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 […]
Acrovision is an experienced integrator of industrial barcode reading and camera vision inspection systems and have expanded their automation solutions to include collaborative robots. The company is beginning to see that cobots are having quite the revolutionary effect on vision systems. The company’s cobot offering comes from AUBO Robotics, and Acrovision is the sole distributor […]
Sick has launched a configurable, plug-and-play 3D detection sensor based on its Visionary-T range of industrial 3D imaging cameras, harnessing the imaging power of Sick’s single-snapshot Time-of–Flight (TOF) technology for a range of detection and collision warning duties. With on-board processing, the Visionary-T DT sensor can be easily configured for a variety of applications to […]
To celebrate the sale of 25,000 cobots worldwide, Universal Robots is giving away its first and only Gold Edition cobot, shipped free of cost, to the lucky customer who orders the 25,000th cobot. With its joints painted in a rich, gold-coloured finish, this Gold Edition cobot is a refreshing take on Universal Robots’s iconic blue […]
Factories populated by autonomous vehicles delivering parts and sub-assemblies across the shop floor, robots working alongside human operators to assemble customised products – all scheduled automatically by live orders placed online. While this is a utopian vision of manufacturing for many and there are certain industry sectors where the journey to smart manufacturing is a […]
Robot tax? A tax on robotics is as absurd an idea as a tax on pencils. As Britain’s political parties discuss a potential tax on automation and robotics, Nigel Smith, managing director of Toshiba Machine partner, TM Robotics, explains why slowing down the machine economy would lead to a productivity disaster. The world’s first robot […]
According to figures from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), global sales of robotics increased in 2016 by 18% in value and 16% in volume compared to 2015. Patrick Schwarzkopf, managing director of VDMA Robotics and Automation, sees enormous economic and social potential: “It is not a coincidence that robotics and automation are booming. They […]
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 […]
As industry today strives for more efficiency, increased output and reduced costs, Motion Control Products has introduced the Elfin series of collaborative robots to support the automation procedures associated with repetitive tasks. The Elfin robot arm system integrates the motors, harmonic gearboxes, brakes, feedback devices/sensors, drives and cables into a compact structure. This achieves high […]
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 […]
Cost-effective robotic automation products
Mouser Electronics announces a distribution agreement with igus, a global leader in industrial and automation products. With over 60 years of design experience and a strong reputation for quality, igus offers a range of technically advanced “motion plastics” designed for Industry 4.0 and 5.0. The igus product portfolio includes flexible cables, robotic components, motor control […]
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 […]
New off-the-shelf and modular palletisers
End-of-line palletising is a task commonly automated across a range of industries, due to bottlenecks and the risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI) to workers. RARUK Automation can now offer two simple approaches to palletising automation, from partner Robotiq. RARUK Automation is the exclusive UK representative for Robotiq, a Canadian manufacturer of end-of-arm tooling and […]
Customised robotics and automation systems: Astech Projects is an award-winning provider of advanced automated solutions. We work with clients worldwide to design and build robotics and automation systems that meet
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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 […]
BitFlow predicts growth in vision-guided robotics
As the plant floor has become more digitally connected, the relationship between robots and machine vision has merged into a single, seamless platform, setting the stage for a new generation of more responsive vision-driven robotic systems. BitFlow, a global innovator in frame grabbers used in industrial imaging, predicts vision-guided robots will be one of the […]