Selective integration of industrial robots is a solution accelerator for automation specialists working in the pharmaceuticals sector, from drug manufacturing to pharmacy automation, say experts at Yamaha Factory Automation. Pharmaceutical manufacturing is intensively automated to meet practical and financial targets. Throughput must be high and errors low to ensure profitability. Another advantage is that removing […]
What are the options when it comes to automated palletising and the differences between traditional industrial robot palletising and cobot palletising? Reeco managing director Lel Rees explains that robot palletising has been a crucial part of the manufacturing industry for decades. These industrial robots are designed to perform repetitive tasks with precision and speed, making […]
Introducing affordable-cost robots to augment human skills can increase the speed and quality of production, say the experts at Yamaha. Automation continues to transform numerous industries, raising productivity by improving both the production rate and quality. Ultimately, more good units are produced. However, many businesses value human skills such as dexterity and visual acuity for […]
Education, expertise and sustainability are the key to the future of automation, says Oliver Selby, head of sales at Fanuc UK. According to ONS data, almost one fifth of all workers in the UK manufacturing industry is aged 55 or over. Less than 10% are aged between 16 and 24. Over the next decade, 20% […]
Stephen Hayes, managing director at automation and control technology specialist Beckhoff UK, explores the benefits of integrating robots into a full manufacturing environment to unlock improved efficiency and productivity. Several components of a smart factory need to be integrated together in order for it to run effectively and efficiently. However, with many robots added once […]
Good planning and strong partners help SMEs overcome hurdles in automation, says Peter Lange, business development manager for robotics at Omron. Collaborative robots, also known as cobots, are enjoying great popularity because they make it possible to automate time-consuming and resource-intensive tasks. The global market for collaborative robots is currently estimated at around $1.2 billion. […]
From batteries to burgers, fast scanning is finding new inspection applications, as Paul Wilson, managing director of Scorpion Vision, explains. Tech advancements such as sophisticated sensor technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and faster microprocessors are conspiring to make line-scan camera technology a compelling option in a host of new areas. Inline quality control of web printing […]
While the information to implementation gap for robotics can be pretty significant, it is certainly closing fast, as the experts at LG Motion explain. Businesses are bearing the brunt as the UK economy battles to contain various pressures both at home and abroad. A weak pound, higher interest rates, increased energy costs, supply-chain issues and […]
The UK remains the ninth largest manufacturing nation in the world, with a £183bn output. But our seat at the top table is looking precarious as a result of our slow adoption of industrial automation, says Tom Bouchier, managing director of Fanuc UK The UK has a strong and proud manufacturing history and, for a […]
Motion plastics and low-cost automation at MACH 2026
igus returns to MACH with a comprehensive range of engineering innovations designed to improve machine reliability, reduce downtime and deliver long‑term cost savings for manufacturers across all industry. With the UK operation based in Northampton, igus develops lubrication‑free motion plastics that replace traditional metal components, increasing performance while eliminating the need for grease and maintenance. […]
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 […]
Automating with robotics at MachineBuilding.South
Industry commentators agree that UK manufacturers will need to increase their investment in robotics if they are to keep up with international competition. At MachineBuilding.South you can find out how, with numerous exhibits from robotics, control, automation and safety specialists. LG Motion (Stand 46) will be showcasing Techman Robot (TM Robot) collaborative robots at MachineBuilding.South with […]
Annual robot shipments to top 760k units in 2030
The industrial robot industry saw 5.1% growth in 2025, following a contraction of -2% in 2024, Interact Analysis reports. The market is now forecast to record steady growth out to 2030, at an average annual rate of 6.7%, rising from 549,555 units in 2025 to 761,303 units in 2030. The latest industrial robots report from […]
Universal Robots hosts Food & Beverage Masterclass
The Food & Beverage Masterclass, hosted by Universal Robots in June, 2026 at Riseholme Park in Lincoln, brought together industry professionals for a practical and engaging half-day event focused on end of line automation with collaborative robots (cobots). Designed to give attendees a clear understanding of how automation can be successfully implemented in food and […]
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
... Read More »
Gourmet-food-maker automates packaging process
Rockwell Automation has announced that Cranswick, one of Britain’s leading manufacturers of premium gourmet foods, has commissioned a new robotic end-of-line pick-and-place system using autonox Robotics. Every year, Cranswick produces millions of “pigs-in-blankets” (sausages wrapped in bacon) for the Christmas market. The final stage of the process – picking the sausages off the conveyor belt […]
Universal Robots hosts Food & Beverage Masterclass
The Food & Beverage Masterclass, hosted by Universal Robots in June, 2026 at Riseholme Park in Lincoln, brought together industry professionals for a practical and engaging half-day event focused on end of line automation with collaborative robots (cobots). Designed to give attendees a clear understanding of how automation can be successfully implemented in food and […]
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, […]
Reducing the burden of post-processing for AM
The various, often and well-discussed, advantages of Additive Manufacturing (AM) are real. Indeed, Rivelin Robotics exists because the team believes in the broad potential of metal AM to contribute to a more sustainable business model for production as AM processes continue to transition from prototyping to competitive production processes. To achieve this goal, however, ideology […]