The igus product portfolio includes flexible cables, robotic components, motor control and sensors, all aimed at improving technology, reducing costs and enhancing durability in a wide range of industries, including machine tooling, automotive manufacturing, food and beverage packing, medical and lab equipment and smart agriculture.

The igus ReBeL (Robotic embedded-BDLC and electronics Link) cobots, now available from Mouser, are cost-effective and lightweight robotic arms featuring up to six degrees of freedom. These cobots are compact and lightweight in design, making them suitable for assembly tasks, quality inspection tasks, and service areas. Integrated sensors, cameras, and advanced software ensure safety, flexibility, and adaptability in a wide range of environments.

The igus Gantry robots, also known as cartesian or linear robots, feature two base X-axes, a Y-axis, and an optional Z-axis. These robotic devices are ideal for applications where high precision is needed and where a task requires a repetitive motion, such as pick and place, sorting, labelling, and measurement. These Gantry robots feature self-lubricating plastic liners that slide instead of rolling, making them much more efficient than similar devices that use recirculating ball bearings. These robots are lightweight, clean, quiet, corrosion-resistant, and maintenance-free.

The drylin Delta robots are designed with linear actuators, featuring highly engineered, self-lubricating sliding plastic liners. These liners make them lightweight, quiet, cost-effective, and low-maintenance. The Delta robots are suitable for low-cost automation applications such as belt transfer stations, sorting systems, small parts handling, and fast positioning machines. The Delta robots offer an accuracy of +/-0.5 mm.

The igus e-chain cable carriers guide and protect energy, data, and signal cables in challenging environments. The e-chain cable carriers reduce downtime and increase the service life of cables. These cable carriers feature a low-weight, modular, strong design, smooth contours, and are easy to install. The e-chain carriers are well-suited for cable management in various settings, including industrial, energy, medical, construction, and stage and theatre.

Mouser will also be offering igus’ chainflex cables, which are designed to deliver unmatched reliability, durability, and performance in industrial motion applications. With over 1,300 cable types available to order, chainflex offers a comprehensive range for data, bus, hybrid, control, motor, servo, feedback, coaxial, fibre optic (FOC), robotics, and special applications.

The company’s stand will be packed with working systems that prove higher efficiency and faster throughput are now plug-and-play – no six-month integration marathon required. Live demos at the show will include a paper flow-wrapper, delta robot, multi-axis gantry and smart drives running continuous cycles under show-floor conditions. And SEW-Eurodrive engineers will talk through every move in real time, so you’ll come away knowing exactly how each component can slot into your line.

If plastic waste and climbing energy bills are a challenge, check out the Hugo Beck Flow Pack R, powered by MOVITRAC and CMP. Single-use plastic regulations and energy surcharges are squeezing margins in food and consumer-goods packaging. The Hugo Beck Flow Pack R, developed in collaboration with the global manufacturer is driven by SEW MOVITRAC inverters, and CMP synchronous servomotors and switches from plastic to recyclable paper without sacrificing speed and precision.

In pick-and-place applications, manual or legacy pick-and-place arms struggle with today’s mixed-SKU, high-hygiene environments, causing cross-contamination risks and costly changeovers. SEW’s Maze Kinematic Delta Robot features stainless-steel options that tolerate aggressive wash-downs while maintaining +/-0.1 mm accuracy at 120 picks/min – perfect for environments like food and pharmaceutical production.

Gary the Gantry 2 meanwhile, lifts and shifts heavy loads in three axes using extra-low-voltage drives, making it safer for operators and easier to relocate than pneumatic setups. Both systems run MOVIKIT robotics software and teach-in panels, for easy configuration and programming.

What about when motors are too big, too hot and too hungry? Oversized, air-cooled motors waste energy and footprint, yet underspecifying means stalling under load. SEW’s CMP series of synchronous servo motors spans seven frame sizes up to 320 Nm, delivering high torque density for tight machines in industries like food and beverage production, construction, or automotive.

CM3C (medium inertia) synchronous servo motors tame heavy external loads without overshoot, while all-stainless CM2H motors meet the toughest clean-room directives. Pick the torque you need and we’ll help you match it with the right servo gear unit.

Finally, if you’ve found that legacy VFDs (variable frequency drives) can’t coordinate multi-axis motion smoothly, forcing workarounds that burn commissioning hours, check out SEW-EURODRIVE’s MOVI-C UXH Controller, which unites single- and multi-axis drives under one software umbrella, adaptive positioning, electronic cams and safe-torque-off included. Pair it with MOVITRAC advanced standard inverters (single-axis up to 315 kW or modular multi-axis up to 180 A) and the PxG planetary servo gear units for a compact, flexible stack that scales from a micro-conveyor to an entire palletiser.

