Programming robots to pick up particular objects and move them around is commonplace, but when those objects vary in size or shape, robots tend to get clumsy. But new robotic grasp technology developed by researchers at the University of Birmingham could help to change that. The research, which provides a way of ‘teaching’ robots to […]
Control of Europe’s most powerful non-military laser, plus a six-axis test piece handling robot and multiple points of distributed I/O at a new laser-based R&D centre is based on a Mitsubishi Electric iQ-controller. The laser-based research and development cell has been installed at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Ansty, West Midlands, to help keep […]
Pacepacker Services is inviting anyone working in handling foods or packaging goods to join them for an educational event on 17 June to see a wide range of pick and place robots in action. Hosted at the company’s Essex facility, the event will highlight six different robots, including food grade systems, in real-world applications. Including […]
A workcell measuring just 0.8 by 1 metre, with an ABB IRB 120 robot hanging upside-down from the ceiling, is used at global contact lens manufacturer CooperVision’s R&D facility in Southampton. The cell provides a reduced cycle time of 30 percent by enabling the faster transfer of contact lenses between the moulding and curing processes. […]
Handling and assembly robots are continually pushing the performance envelope in terms of load, speed and reach, and that places particular requirements on cable management. To meet these requirements in self-supporting applications, Murrplastik has introduced a new range of cable drag chains, with a one-piece design that is robust, easy to install and inexpensive. Murrplastik […]
Using the Sydney Harbor Bridge as an example, Australian specialists have highlighted how service robots will soon revolutionize how steel structures are serviced. The robust lightweight robotic systems are planned to go into serial production at the end of 2014. At their core is a lightweight arm designed by SCHUNK, the competence leader for clamping […]
Pacepacker Services has expanded its Technical Department to support the growing demand for robotics within the food, bulk solids and aggregate industries. The move comes hot on the heels of the company’s 20+ new pick and place robot option launch at Foodex 2014. The appointment of two new engineers increases Pacepacker’s engineering manpower and further solidifies their […]
FANUC has realigned its UK divisions under one brand – FANUC UK Limited. This move allows the company to deliver a more integrated approach to automation solutions while becoming a smarter and more efficient partner to its customers. The rebrand, effective immediately, integrates FANUC’s three core UK businesses – FANUC ROBOTICS, FANUC FA and FANUC […]
With a maximum stroke of 3mm, the Schunk EGP 25-speed mechatronic gripper only takes 0.03 seconds for its fingers to close, which Schunk reckons gives it the fastest stroke to closing time ratio. This offers optimal pre-requisites for minimal cycle times. Claimed to be the smallest electric gripper with integrated electronics on the market, 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 […]
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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 opens up job opportunities
By 2030, it is reckoned that a third of British jobs will be automated. With experts suggesting that we can expect change on a scale akin to the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, the process of integrating robotics into the workplace has already begun and the next 10 to 20 years will see a major […]