In this month’s podcast we look at market prospects for robotics in the automotive industry, the suitability of robots for low volume processes, and the industrial robots that will be showcased at the Hannover Fair in April. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/193168468" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
A new report from Visiongain Global looks at market prospects for industrial robots, processes and technologies in vehicle production from 2014 to 2024. Visiongain expects the automation and robotics in automotive manufacturing to reach a market value of $13.66bn in 2014. Visiongain says the period from 2014 to 2024 going to be challenging for the […]
In this month’s podcast we look at a report which suggests the global robot population is set to pass two million, and a further report that forecasts the industrial logistics robot market will top $31 billion. We also look at top tips for robotic safety. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/193171840" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]
Accelerating demand for industrial robots is set to continue, with 15% more robots installed in 2014 than in 2013, and forecasts for 12% growth for the next two years. That will see the global robot population in factories top two million by the end of 2017. These are the findings of the International Federation of […]
For spot welding applications where space is limited, either in standalone cells or in densely populated robot cells, and where faster welding speeds are important, Kawasaki Robotics the new B-Series robot. The latest in the company’s spot welding robot range, Kawasaki says the B-Series is a completely new design, built from the ground up. Kawasaki […]
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 […]
An ABB robotic welding cell is enabling agricultural machinery manufacturer Shelbourne Reynolds to dramatically reduce production times for its range of articulated hedge cutting tractor attachments. Handling the several hundred welds entailed in the production of the attachments, the cell has so far cut welding process times by 66 percent compared to the company’s previous […]
Implementing robotic loading and unloading has vastly increased capacity at Ryobi Aluminium Casting UK. Before automating the process, shift performances varied considerably, parts and tooling suffered damage and the bottom line was that the operator performance was setting the takt time, Now it is the robot that works to the programmed takt time. Ryobi Aluminium […]
Honda UK Manufacturing’s Swindon site has recently invested in a Universal Robot from RA Rodriguez that is currently being assessed for a variety of applications. And clearly it attracted sufficient attention to command an important role in the opening ceremony at the company’s Technical Festival in December. Programming a brand new conventional robot to perform […]
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 […]
FANUC launches 11kg collaborative welding robot
FANUC has announced the European launch of its CRX-3iA collaborative robot, the lightest and smallest model in the CRX portfolio to date. With a total weight of just 11kg, FANUC’s latest offering is compact, portable, intuitive and precise, making it ideal for welding applications. Addressing growing demand in sectors such as shipbuilding and steel construction, […]
Extending cobot capabilities for higher payloads
As part of Bosch Rexroth, Kassow Robots continues to push the boundaries of collaborative robotics by expanding the capabilities of collaborative robotics. With the introduction of the KR 1824 and KR 1240, the company enables manufacturers to automate more demanding, higher-payload processes – bridging the gap between traditional industrial and collaborative robots. Designed for seamless […]
Cobot motion and sensing for extended automation
The latest advances in technologies such as sensing, actuation, and perception are enabling cobots to tackle more complex and delicate processes in manufacturing and logistics activities, as the experts at Yamaha Robotics explain. Companies operating factories and warehouses can now choose from a wide variety of robots, ranging from familiar industrial types like cartesian and […]
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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 […]
Advances in robotics for the automotive industry
In an examination of the future challenges in robotics for the automotive industry, Dr Stefan Markus Baginski of BMW sees still a wide range of opportunities for using even more robots in automotive manufacturing. Breathtaking advancements and innovative technological developments in industrial manufacturing have caused a substantial increase in the number of robot installations during […]