Food & Drink

Universal adaptive gripper for faster, gentler picking

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, […]

By March 26, 2026 Read More →
The beverage palletising shift is accelerating

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 […]

By March 18, 2026 Read More →
Robotics, vision and AI combine for dairy processes

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 […]

By March 17, 2026 Read More →
Efficient palletising in the food industry

Efficient palletising in the food industry

Intelligent automation with the Bosch Rexroth VarioFlow plus chain conveyor system and Hitmark Robotics solutions is delivering efficient palletising solutions for the food industry. In the food industry, solutions are in demand that increase efficiency, meet strict hygiene and safety requirements, and enable gentle product transport. Therefore, manufacturers are increasingly investing in modern automation that […]

By March 2, 2026 Read More →
ROBOTICS AWARD 2026 goes to GoodBytz

ROBOTICS AWARD 2026 goes to GoodBytz

Presented annually at HANNOVER MESSE by Deutsche Messe, the ROBOTICS AWARD honours innovative robot assisted solutions in the fields of automation and logistics. This year’s award-winning solution features an advanced robotic kitchen that integrates lightweight, compact industrial robots manufactured by FANUC. The FANUC robots are specifically engineered to meet stringent food processing requirements, incorporating specialised […]

By February 27, 2026 Read More →
Automating the food sector: efficiency in action

Automating the food sector: efficiency in action

The food and beverage industry has been slower to adopt automation than some other areas of manufacturing. Short-term supplier contracts and a reliance on cheap labour have proved obstacles to investment for some food producers, limiting their ability to grow their production capabilities. Fortunately, automation systems incorporating robotics from leading suppliers such as FANUC are […]

By February 12, 2026 Read More →
Robotics and digitalisation in food manufacturing

Robotics and digitalisation in food manufacturing

In this workshop at Food Manufacturing Live, Dr Bhavnita Patel, business development manager at The MTC, explores how automation, robotics and digitalisation are reshaping food manufacturing, unlocking efficiency, improving quality and reducing waste. Bhavnita explains why companies must adopt these technologies now, despite barriers like cost and legacy systems. She looks at where these tools […]

By February 12, 2026 Read More →
RBTX DOBOT partner launch hailed a success

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 […]

By February 9, 2026 Read More →
Automation and robotics in food manufacturing

Automation and robotics in food manufacturing

At Food Manufacturing Live, Jake Norman, managing director at OAL, discusses applications for robotics in food factories to automate the likes of pick and place operations, palletising, case packing and other areas. He highlights the picking of fresh fruit, with a particular demonstration on the stand showing a robot picking up oranges. “We work with […]

By January 16, 2026 Read More →
Bridging the gap in food and beverage plants

Bridging the gap in food and beverage plants

Food and beverage plants increasingly operate with a blend of equipment generations: legacy machinery that has served reliably for years, and newer automation technologies designed to enhance efficiency, traceability and sustainability. This hybrid setup gives manufacturers flexibility to modernise gradually, but it also presents a growing challenge: how to maintain ageing assets while integrating more […]

By December 4, 2025 Read More →