To modernise one of its key packing lines, CP Foods UK partnered with Gripple, the Sheffield-based engineering company known for its innovative approach to automation projects, and OMRON, a global leader in industrial automation. Together, they developed and installed a robotic solution that has improved efficiency and reliability, whilst re-energising the workforce.

Meeting changing retail demands with agility

The challenge was ambitious from the start. As Craig Bagnall, operations manager at Gripple, explained: “CP Foods challenged us to deliver them a product that picked and placed chicken in sealed trays at 120 packs per minute, at an 85% OEE, with a 1% reject.”

For CP Foods UK, automation means building resilience into the business and maintaining flexibility in the face of rapidly changing customer requirements. Adele Davies, Factory general manager at CP Foods, described the situation: “The things that we’re having to think about at the moment is, how do we cope with ever-changing requirements from retailers and customers, and how do we remain flexible as well as having automation? We previously had a line that would require you to put trays on a line as well as people manual packing, so we did a full automation project.”

The existing infrastructure was no longer fit for purpose. Andy White, engineering manager at CP Foods UK, explained that the equipment in the low-care area had reached the end of its life. The line had been “patched together” over time and required constant maintenance. Rather than continue to sustain ageing systems, the company saw an opportunity to embrace new technology. “We wanted a solution that not only improved performance, but also made the job more rewarding for our engineers and for the people working on the line,” White said.

Servo-driven robotics with integrated control

Working closely together, Gripple and OMRON engineers designed a bespoke robotic packaging machine tailored to CP Foods UK’s exact needs. At the time, there was nothing on the market that could deliver the combination of speed, reliability, accuracy, and compact footprint required. The collaboration between the two engineering teams was crucial in identifying the best way forward, resulting in a servo-driven machine that operates more quietly and smoothly while offering clear improvements for the end user.

One of the key breakthroughs was the development of a new gripper system. Dan Matthews, Mechanical Design Engineer at Gripple, noted: “Most important probably is understanding the end customer’s needs. Understanding their production environment, understanding the rest of the line, and making sure that our equipment seamlessly integrates with all that. Because the machine operates at 120 parts a minute, we had to develop something that could stack multiple packs at once. We developed a multi-stack gripper that could do five picks and then place, and we collaborated with the OMRON robotics engineers to develop the software alongside our own.”

Behind the mechanical innovation sits OMRON’s Sysmac automation platform, which provides the backbone of the solution. Sysmac integrates all aspects of the machine into one environment, covering PLC control, vision systems, cameras, sensor data, robotics, safety, and servo drives. By managing everything through a single piece of software, the platform simplifies operation, whilst delivering the performance and flexibility needed for high-speed food production.

Meeting throughput goals and inspiring people

The new system has been a success on several fronts. From an operational perspective, the line now meets the high-speed throughput targets while ensuring consistency and reliability in a compact footprint. For engineers and operators, the project has brought new energy and excitement. “There’s been a really strong level of engagement from our engineers,” said White. “They’ve embraced the new technology, enjoyed gaining hands-on experience with the packaging machine, and worked closely with the installation team. It’s definitely the way forward. This next generation of robotics is going to play a huge part in the future of all businesses.”

“The key is engaging people properly with an automation project,” Adele Davies added. “When you do that, they see the excitement in it and recognise how it can enhance their jobs. People say, ‘We’ve got robots now,’ and they genuinely enjoy it. This project is just the beginning, the first of many more to come in the future.”

Bagnall concluded: “It’s a very flexible machine that we can tailor to almost any end user’s requirements. As OMRON’s technology continues to evolve, we need to evolve with it so that we can keep delivering more solutions for our customers.”

Visit the OMRON website for more information

See all stories for OMRON

Through this new organisation, OMRON is further investing in the long-term success of its customers, by ensuring quick decision-making and world-class technical support, as well as strengthening its specialised expertise across Europe. The investment also comprises OMRON’s Automation and Robotics Centres of Excellence in Annecy, Barcelona, Dortmund, and the newly opened Automation Centre in Stuttgart, and an extensive network of Proof of Concept (PoC) labs that support local customer innovation.

The specialised organisation in Europe consists of a dedicated, passionate team of sales, application, and services engineers. They will operate at both European and country level, and work closely with the global robotics organisation. The new setup will enhance targeted technical expertise, whilst allowing OMRON to respond even faster to evolving customer needs.

