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, […]
Festo has expanded its VTUX valve terminal platform with a series of new functions and connectivity options that give machine builders greater design freedom, improved energy efficiency, and enhanced digital capability. Building on the highly cost-effective VTUX base system, the latest additions include advanced communication via Festo AP, new smart vacuum and I/O options, and […]
Festo introduces the OVEH compact vacuum generator, a versatile End of Arm Tooling (EOAT) solution designed to enhance human-robot collaboration (HRC) and other robotic applications. Featuring integrated sensors and precise valve control, the OVEH joins Festo’s growing portfolio of EOAT technologies, which are engineered to meet the evolving demands of modern manufacturing environments. The OVEH […]
End-of-arm tooling, or end effectors, play a crucial role in enhancing productivity through automation. They provide the specific functionality a robot or pick-and-place system requires to interact with its environment and complete tasks effectively. Peter Potters, product manager at Festo, explores the latest developments in automated gripping and handling. There are many reasons for the […]
With its constant determination to make people’s work easier and thus increase efficiency, Festo has shaped an entire era of industrial production, and is now celebrating its 100th anniversary. From the very beginning, Festo has focused on innovation, responsibility, and the future. And it is the people who still make all the difference. “Festo is the […]
Modern manufacturing requires handling solutions capable of managing product diversity, shorter product life cycles and growing levels of product customisation. The HEPP electric gripper from Festo addresses this need for greater flexibility in the gripping of multiple workpieces with adaptable stroke lengths and gripping forces. Its compact design and ability to handle complex movements precisely […]
With the increasing prevalence of cobots in manufacturing, there is a growing need for qualified employees who are able to control and manage cobot systems, some of which are AI-supported, and interact with them in a target-oriented manner. Through Festo LX, these skills can be taught in a practical way using a learning factory with […]
Faster time-to-market, more efficient engineering, more functionality, and higher quality – these are the benefits of a digital twin for machine and system builders. Festo is working hard to equip its automation components with a digital twin – a digital representation in the form of administration shells. The company has joined forces with other international […]
A new near-patient diagnostic testing system which promises to slash the waiting time for results relies on handling gantries and electric axes from Festo for pipetting and dispensing. The recent pandemic taught us that rapid and reliable tests at low cost are key to future prevention and control of transmissible diseases. High throughput testing for […]
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 […]
STEMMER IMAGING launches new digital store
STEMMER IMAGING announces the launch of SIS-TA, Smart Industry Store – Technology Access, a newly established subsidiary designed to address the growing demand for fast, transparent, and highly efficient procurement processes within industrial automation. Launched officially on 1 June, SIS-TA introduces a fully digital and transactional sales platform for smart industry components, strategically expands STEMMER […]
Strong growth forecast for cobot shipments
Shipments of collaborative robots (cobots) are predicted to grow at an average annual rate of 17.3% from 2025 to 2030. According to the latest market report from Interact Analysis, shipments will almost double over the forecast period to 128,918 units. This follows a positive 2025, with shipments of cobots increasing 14.5% to approximately 57,000 units […]
FANUC launches 11kg collaborative welding robot
FANUC has announced the European launch of its CRX-3iA collaborative robot, the lightest and smallest model in the CRX portfolio to date. With a total weight of just 11kg, FANUC’s latest offering is compact, portable, intuitive and precise, making it ideal for welding applications. Addressing growing demand in sectors such as shipbuilding and steel construction, […]
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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 […]
Automation can drive UK manufacturing forward
Representatives of UK manufacturing gathered in force in June to mark the centenary of industrial automation specialist Festo. The event, held at Festo GB’s Innovation Centre in Northampton, was an ideal opportunity for industry organisations, customers, suppliers and employees to discuss how automation will shape British manufacturing in the future. Guest speakers included John Pearce, […]