In the fight against the coronavirus, speed and close co-operation are required. This is why Senova, a leading German developer and manufacturer of rapid test systems for biomarkers, viruses and microorganisms, decided to use the robotics expertise of Omron to enhance its production process. Previously, the manual production of the tests was very time-consuming. In […]
During automated production of solar cells, compact two-finger grippers transport trays of silicon wafers between operations. To avoid impacts on the wafer’s surfaces, process engineers require reliable confirmation that gripper jaws are fully open before the gripper descends to pick up a tray. Contrinex’s Ultra-miniature inductive proximity sensors, mounted directly above the top faces of […]
Japanese manufacturer Kyushu Sekisui Heim claims to be one of the oldest established manufacturers of new homes using the ‘Unit Construction’ method in Japan, a process by which thousands of housing units of different designs and layouts are made using a modular system. Initially driven by an acute nationwide shortage of suitably trained and qualified […]
Fault-free assembly is ensured, downtime minimised and assembly speed increased by using automated facilities for high volume assembly. Rugged inductive sensors detect the presence and position of equipment or components at each stage to ensure that parts are correctly aligned and ready for the next operation. The sensors must be accurate and responsive. In addition, […]
Schneider Electric has appointed PWR, specialist in automated robotic packaging solutions, as its first ‘Master Robot Partner’. The announcement underlines the importance of the relationship, after many successful robotic packaging projects in the food industry. In recent years, the rise of high-speed, multi-robotic picking and packing lines has led to greater demand for more powerful […]
Where automation and robotic applications require high speed and accuracy the new robust, fast, horizontally articulated Yaskawa Motoman SG-Series Scara Robots are ideal. Features such as a wide range of motion, compact design and internal cabling bring important benefits for when high speed and accuracy is essential in applications such as picking, packing, dispensing and […]
Fanuc has collaborated with Birmingham-based RoboPod to launch the iTend, a turnkey machine-tending cell for its ROBODRILL vertical machining centres. The iTend is a low-footprint, cost-effective automation solution aimed specifically at subcontract manufacturers. At just 850mm x 2500mm, it comprises of a Fanuc M-10iD robot which uses bespoke tooling to automatically take workpieces from a […]
Metsä Wood UK’s head office in Boston, Lincolnshire is just one of many sites across the globe which specialise in providing sustainable, premium-quality wood products for many industries including the construction and industrial sectors. Metsä Wood employs around 1500 people and 2019 sales reached EUR 0.4 billion: its primary products are Kerto LVL (laminated veneer […]
A leading pharmaceutical manufacturer specialising in asthma inhalers has transformed its in-line testing operations thanks to an automated quality control solution developed by Mitsubishi Electric and leading system integrator Optimal Industrial Automation. The innovative system uses two Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arms (SCARA) and system-matched components, such as a MELSEC-iQ platform PLC and MAPS SCADA […]
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 […]
The robot revolution that’s upgrading surgery
Large swathes of industry are implementing powered and robotic applications to ensure high-quality repeatable processes. Hospital and medical professionals are also keen to implement these applications, especially with the current pressure on the medical system. Here, Stewart Goulding, managing director at precision drive system supplier EMS, discusses the rise of robotics in surgery. There are […]