“Robotics plays a vital role in our vision for the future of automation. This investment reflects our strong focus on building expertise, quality of service, and helping our customers stay competitive,” said Fernando Colas, CEO of OMRON Industrial Automation EMEA. “We are putting the optimal structure in place to ensure continued excellence in innovation and customer satisfaction.”

“I’m excited to kick off this new initiative, which is all about helping our customers get the most out of their robotics investments,” said Vincent Nabat, General Manager of OMRON Robotics EMEA. “With a dedicated robotics organisation, we’ll be able to respond faster to local needs, offer more direct access to technical expertise, and collaborate even more closely with our customers on co-development projects with fixed, mobile and collaborative robots.”

The new organisation also strengthens ties with OMRON’s global R&D and robotics teams, alongside the newly established European R&D team. This supports faster innovation and the delivery of solutions that are closely aligned with the specific needs of European customers.

Visit the OMRON website for more information

See all stories for OMRON

The Smart Manufacturing exhibition area features the topics of automation and sensor technology, robotics and logistics automation, as well as drive and fluid technology. Visitors there are sure to find all the tools they need to make production even more efficient and sustainable.

Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly pivotal role in this advancement. “Artificial intelligence will revolutionise the entire value chain of manufacturing companies, and in doing so significantly boost their competitiveness. Visitors to HANNOVER MESSE 2025 will gain insights into available and upcoming applications in the market,” says Hubertus von Monschaw, Global Director Trade Fair and Product Management HANNOVER MESSE at Deutsche Messe.

Exhibitors in the Smart Manufacturing area include leading companies from all over the world, ranging from international corporations to SMEs and startups. These include, among others, Aignep, Beckhoff, Bosch Rexroth, Cantoni, Delta Electronics, Emerson, Festo, Flender, Harting, HAWE, ifm electronic, I.M.M. Hydraulics, Lapp, Pepperl+Fuchs, Pilz, Phoenix Contact, Rittal, Schaeffler, Schneider Electric, SEW-EURODRIVE, Siemens and Turck.

Whether it is about industrial sensors, electric drives and controls, AI-supported engineering, or complete solutions for diverse industry applications, visitors to HANNOVER MESSE will learn first-hand how they can optimize their production to meet the growing demands in terms of productivity and sustainability.

German and international companies will present robotics applications in and around the Application Park at HANNOVER MESSE. AI-enabled robots will be in action there, for example, demonstrating how they learn to perform tasks and adapt dynamically to changing production environments. Their involvement makes production more efficient, especially when it comes to custom-made products or small batch sizes.

Drive and fluid technology is traditionally represented at HANNOVER MESSE in the odd-numbered years, with a wide range of German and international companies. And that’s how it will be in 2025 as well. Under the Motion and Drives label, the exhibiting manufacturers will showcase cutting-edge applications and components for intelligent and sustainable production.

“With HANNOVER MESSE, we are offering all exhibitors in the Smart Manufacturing area the opportunity to be embedded in a unique industrial innovation ecosystem, in which German and international companies from the general engineering, electrical and digital industries as well as the energy sector present efficient and sustainable solutions for industrial value creation now and in the future. This mix of research, business, startups, and political topics will provide a unique opportunity to connect with top-level decision-makers, technology scouts, experts, and media representatives from throughout the world,” says von Monschaw.

Besides the exhibition itself, HANNOVER MESSE offers an attractive, high-calibre supporting program. In the Smart Manufacturing area, this includes both the highly frequented Industrie 4.0 stage and the Motion and Drives conference stage.

Having grown significantly since its inaugural show in 2023, Automation UK enables businesses to showcase their cutting-edge solutions, network with like-minded peers and learn more about the latest trends and developments impacting the industry.

To deliver better experiences for exhibitors, show organisers Automate UK have decided to make Vision UK, previously known as Machine Vision Conference (MVC), an integral part of Automation UK 2025.

With a new name and identity, Vision UK highlights the latest industrial vision technologies and innovations. Vision UK will have a dedicated section within the larger Automation UK exhibition, where leading machine vision companies can exhibit their products to potential buyers.

Commenting on the move, Automate UK’s Chief Operating Officer Scott Mckenna said: “Integrating Vision UK into Automation UK presents a great opportunity for us to raise the profile of the machine vision and automation industries at one exhibition.

“Both events have earned acclaim from visitors and exhibitors alike, and combining the two ensures that a broader cross-section of end-users can discover the best of what each area of the industry has to offer.”

