Stories by Company

EGS compact electric rotary gripper from Schunk

EGS compact electric rotary gripper from Schunk

Schunk says the EGS electric rotary gripper unit defines a new class of efficiency in the handling of small components. It facilitates the switch to pneumatic-free handling solutions and is claimed to be the first unit to combine electric gripping and rotation in a single compact housing. The new low-maintenance and affordable module paves the […]

By July 1, 2015 Read More →
Robotics impacting on the plastics industry

Robotics impacting on the plastics industry

Nigel Flowers, managing director of Sumitomo (SHI) Demag UK, examines the rise and fall of the robotic march in the plastics industry. A growing number of injection moulders are embracing automation with BARA reporting a 75% rise in robotic integration within the plastics industry between 2013 and 2014. This increase is reflected in our own […]

By June 30, 2015 Read More →
Faster installation of robot energy chains

Faster installation of robot energy chains

With a simple zip fastening concept and no need for specialist tools, the zip feature on Igus zipper e-chain and zipper e-tube enables significantly faster installation of energy chains in robotics applications. The small pitch of the zipper e-chain ensures low-noise operation, even at accelerations of 100m/s² and more. The zipper e-tube is fully-enclosed to […]

By June 30, 2015 Read More →
New robotic line boosts productivity by 20%

New robotic line boosts productivity by 20%

Askew & Barrett sources pulses from key agricultural merchants and then sorts, cleans and grades them at its processing plant in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The pulses are bagged into 12.5kg and 25kg paper sacks and 25kg woven polypropylene (WPP) sacks, before being palletised and transported to food manufacturers and retailers at home and abroad. Pictured right: […]

By June 25, 2015 Read More →
Fast and cost-effective robotic automation

Fast and cost-effective robotic automation

Comau has introduced a new high-speed, 6-axis articulated robot featuring a payload of 3kg and a reach of just 630 mm. The third robot within the award-winning Racer family, Racer3 is Comau’s response to the growing market demand for fast, cost-effective robotic automation within small to medium-sized enterprises and emerging countries. With a streamlined design […]

By June 24, 2015 Read More →
Improved connection from robot to controller

Improved connection from robot to controller

Palletizer robots often operate in factories and warehouses exposed to dust and extreme temperatures, and the installed components must offer reliable function even in harsh environments, as well as easy maintenance. Okura Yusoki, a leading manufacturer of transport equipment and logistics systems, chose Han-Yellock connectors from Harting for its new palletizer robot. Han-Yellock provides IP65/IP67 […]

By June 23, 2015 Read More →
Superior performance and reduced operating costs

Superior performance and reduced operating costs

For many years, the SCHUNK PGN-plus universal gripper has been considered a benchmark for gripping modules. Now with the new PGN-plus Permanent, SCHUNK, the competence leader for clamping technology and gripping systems is raising the bar. Its unique permanent lubrication provides a faster and more even distribution of the lubricant, even with short strokes. The […]

By June 22, 2015 Read More →
Open robotics and Industry 4.0 event success

Open robotics and Industry 4.0 event success

EPSG and members B&R, Cognex, Comau and Festo recently hosted a technology day on the subjects of open robotics and Industry 4.0. More than 120 industry and university experts made their way to Lyon to find out about the latest developments in the field, and discover how the future of Industry 4.0 is already within […]

By June 18, 2015 Read More →
Robotics in an Industry 4.0 environment

Robotics in an Industry 4.0 environment

On show at PPMA stand B34 this September, automation and controls specialist Omron will give original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and integrators a real insight into new developments in integrated control, high-speed robotics, and how real-time data interchange between production-line operations and enterprise-wide IT systems can meet Industry 4.0 expectations. Pictured right: Omron’s delta robot range […]

By June 15, 2015 Read More →
Robots will become the norm in food processing

Robots will become the norm in food processing

There have not been that many robots used in food processing industries to date but we are on the cusp of a sea change, says Chris Evans, Marketing & Operations Group Manager at Mitsubishi Electric Europe BV Automation Systems Division. Five years from now they will be very much the norm. Modern food processing industries […]

By June 12, 2015 Read More →