
Because they are constructed from standard off-the-shelf products, such as belt-drive/ball screw axes, servo-motors, drives and standard grippers, Pacepacker Services says the cost of Cartesian robot solutions can be much lower than traditional five and six axis robots. Since June 2013, Pacepacker Services has been working closely as a technology partner with Festo on twin-axis […]