A collaboration between Festo and PCE Automation has helped recyclable packaging expert Frugalpac achieve the high throughputs and precision assembly necessary to meet increased demand for its innovative paperboard Frugal Bottle. Frugal Bottle is the world’s first paper wine and spirits bottle. Its innovative design comprises an outer made from 94% recycled paperboard with an […]
Omron says it has developed the world’s first automation architecture for personalisation at scale. The Robotic Integrated Controller (RIC) makes made-to-order mass production commercially viable for FMCG businesses for the first time, giving brand owners the power to put consumer preferences at the core of their strategy. Think of a variety pack or a selection […]
New servo technology from Festo is helping Grolsch to put the iconic swing tops on its bottles of lager. The ‘swing-top transfer unit’ was custom-designed by Festo in conjunction with system integrator MCA Linear Motion Robotics and is installed at the Grolsch Enschede plant in The Netherlands. The ‘swing-top transfer unit’ provides approximately 3,800 swing-top […]
Brillopak’s UniPAKer crate loading robot for fresh produce, meat, fish and ready meals factories has won the Food Processing Robotics and Automation Award at a prestigious live event hosted by comedian Patrick Monaghan at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Coventry on 9th September. The judging panel chose four finalists for each of the eight award […]
Andrew Yates, managing director of Endoline Automation, discusses the reasons why the UK lagged behind its global counterparts, how automated end-of-line packaging systems today meets manufacturer demands, and how machinery can be integrated into processing and packing lines quickly to ramp up output. Automation is set to play an increasingly larger role in safeguarding the […]
Omron’s latest industrial robot, the new i4H SCARA is designed to meet the demands of mass customisation, allowing manufacturers to produce high mixes of products at low volume to offer a wider array of goods to people. The i4H SCARA follows the recent release of the i4L light duty SCARA robot. The i4H boasts unique […]
Annual installations of industrial robots more than tripled within ten years (2010-2019) reaching 381 million units in factories around the world. The International Federation of Robotics shows top 5 trends shaping industries around the globe. “The mission to combine traditional production with ´go digital strategies´ puts robots in a pole position,” says Dr Susanne Bieller, […]
RMGroup UK (Rees Machinery Group) has become the first integrator in the UK to be accredited under the RIA/BARA Robot Integrators’ Certification Scheme. The leading automated packaging machinery and service company was awarded (26 January 2021) certified status following a successful audit at their headquarters in Newtown (‘Y Drenewydd’), Wales. It required the integrator to […]
Kent apple producer Adrian Scripps is leading the sector in terms of automation – and Brillopak’s award-winning UniPAKer robotic crate packing cell is the cornerstone of its intrepid approach. Adrian Scripps’ unwaning commitment to automation has been key to building and maintaining its market-leading position as Tesco’s largest apple supplier. Few apple packing facilities have […]
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 […]
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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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 […]
Cobots can lend a helping hand with labour crisis
Labour shortages have reached chronic levels in the food and drink industry. Stuart Coulton, UK market development manager at Omron Industrial Automation, argues that manufacturers can automate their way out of the crisis. Long-held fears that robots might rob human workers of their jobs are finally starting to dissipate with the realisation that there simply […]