The growing importance of automation in British manufacturing has prompted the British Automation and Robot Association (BARA) to bolster its visibility. One of the steps it has taken is to introduce three new council positions to expand resources in its dealings with the Government and industry as well as financial and academic institutions. Two of […]
Gantry robot, positioning, linear motion, speed control, palletising and handling systems are now all part of the comprehensive range of automation solutions from Micromech Systems. These gantry robot and broader automation solutions address applications in a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, packaging and automotive. A Micromech gantry robot can be developed and […]
FANUC’s LR Mate 200-iD robot range has two new additions; the 200iD/4S ideal for integration into confined spaces and the 200iD/7L for high speed handling applications where extra reach is required. Designed with compactness in mind for integration into special purpose machinery, the 200iD/4S has a footprint of 160 x 160 mm and weighs in at […]
Automation technology is proving it can mix effectively and unobtrusively with the heritage craft of barrel manufacturing at Speyside Cooperage in Alloa. Two Kawasaki robots and a purpose designed lathe are being used in the refurbishment process of traditionally built oak barrels. An independent cooperage, Speyside manufactures and refurbishes over 100,000 oak barrels a year […]
RA Rodriguez is pleased to confirm the arrival of a new release of software for the Universal Robot easy programming, even easier. It also introduces new features, including a force mode. Simple programming is one of the key attributes that makes the Universal Robot from RA Rodriguez such a good choice for any manufacturer regardless […]
Engineers, scientists and mathematicians in the Centre for Robotics Research (CoRe) at Kings College London are working on a number of different projects, each designed to take robot technology forward. Their time horizon is 25 years or more; the idea is not so much small scale improvements to existing technologies but the foundation of fundamentally […]
RA Rodriguez says its range of rotaryARM swivel arm modules from IEF Werner can be easily integrated with the company’s linear motion modules to create fast and cost effective automation systems with many advantages over traditional robots. The simple and compact design of this swivel arm module can be complemented by an integrated turning axis […]
ABB’s new PC-based RobotStudio Machine Tending PowerPac and controller-based RobotWare Machine Tending software allow for simulation, validation and optimization to be completed in the 3D virtual world and then transferred directly to the real-world. These new robotic machine tending software solutions deliver flexibility and ease-of-use for applications from die-casting to injection molding and machining. Cycle times, […]
ABB Robotics has launched its GateFramer robotic car body framing system, enabling multiple cars to be produced on the same line, while maintaining short cycle times, high accuracy, high reliability and ease of operation. The technology allows for up to six different car body variants to be framed on the same line by swapping gates […]
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 […]
The challenges of today’s machine building industry
The ramping up of the low wage economies in the machine building sector means that OEMs often feel they are working under the shadow of the threat of cheap imports. In the first of a series of articles, Omron’s Robert Brooks and Karl Walker look at the ‘must-have’ features that will keep UK machine builders […]