This announcement follows the success of this year’s Automation UK and MVC exhibitions. Co-located at the Coventry Building Society Arena, these events earned enthusiastic praise from everyone involved.

Here are some insights from exhibitors about their experiences at this year’s Automation UK and MVC shows. Paul McCauley, Sales Manager at Bowe Intralogistics, said: “We had a great time at Automation UK, lots of people around the stand with some great leads. Both days have been busy and very beneficial to our business. We would highly recommend Automation UK.”

Paul Cunningham, Director at Acrovision, added: “Overall, MVC has been a nice mix of exhibition and conference. One of our key focuses as a vision company is to raise awareness about the importance of vision technology to as many new people as we can – and this event contributes to achieving that goal.”

The RBTX platform by igus provides robotic components from a range of leading manufacturers all in one place, so customers can configure the application that works for them with 100% compatibility guaranteed, and real-time pricing.

Visit the igus website for more information

See all stories for igus

For decades, robots have been helping to increase production efficiency, improve quality and consistency, and alleviate labour shortages in industries such as automotive, machinery, and plastics. Other sectors however, including food and beverage, have been slower to wake up to the benefits of automation, with many food producers still heavily reliant on manual labour and semi-automated equipment.

Figures from the IFR 2022 World Robotics Industrial Robots Report show that only 3% of global industrial robot installations are for food and beverage applications, compared with 23% for automotive. Fortunately, the tide is beginning to turn – global robot installations in the food and beverage industry grew by 12% year on year from 2016 to 2021. And in the UK, of the 2,054 industrial robot installations in 2021, 164 were in the food and beverage industry, representing a total of 8% – well above the global average.

Most robot installations in food production lines are for packaging, picking and placing tasks. However, there is a lot more that robots can do. At FANUC, we believe the adoption of robotics is set to change the face of food manufacturing for the better, both for primary and secondary processing and packaging tasks. Here, we look at four ways in which food production lines could look very different thanks to the increased use of robots and automation…

1. Increased use of cobots

Lightweight and simple to use, collaborative robots, or cobots, are becoming increasingly popular within food factories, especially where space is restricted. Extremely slimline and with a base not much bigger than an A4 sheet of paper, they fit easily into crowded areas, such as loading/palletising environments, and can work alongside humans.

Despite their size, they lend themselves well to lifting applications, such as palletising and material handling tasks – the FANUC CRX-25iA, for example, has a 25kg payload and a 1,889mm reach. We are continuing to develop our cobot range and in the future, we expect to see cobots with increasingly high payloads and longer reaches, to cope with growing customer demand.

2. Less manual handling

Since Covid and Brexit, labour shortages in the food industry have worsened and companies are looking to remove manual handling wherever possible. While a number of the individual processes in a food factory may already be automated, in many cases, people are still required to move products from one stage to another. Robots are ideally placed to help in these scenarios. Inherently flexible, they can easily be repurposed to cope with product changes enabling the factory to remain agile in the face of labour shortages.

Packing is another area which is traditionally very labour intensive. There is now a clear trend of using robots to pack ingredients into trays, trays into boxes and boxes onto pallets, freeing up human workers to carry out more value-added tasks. In the future, food factories will resemble automotive factories more and more, with robots carrying out the majority of manual handling tasks. There will also be an increased use of autonomous robot vehicles to move stock around the warehouse, and for loading/unloading.

3. AI-powered vision inspection systems

Another area which is ripe for automating is quality control. Robotic vision inspection systems using AI and machine learning can detect product faults quickly, accurately and reliably, helping to speed up production lines. This technology can also be used for product sorting and grading, for example potatoes. Repetitive, manual tasks such as this are ideal for being completed by AI-powered vision-guided robots, helping to free up valuable human employees.

4. Robots in the field

Finally, robots are moving out of the factory and helping to replace labour shortages in the fields. There are already trials of robots being placed onto tractors and incorporated with a vision system to inspect produce in the field. They can assess the stage of growth/ripeness, and then pick the fruit or vegetable when they’re ready to be harvested. Expect to see many more of these applications in the future.

Meet Bakisto, the robot baker

FANUC has joined forces with baking oven manufacturer WIESHEU and retail specialist Wanzl to develop the automatic Bakisto system. Comprising three interconnected systems – a FANUC cobot; Wanzl’s smart baked goods presenter ‘BakeOff i’ featuring artificial intelligence and a network-enabled baking oven; and the WIESHEU TrayMotion automatic loading and unloading system – Bakisto automates important tasks for retail bakeries, such as loading baking trays, inserting and removing trays from the oven, and restocking displays.

