Pacepacker Services has used 3D printing to create a gripper to pick up bottles on the packing line of a global hand hygiene company, as part of a huge automation project that has more than doubled the company’s output. One of the key challenges was the packing line needed to handle up to six different […]
There’s never been a better time for food and drink SMEs to invest in robots for the workplace. Sales and exports are booming, and robots are more powerful than ever. Paul Wilkinson, Commercial & Information Systems Manager at Pacepacker Services, examines the current challenges of the food and drink industry and details how robots can […]
Advancements in collaborative robots, or cobots, are creating a bit of a buzz in manufacturing and the way humans and robots interact safely alongside each other. Yet, food processing, packaging and palletising lines remain largely cobot-free zones. Paul Wilkinson, commercial and information systems manager at Pacepacker Services explains why cobots, which currently account for an […]
The average human arm measures just 63.5 centimetres. This makes placing heavy loads of products into deep food Bulk Display Units (BDUs) challenging and subjects manual handlers to high risk of repetitive strain injuries. Torso twisting and bending to reach into low corners is especially hazardous when repeated throughout the working day. With BDUs being […]
Reprogramming the way a pallet is stacked using the usual robot teach pendants can be a laborious, time consuming, trial and error process. At PPMA 2017, stand C50, automation specialist Pacepacker Services unveils its NEW Pallet+ technology, which, thanks to time saving features including off-line programming, slashes set-up of a new pallet stack layout from […]
New Pallet+ programming technology unveiled by Pacepacker Services is being hailed as one of the biggest technology advances in automated packaging. Bringing about new levels of flexibility and agility, coupled with significant time, energy and cost savings, it could soon make engineer-programming visits a thing of the past for in-house packers. Rather than relying solely […]
The installation of a second-user robotic system by Pacepacker has revolutionised the palletising of artisan loaves for Speciality Breads. Cutting palletising time in half, the robot is keeping up with the bakery’s daily production of 100,000 individual loaves from its brand new state of the art £3million bakery. Speciality Breads produces over 100 different types […]
Winning a large retail contract is a coup for any food manufacturer. However, supermarket price wars and changing food presentations to gain and maintain the interest of consumers, means that many manufacturers are being squeezed out of the market. Paul Wilkinson, business development manager at Pacepacker Services, looks at how automation can help. Today, most […]
There’s been a surge of interest among food suppliers for robotics, observes Paul Wilkinson, business development manager at automation specialist Pacepacker Services. “Shows like MasterChef, Bake Off and celebrity cookery programmes, combined with a desire to lead healthier lives using fresh ingredients, are influencing people to cook everything from exotic cuisines to local produce from […]
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 […]
igus makes predictive maintenance simple
Now more than ever, downtime is costly. To combat this, igus developed i.Cee, a smart plastics system that turns passive components into intelligent assets. By analysing data from sensors embedded in energy chains, bearings, and cables, i.Cee enables dynamic service life prediction, real-time alerts, and automated maintenance scheduling. Whether you are running high-speed packaging lines […]
igus introduces new humanoid robot
Humanoid robots are beginning to support industries in various ways, but what do they really bring to the table? Motion plastics specialist, igus is offering its first humanoid robot, ‘Iggy Rob’. According to estimates, 20 million humanoid robots could be in use in industry by 2030. The demand for this technology is increasing rapidly among […]
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 […]
See automation in action at MachineBuilding.Live
As a result of their popularity at the 2024 event, the number of Action Areas at MachineBuilding.Live 2025 has been increased. On these special stands, leading experts from across the machine building and factory automation spectrum will be providing live demonstrations of their latest technologies and innovations. Many of them will be making their UK […]
Vision system combined with robotics
On stand 163 in the Action Area at MachineBuilding.Live, Visicon will highlight the magic that happens when you combine the latest in machine vision systems with robotics. The combination of vision and robotics enables you to unlock the potential of automation with an affordable and accessible solution. Visicon is an integration partner in the UK […]
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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OMRON robots automate poultry packing line
CP Foods UK is a major poultry producer supplying leading retailers, manufacturers and foodservice operators across the UK. With operations rooted in food safety, quality, and adaptability, the company constantly seeks ways to respond to shifting retailer and consumer demands. In its UK facilities, CP Foods UK prepares and packages chicken products for a dynamic […]
Automation and robotics for brewing and beverage
ABB and its machine and factory automation business, B&R Industrial Automation, will exhibit brewery and beverage technologies together at drinktec 2025, the world economic summit for the beverage and liquid food industry, giving visitors a chance to see how ABB technologies combine to optimise operations across the full production cycle. Spanning process control, adaptive manufacturing […]
Cobot sparkles in food factory cleaning solution
Samey Robotics and Rbot9 have chosen the FANUC CRX-10iA/L collaborative robot to power a game-changing cleaning system they have jointly developed for food factories. Named VOTTA, inspired by the Icelandic word for ‘certify’ and echoing the sound of ‘Þvotta’ (‘washing’), the system offers overhead, automated cleaning of large-scale areas without bulky structures or layout changes. […]
Why do we blame robots when the line stops?
Production and packing lines will stop working for any number of reasons, but the default assumption will often be that a robotic malfunction is to blame. Instead of scapegoating the technology, Paul Wilkinson, commercial and information systems manager at Pacepacker Services, offers some advice on getting to the root of the problem. Robots are too […]