According to a market research report by Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies entitled Trends in Food Processing Operations, half of the companies surveyed will be increasing their level of automation over the next three to five years. Despite this, many manufacturers admit they don’t know where to start. Here, Nigel Smith, CEO of industrial […]
A new addition to Fanuc’s ARC welding robot range is set to make automated welding more viable for manufacturers with compact floor space, but large workpieces. The ARCMate 100iD/10L can be used to boost the productivity of high-batch production lines, particularly those working with pieces larger than 1,500mm diameter. Its repeatability and quality-control capability make […]
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 […]
Pre-impregnation composite materials – or pre-preg composites as they’re usually known – typically take the form of heavy, floppy sheets that resemble the thick felt used for roofing purposes. Their flexibility and weight means that pre-preg composites are notoriously difficult to handle. When a pattern maker asked Simmatic to devise a reliable way of lifting […]
New from SMAC Moving Coil Actuators is the MGR6 Series Micro Gripper. The SMAC MGR6 Series Micro Gripper has a very low moving mass with two independent axes, and, thanks to a patented Soft-Land routine, is capable of light, controlled forces. It can be used as an end effector on third party robots. The unit […]
In September 2017, VDMA increased its growth forecast for the current year for German robotics and automation from 7% to 11%. The industry is also booming internationally. With this positive outlook and numerous innovations ready to be shown, the world’s leading companies are going to meet at Automatica in Munich from June 19 to 22, […]
A leading specialist in multi-axis machining is leveraging the benefits of Universal Robots supplied by RARUK Automation to load and unload its machine tools. A mix of seven UR5 and UR10 robots have helped Rousant Sherwood maximise the productivity of its workforce by automating repetitive tasks and allowed the company to bid for contracts which […]
The average life expectancy is increasing. Thanks to automated production, more effective and affordable medications and therapies are made available to a wide range of patients. From June 19 to 20, 2018, the leading international trade fair Automatica in Munich will show how economically and efficiently pharmaceutical and medical products can be produced today. The […]
Fanuc UK has introduced its first range of Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA) robots for picking and packing, assembly, and material handling applications. The SR-3iA, which was first unveiled at last year’s International Robot Exhibition (iREX) in Tokyo, is perfectly suited for manufacturers requiring automated, fast assembly within a circular working envelope. The robot […]
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 […]
Application phase for 10th vector award is now open
The application phase of the igus vector award 2026 has begun. Now in its tenth year, a joint initiative is honouring designers worldwide who use high-performance plastic energy chains to create cable guides that set new technological standards, with winners to receive up to 5,000 euros in prize money. The vector award has gained international […]
Powering the factories of the future
The combination of collaborative robotics and in-process digital metrology represents a strategic convergence for the manufacturing industry and factories of the future. On the one hand, collaborative robots make it possible to automate handling and assembly tasks flexibly and safely without the need for physical barriers and, on the other hand, digital metrology integrated into […]
Cobot installed at steering systems manufacturer
Steering systems manufacturer, Pailton Engineering, continues to modernise its manufacturing processes with a new collaborative robot (cobot) at its facility in Coventry. After a successful trial period, the company is installing a FAIRINO FR10 on the induction hardening ball pin cell, where it works alongside existing team members to support production. Designed to work alongside […]
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 […]
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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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Brillopak outlines opportunities with robotics
David Jahn, director at packaging automation specialist Brillopak, examines how robotics can help food manufacturers and packhouses to seize the opportunities presented by disruptive packaging trends. Environmental concerns have been a consideration in packaging development for some years, but events in recent months have brought about a paradigm shift on packaging sustainability. Blue Planet II’s […]