New i4H SCARA robots from Omron are optimised for ESD and cleanroom environments for example in digital and automotive industries, such as semiconductor manufacturing. Omron says the i4H SCARA robots are the perfect solution for industrial automation applications that require heavy payload handling together with precision and speed. The latest i4H SCARA ESD (electrostatic discharge) […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Flexible industrial automation solutions from Delta
Delta showcased its comprehensive portfolio of industrial automation solutions at Hannover Messe 2026, highlighting how its advanced drives, HMI panels, and controller solutions enable smarter manufacturing by improving energy efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability. At the same time, Delta ensures robust protection for customers across a wide range of industries, from machinery and food and beverage […]
Intelligent automation for laboratory workflows
Beckhoff UK will exhibit at London Lab Live at ExCeL London from May 6-7, 2026, where it will demonstrate how PC-based control can help pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers build more flexible sample and product handling processes. A key attraction on the stand will be a live demonstration combining Beckhoff’s XTS intelligent transport system with a […]
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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 […]
Futureproofing laboratories with cobots is easy
Barry Weller, robotics product manager at Mitsubishi Electric, looks at the benefits of implementing collaborative robots and how easy they are to integrate into existing laboratories. Automated R&D and testing laboratories where cobots work alongside operators are no longer a vision of the future, but rather a reality of the present. Whether they are used […]