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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Guidetti Technology has integrated Omron collaborative robots (cobots) into its ‘EasyArc’ welding solution. This is used in collaborative applications on small batches of various types of metal carpentry. Based in Modena, Italy, Guidetti has 50 years of experience in the sale, installation and servicing of welding systems. The cobot is being used to streamline repetitive […]
One of the biggest challenges for robotics manufacturers is the perception that the technology is here to take the jobs of humans – but that is simply not the case. Unfortunately, the notion that automation poses a threat to jobs often overshadows the potential benefits of investing in the technology. Here, TM Robotics founder and […]
Fanuc will mark its return to Interplas by giving a UK tradeshow debut to its newest lightweight collaborative robot and celebrating the 25th anniversary of strategic partner and systems integrator, Hi-Tech Automation. Both Fanuc and Hi-Tech have partnered together on a broad portfolio of automation solutions for the plastics industry, over the years, notably but […]
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 […]
Specialist electric vehicle battery manufacturer, Danecca, has invested in two Fanuc collaborative robots to improve the accuracy and repeatability of its heat staking applications following a major customer order. The battery manufacturer, founded in 2018 by ex-Jaguar Land Rover and National Grid engineer Danson Joseph, specialises in battery development, verification and validation, as well as […]
A new first-of-its-kind fully connected factory is applying game-changing technologies – including MiR Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) supplied by RARUK Automation – to help advance the manufacture of the UK’s next-generation combat aircraft system, Tempest. Located at the Warton facility of BAE Systems, the ‘Factory of the Future’ has been designed in such a way […]
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 […]
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 […]
ABB Robotics launches high-speed PoWa cobot family
ABB Robotics is combining the flexibility of cobots with higher payloads and performance, with the launch of its new PoWa cobot family into the rapidly expanding global collaborative robot market, which ABB Robotics estimates will grow by 20 percent annually through to 2028. “Cobots are growing significantly faster than traditional industrial robots, driven by demands […]
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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 […]
Automation helps revolutionise medical device manufacturing
The world created by Industry 4.0 technologies is all about flexible and agile just-in-time manufacturing. These technologies allow companies to effectively address market variability and customer demand by supporting a high level of complexity and customisation as well as delivering the right volume of products at all times. The latter being particularly beneficial to medical […]