Preventing unauthorised robot cell access
By January 6, 2025 Read More →

Preventing unauthorised robot cell access

In manufacturing environments, unauthorised access can expose personnel to hazards and disrupt operational efficiency. Therefore, it is important to ensure that only authorised personnel can perform specific tasks. To address these challenges, one of the UK’s largest steelmakers implemented the FRANK system from Fortress Safety at one of its facilities where cold rolling and galvanising […]

Zebra Technologies to acquire Photoneo
By January 6, 2025 Read More →

Zebra Technologies to acquire Photoneo

Zebra Technologies has announced it intends to acquire Photoneo, a leading developer and manufacturer of 3D machine vision solutions. The 3D segment of the machine vision market is the fastest growing, and this acquisition will further accelerate Zebra’s presence in the category. By combining Photoneo’s 3D machine vision solutions with Zebra’s advanced sensors, vendor-agnostic software […]

Posted in: All News, Vision
Minimum effort, maximum safety
By December 19, 2024 Read More →

Minimum effort, maximum safety

Wieland Electric presents the latest generation of highly efficient safety light grids and safety light curtains. The importance of occupational safety grows in modern industrial and logistical environments as machines and systems become more complicated. Against this backdrop, Wieland Electric introduces its next generation of safety light curtains and safety light grids, which complement the […]

Posted in: All News, Safety
Machine guard safety design and manufacture
By December 19, 2024 Read More →

Machine guard safety design and manufacture

Since 1972 Mechan Controls has been leading the way in design and innovation for machine guarding safety products. Mechan has an extensive range of non-contact safety products, including magnetic, coded magnetic, and uniquely coded RFID and OSSD safety switches. Over the past two decades, Mechan Controls has been investing in researching and developing various types […]

Posted in: All News, Safety
Robot takes over the grape harvest
By December 18, 2024 Read More →

Robot takes over the grape harvest

A wine harvester has designed an autonomous ‘steep slope’ harvesting vehicle with igus energy chains. Christmas means friends, food and, for many, a few drinks. White wine is the most popular alcoholic beverage in the UK and we consume about £12bn of alcohol in the four weeks leading up to Christmas. To keep supplying wine, […]

Posted in: Cable Management, Igus, Web
2025: (Finally) The year of the robots
By December 18, 2024 Read More →

2025: (Finally) The year of the robots

2025 is going to be the year of the industrial robot in the United Kingdom. In fact, we are almost in a place where we could use the phrase ‘perfect storm’ without sounding hackneyed. Richard Stone, who is the founder of Stone Junction, a specialist technical PR agency, and who has been working with robot […]

Posted in: Comment
Global robot shipments projected to decline in 2024
By December 13, 2024 Read More →

Global robot shipments projected to decline in 2024

The industrial robot market is facing a mixed picture over the coming years according to the latest forecast from Interact Analysis, with 2024 set to end on a challenging note. Global robot shipments are projected to decline by 0.2%, following a flat performance in 2023. “Compared with our May 2024 forecast, we have revised our […]

Posted in: All News
Automate UK announces new Chairman
By December 13, 2024 Read More →

Automate UK announces new Chairman

Automate UK has announced the appointment of Peter Williamson as its new Chairman, succeeding James Causebrook, who stepped down this week having reached the end of his two-year term. James’ term was a key period for the organisation incorporating its rebranding, the finessing of its core values and the enhancement of its offering to provide […]

Posted in: All News
Beware the automation skills gap
By December 12, 2024 Read More →

Beware the automation skills gap

Automation can enhance jobs, making them safer and quicker for humans. Nevertheless, reaping these benefits means closing a wide automation skills gap, explains Stephen Hayes, managing director at automation specialist Beckhoff UK. We are routinely told that millions of jobs will be lost to automation, but the real impact depends on how we manage the […]

Posted in: Comment
Robot brings increased versatility to heavy lifting
By December 11, 2024 Read More →

Robot brings increased versatility to heavy lifting

FANUC has introduced the latest model to its extensive robot range, bringing greater versatility to lifting and handling operations. A large and heavy-payload industrial robot, the new M-950iA/500 boasts a wide motion range thanks to its serial-link configuration, meaning no interference of the main J3 arm with the J2 arm due to the absence of […]