Using an Omron delta robot with vision system technology, Applied Automation used a robot challenge as part of a demo cell to launch a new range of conveyors at PPMA 2015. The demonstration introduced the Carryline flexible plastic chain conveyor, with the spiral conveyor featuring in a machine set-up with a robot spelling challenge. The […]
A demonstration robot cell on the FANUC stand at the PPMA show highlighted how packaging companies can enjoy the best of both worlds of optimised productivity combined with the highest levels of operator safety. Completely open on two sides, the cell combined FANUC’s Dual Check Safety (DCS) technology with a safety scanner and safety camera. […]
In response to rising retailer demand for mixed product trays, FANUC has collaborated with integrator Pacepacker Services to engineer a first-of-its-kind robotic pot swap tray loading system. A demonstration cell was on show at PPMA, swapping pots between cardboard trays and featuring FANUC’s fenceless DCS safety technology. The robotic pick and place unit combines FANUC’s […]
On paper, the concept of automating vertical tray packing sounds relatively straightforward. However, even if the packs are presented uniformly to a robot with a vacuum end-effector, the shortcoming will always be ‘how do you get the last pack into the tray?’ The Shingle Tray Loader (STL) designed by Pacepacker Services solves this problem. The […]
A FANUC M410iC/185 universal palletising robot has been installed in the UK at pulse processor Askew and Barrett, where it has helped to boost productivity by 15-20% and eliminated a potential health and safety risk factor by automating a manual palletising operation. Askew and Barrett sources pulses from key agricultural merchants and then sorts, cleans […]
Askew & Barrett sources pulses from key agricultural merchants and then sorts, cleans and grades them at its processing plant in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The pulses are bagged into 12.5kg and 25kg paper sacks and 25kg woven polypropylene (WPP) sacks, before being palletised and transported to food manufacturers and retailers at home and abroad. Pictured right: […]
Comau has introduced a new high-speed, 6-axis articulated robot featuring a payload of 3kg and a reach of just 630 mm. The third robot within the award-winning Racer family, Racer3 is Comau’s response to the growing market demand for fast, cost-effective robotic automation within small to medium-sized enterprises and emerging countries. With a streamlined design […]
There have not been that many robots used in food processing industries to date but we are on the cusp of a sea change, says Chris Evans, Marketing & Operations Group Manager at Mitsubishi Electric Europe BV Automation Systems Division. Five years from now they will be very much the norm. Modern food processing industries […]
A successful UK factory trial involving a FANUC M-10iA series robot and a novel vacuum gripper technology has proved that it is possible to pick and place sweetcorn cobs at speeds of 180 packs per minute. Besides providing proof of principle that robotics can be employed to handle this challenging product, the trial demonstrated that […]
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 […]
igus introduces new humanoid robot
Humanoid robots are beginning to support industries in various ways, but what do they really bring to the table? Motion plastics specialist, igus is offering its first humanoid robot, ‘Iggy Rob’. According to estimates, 20 million humanoid robots could be in use in industry by 2030. The demand for this technology is increasing rapidly among […]
igus introduces new SID1 robotic dog
Robot dogs are being used for a variety of tasks, ranging from preserving heritage sites to assisting in manufacturing plants. igus has introduced its own quadruped robot, the SID1 bionic robot. Advancements in robotic dogs designed for surveillance and security purposes are showcasing the rapid development and deployment of technology. These quadruped robots are equipped […]
RARUK Automation to offer collaborative 7th axis
Leading automation distributor, RARUK Automation, has announced a new partnership with Thomson, a Regal Rexnord Brand. The global leader in mechanical motion technology recently launched the Movotrak CTU (cobot transfer unit). RARUK Automation, known for supplying Universal Robots collaborative robots (cobots), can now offer Movotrak CTU as a complimentary product to its customers. The Movotrak […]
Live pick-and-pace demo at MachineBuilding.Live
For 2025, a key attraction at MachineBuilding.Live is the expanded number of Action Areas where leading experts from across the machine building and factory automation spectrum will be providing live demonstrations of their latest technologies and innovations. The LG Motion Action Area will showcase a live precision pick-and-place demonstration in an industrial automation setting. Visitors […]
Cobot boosts out-of-hours productivity at EMS
Based in Dorset, Electro Mechanical Systems (EMS) is a supplier of small DC motors and linear actuators. Equipped with the latest CNC machine tools and a dedicated gear cutting suite, EMS manufactures bespoke actuation systems for a range of industries. In order to boost output and keep production running after working hours, EMS has deployed […]
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
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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 […]
Automation and robotics for brewing and beverage
ABB and its machine and factory automation business, B&R Industrial Automation, will exhibit brewery and beverage technologies together at drinktec 2025, the world economic summit for the beverage and liquid food industry, giving visitors a chance to see how ABB technologies combine to optimise operations across the full production cycle. Spanning process control, adaptive manufacturing […]
Cobot sparkles in food factory cleaning solution
Samey Robotics and Rbot9 have chosen the FANUC CRX-10iA/L collaborative robot to power a game-changing cleaning system they have jointly developed for food factories. Named VOTTA, inspired by the Icelandic word for ‘certify’ and echoing the sound of ‘Þvotta’ (‘washing’), the system offers overhead, automated cleaning of large-scale areas without bulky structures or layout changes. […]
Getting the best out of Total Cost of Ownership
It’s an unfortunate fact that UK manufacturers – particularly within the food industry – stall on investing in robotics and automation. Investing in equipment – which for some high-spec, fully automatic turnkey lines can cost almost as much as the UK’s average house price – can bring out the fear of the unknown in many […]