With Mitsubishi Electric having written a white paper looking at robotics in the pharmaceutical sector, solutions manager David Bean highlights how industrial automation can improve the environmental footprint of pharmaceutical manufacturing activities. Smart pharmaceutical manufacturing can do more than drive up productivity. It can transform the lives of patients by providing access to high-quality medicines […]
Packaging and Automation specialist CME has won an export order to supply a robotic pre-roll packaging system into the cannabis sector in Canada. This flexible stand-alone system will use two SCARA robots to pick up pre-rolled cannabis joints, which are presented in a random fashion on a vibratory feeding system. The products are then transferred […]
ABB is expanding its FlexPicker Delta robot portfolio with the IRB 365. With five axes and 1.5kg payload, the IRB 365 is both flexible and claimed to be the fastest in its class for reorientating packaged lightweight products. Responding to the rise in e-commerce and growing demand for shelf ready packaged goods, the IRB 365 […]
TLM Laser’s Andy Toms looks at combining robotics with the laser marking process to achieve flexibility within a UDI compliance marking environment. In order to comply with UDI regulations, a permanent UDI code must be applied to a wide range of medical devices, surgical instruments, and implants. Laser marking has become the prime technology for […]
Universal Robots partnered with integrator Olympus Technologies to deliver a new automated solution for E&O Laboratories, the UK’s largest privately owned manufacturer of ready-to-use culture media. Due to the delicate nature of E&O Laboratories’ products, Olympus Technologies chose Universal Robots’ collaborative robots (cobots), due to their flexibility and ability to handle a diverse range of […]
Robotics expert Solent Automation has selected remote I/O products from the Weidmüller u-remote range for use in palletisers it has supplied to Zidac Laboratories, a specialist manufacturer of hand hygiene and disinfectant products. The palletisers, which incorporate Fanuc robots, are now in regular service handling large quantities of sanitiser products for the NHS and other […]
The coronavirus crisis has caused unimaginable damage to the personal health and finances of people throughout the world, as well as damaging national economies. However, industry has been able to play a key role in developing solutions that can mitigate the crisis. For instance, the retail, manufacturing and public sectors are increasingly turning to innovative […]
Mechanical grippers – used, for example, for attaching lids to jars – have very restricted ‘closed/open’ dexterity. When a new product is introduced, a new gripper to match that product can take weeks to design and manufacture. So why not print them? Robust 3D printed plastic grippers made of Igus tribo-filaments can be manufactured 85 […]
For manufacturing processes in hygiene-sensitive industries, a particularly low-contaminate environment and technical cleanliness must be ensured. The Flatveyor flat cable system from Kabelschlepp is designed especially for the high requirements of the semiconductor, medical technology, biosciences and pharmaceutical industries. The ‘free-standing’ flat cable system is based on Kabelschlepp’s progressive cable carrier technology. It is a […]
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 […]
ChocoMatic comes to life with igus 7th axis
When customers tap a screen to choose their favourite chocolates, Roose Automation’s ‘ChocoMatic’ robot arm travels along a linear track, selects each chocolate, and delivers them without human intervention. Behind this playful, hygienic automation lies a clever piece of engineering: the 7th axis from igus. Roose Automation wanted to give its robot arm the freedom […]
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 […]
High-payload collaborative robots from OMRON
OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies has expanded its TM S Series collaborative robot portfolio with three new models and a major software update, supporting manufacturers facing labour shortages and increasing requirements for flexible, high-mix production. The TM30S, TM20S and TM6S extend the series’ payload and reach capabilities for applications such as palletising, machine tending and […]
RARUK Automation demos cobot palletising solution
On 11-12 February 2026, Packaging Innovations and EMPACK will be returning to the NEC in Birmingham. RARUK Automation will be showcasing the PE10 Robotiq Palletising Solution designed specifically for Universal Robots collaborative robots (cobots). Palletising is a repetitive and strenuous task that poses risk of injury to workers. For manufacturers looking to increase efficiency, palletising […]
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Automation and robotics in food manufacturing
At Food Manufacturing Live, Jake Norman, managing director at OAL, discusses applications for robotics in food factories to automate the likes of pick and place operations, palletising, case packing and other areas. He highlights the picking of fresh fruit, with a particular demonstration on the stand showing a robot picking up oranges. “We work with […]
Bridging the gap in food and beverage plants
Food and beverage plants increasingly operate with a blend of equipment generations: legacy machinery that has served reliably for years, and newer automation technologies designed to enhance efficiency, traceability and sustainability. This hybrid setup gives manufacturers flexibility to modernise gradually, but it also presents a growing challenge: how to maintain ageing assets while integrating more […]
FANUC robot pairs hygiene with high performance
To meet the growing demand for food and cleanroom applications, FANUC has unveiled the latest model in its LR Mate industrial robot range. The compact and powerful LR Mate 10-11A Food/Clean has a 10kg payload and is compliant with ISO 4 Class cleanrooms. This makes it ideal for use in highly controlled environments across sectors […]
Robots change the culture in pharma manufacturing
Stäubli’s Simon Jenkins looks at how the advent of robots designed for operation within primary pharmaceutical manufacturing areas are revolutionising a number of production processes. Robots have been an essential part of many manufacturing processes for decades; however, the pharmaceutical sector has historically been slower in adopting robot systems. Look closely at the processes and […]