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 […]
At a recent food and beverage industry conference hosted by Mitsubishi Electric, Chris Buxton, CEO of the Processing & Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA), highlighted, among other things, the important role of robots. (Pictured) Attendees at the food and beverage conference. UK food prices have risen 12 percent in the last five years, while incomes have fallen […]
The number of robots in UK factories and production plants is growing at an unprecedented rate as the manufacturing sector prepares for an ever-more competitive and globalised future. A seminar organised by Mitsubishi Electric, Cognex Vision and the British Automation and Robot Association looked at developments in the field. The banking collapse and other troubles […]
A newly announced scheme to provide government funding for the automation of industrial processes needs to be carefully managed so that a nationwide strategy of continuous reinvestment develops. This is essential if the UK is to rebuild its manufacturing sector into a cornerstone of the economy. So says Barry Weller, a specialist robot engineer with […]
The UK manufacturing industry faces a plethora of challenges in its efforts to regenerate, but without doubt one of the most significant is the need to operate in high-wage economy yet produce goods that are competitive with those from low-wage regions of the world. Barry Weller of Mitsubishi Electric says that robots have a critical […]
Stirling Paatz of specialist robot integrator and supplier Barr and Paatz warns that companies must automate if they are to compete, or risk going out of business. If news that robot investment is still booming in China, with a 20% increase reported in the latest figures, and that it is expected to install more than […]
ChocoMatic comes to life with igus 7th axis
When customers tap a screen to choose their favourite chocolates, Roose Automation’s ‘ChocoMatic’ robot arm travels along a linear track, selects each chocolate, and delivers them without human intervention. Behind this playful, hygienic automation lies a clever piece of engineering: the 7th axis from igus. Roose Automation wanted to give its robot arm the freedom […]
Cost-effective robotic automation products
Mouser Electronics announces a distribution agreement with igus, a global leader in industrial and automation products. With over 60 years of design experience and a strong reputation for quality, igus offers a range of technically advanced “motion plastics” designed for Industry 4.0 and 5.0. The igus product portfolio includes flexible cables, robotic components, motor control […]
igus makes predictive maintenance simple
Now more than ever, downtime is costly. To combat this, igus developed i.Cee, a smart plastics system that turns passive components into intelligent assets. By analysing data from sensors embedded in energy chains, bearings, and cables, i.Cee enables dynamic service life prediction, real-time alerts, and automated maintenance scheduling. Whether you are running high-speed packaging lines […]
Delta showcases robot solutions at SPS 2025
Delta will showcase its latest industrial automation solutions and collaborative robotics (cobots) at SPS – Smart Production Solutions 2025. A major highlight is the new set of SIL3-certified safety modules with FSoE support to the AX5 platform for distributed safety control for human-machine collaboration in warehouse and logistics, woodworking, packaging, and food and beverage applications. […]
ChocoMatic comes to life with igus 7th axis
When customers tap a screen to choose their favourite chocolates, Roose Automation’s ‘ChocoMatic’ robot arm travels along a linear track, selects each chocolate, and delivers them without human intervention. Behind this playful, hygienic automation lies a clever piece of engineering: the 7th axis from igus. Roose Automation wanted to give its robot arm the freedom […]
Cost-effective robotic automation products
Mouser Electronics announces a distribution agreement with igus, a global leader in industrial and automation products. With over 60 years of design experience and a strong reputation for quality, igus offers a range of technically advanced “motion plastics” designed for Industry 4.0 and 5.0. The igus product portfolio includes flexible cables, robotic components, motor control […]
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FANUC robot pairs hygiene with high performance
To meet the growing demand for food and cleanroom applications, FANUC has unveiled the latest model in its LR Mate industrial robot range. The compact and powerful LR Mate 10-11A Food/Clean has a 10kg payload and is compliant with ISO 4 Class cleanrooms. This makes it ideal for use in highly controlled environments across sectors […]
ChocoMatic comes to life with igus 7th axis
When customers tap a screen to choose their favourite chocolates, Roose Automation’s ‘ChocoMatic’ robot arm travels along a linear track, selects each chocolate, and delivers them without human intervention. Behind this playful, hygienic automation lies a clever piece of engineering: the 7th axis from igus. Roose Automation wanted to give its robot arm the freedom […]
OMRON robots automate poultry packing line
CP Foods UK is a major poultry producer supplying leading retailers, manufacturers and foodservice operators across the UK. With operations rooted in food safety, quality, and adaptability, the company constantly seeks ways to respond to shifting retailer and consumer demands. In its UK facilities, CP Foods UK prepares and packages chicken products for a dynamic […]
Growth in robot sales predicted to continue
After strong recent growth in the number of UK robot installations, one company is predicting that the boom will continue for the rest of the year and beyond. Barry Weller, a robot and automation specialist with Mitsubishi Electric, says: “Mitsubishi sales are twice what they were this time last year and our forward orders are […]