Micro-Epsilon UK has launched a range of 2D/3D laser profile sensors (laser line scanners) that operate using blue (violet) laser technology rather than red. The special characteristics of the blue wavelength laser light make the scanners suitable for a wide range of high precision profile and dimensional measurements on a variety of materials including shiny […]
ITW Imagedata is a specialist manufacturer of film ribbons and consumables for the global card industry. When it needed a new printer ribbon assembly machine for its highest volume products, it turned to Automation Consultancy GB Innomech. Seamlessly integrated into ITW’s existing production line, the new spool pairing and assembly machine is already helping the […]
With their SafeROBOTICS functions, B&R says its controllers open the way for new solutions for cooperation between humans and robots. These solutions built on SafeROBOTICS will be the focal point of B&R’s stand at the Anuga FoodTec trade fair in Cologne, Germany, 24-27 March. Pictured right: B&R will present SafeROBOTICS solutions at Anuga FoodTec 2015. […]
For reasons of safety, industrial robots tend to be segregated from humans, which can restrict the types of tasks that robots perform. This has led robot technologists to search for solutions to set robots free from their cages. If this can be achieved, the combination of dexterity and problem-solving skills of humans along with precision […]
Articulated joints with grippers are increasingly being used to aid people with disabilities. The latest video from Igus shows how robolink technology, which integrates its multi-axis joints and drive unit, with a 3-jaw angle gripper can be used to create an auxiliary arm for wheelchair users. Featuring five DOF (degrees of freedom), with variable arm […]
Comau claims its new Racer 999 articulated robot is the fastest in its class, and can reduce cycle times by up to 25% when compared to the previous generation robot, thanks to increased fluidity of movement. Designed for a payload of 7kg, the robot has a cycle time of 0.702 seconds, and provides a reach […]
Schunk says eGrip is the world’s first fully automatic 3D design tool for additively manufactured gripper fingers. Schunk eGrip needs only minimal data for the fully automatic calculation of the optimal 3D contour, pricing, and delivery time. The license-free, browser-based web tool from the competence leader for clamping technology and gripping systems, Schunk reduces the design and ordering […]
On Stand N61 at Southern Manufacturing, RNA Automation will demonstrate its standard glass disc vision inspection system that have been developed specifically for 100% quality control, as well as the latest in collaborative robotics. The glass disc vision demo system is equipped with a vibrating bowl feeder, rotating glass disc and two inspection stations, to […]
As the efficiency of robot applications generally increases, the closer human and machine are able to work together. Static safeguards are increasingly reaching their limits. The trend is moving away from full enclosures for robot cells in favour of human-robot collaborations (HRC), which manage without guards where possible, but still guarantee operator safety. In practice, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Cobot completes one millionth PCB quality check
Hanover Displays, a UK-based manufacturer of passenger information systems for the public transport sector, has reached a major manufacturing milestone: the completion of its 1,000,000th automated quality test of printed circuit boards (PCBs) using Techman collaborative robots from LG Motion. The automation programme began in 2018, when Hanover introduced its first collaborative robot to improve […]
UR and Scale AI launch imitation learning system
Universal Robots (UR) unveiled the UR AI Trainer at GTC 2026 in Silicon Valley. Developed in collaboration with Scale AI, the AI Trainer marks a tectonic shift as robots move from pre-programmed applications to fully AI-driven tasks. These systems are powered by robust data generated in AI training cells where robots imitate humans. “Our customers, ranging from […]
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 […]
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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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 payback – 10 tips for achieving a 12 month ROI
Providers of automation equipment regularly talk around how their machines deliver optimum performance, boost workplace efficiency and increase output. All good stuff. However, for most, if not all customers, the return on investment (ROI) figures can be a real deal breaker. Richard Gladwin, Technical Director at award-winning system integrator Pacepacker Services offers 10 powerful tips […]