Based on historical data and current stock levels, the AI-powered BakeOff i estimates daily baked goods demand and predicts when peak baking should take place. The FANUC cobot then carries the baking trays loaded with frozen baked goods from the refrigeration unit and pushes them into the transport trolley, which runs on rails in front of the preheated oven.

The TrayMotion loading system pulls in the loaded trays, enabling the baking process to begin. After baking, the system pushes the baking trays back into the transport trolley, which moves to the side, allowing the baked goods to cool down while also making space for subsequent production. The FANUC cobot then fills the predefined compartments of the BakeOff i with the finished and cooled baked goods. Feeding new data into the AI system ensures the process is continuously being optimised.

FANUC believes that Bakisto is ripe for addressing labour shortages in the food industry by relieving retail workers from repetitive tasks and unsociable working hours, as well as increasing product consistency and reducing food waste.

Visit the FANUC website for more information

See all stories for FANUC

Today, thousands of robots build new robots at FANUC’s headquarters in Japan – one of the most automated factories on the planet.

While industrial robots were traditionally used mainly in the automotive and electronics industries, they have now become prevalent in many other industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, aerospace and plastics. Increasing labour shortages and improved usability are just some of the reasons behind the rising popularity of robotics across a range of different sectors.

FANUC offers over 200 robot models that perform various tasks in manufacturing, such as welding, painting, assembly, and packaging. Collaborative robots (cobots) are also gaining popularity as they can work alongside employees, often without external safety guarding. However, traditional robots still dominate in industrial sectors, and their use, such as in the automotive industry, is accelerating the shift towards electromobility.

“Demand for our robots is currently at an all-time high,” says Marco Ghirardello, president and CEO of FANUC Europe. “Applications for robots are expanding, and the demand is expected to continue to grow significantly in the future. In order to support our customers’ automation needs, FANUC will strive to further improve quality, performance, and supply capabilities.”

Visit the Fanuc website for more information

See all stories for Fanuc

The demonstrations will highlight the latest advancements in technology, addressing the pressing challenges faced by today’s manufacturers.

Omron’s display at this year’s PPMA show will exemplify how machine builders and end users can achieve remarkable improvements in efficiency and uptime through the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in two crucial areas: intelligent machine control and fault detection and remediation using augmented reality (AR).

In many manufacturing operations, a vast amount of data is collected but often remains unused due to its complexity. Omron’s digital intelligence solution focuses on machine-level data analysis by utilising its Sysmac controller with edge-based AI. Through a small bottling line featuring an i4 SCARA robot for filling, visitors will witness real-time trend analysis and alerts generated on the fly.

By combining live data-at-the-edge with the controller’s adaptive intelligence, Omron’s solution is capable of flagging anomalies in various operational parameters, such as fill level, visual defects, and machine torque. Any deviation outside predefined parameters can trigger visual alerts, alarms, or even line shutdowns for critical safety variables. This intelligent machine control not only enhances operational efficiency but also improves overall safety and quality control.

Omron’s demonstration also showcases the power of applied AI in remote digital troubleshooting. By utilising AR glasses, in-house engineers can collaborate with remote experts to diagnose and resolve machine malfunctions, minimising downtime and its impact on production. The benefits extend beyond operational efficiency, as this solution contributes to reduced carbon footprint and enhanced time efficiency.

Visitors to the PPMA show are encouraged to experience Omron’s Advanced Services in action, providing first hand exposure to the transformative power of AI and AR technologies.

In addition to the integration of AI and AR, Omron will present the numerous benefits of bringing together its inspection capabilities and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). The integration of Omron’s Inspection Station with an AMR revolutionises the production line, optimising manufacturing processes in several ways.

The seamless automation of product transportation between the AMR and the Inspection Station significantly enhances efficiency by eliminating manual handling, reducing time-consuming and error-prone tasks. The AMR autonomously navigates the production facility, ensuring smooth and seamless transportation of products. This streamlined workflow leads to improved productivity, reduced cycle times, and increased overall production throughput.

Furthermore, the integration provides manufacturers with enhanced flexibility. The system can be easily reprogrammed and adapted to accommodate various product types and specifications, allowing efficient handling of diverse product lines without extensive reconfiguration.

Consistent and reliable quality control is another notable advantage of the integrated system. Omron’s Inspection Station is renowned for its accuracy and precision in detecting defects and anomalies. By incorporating it with an AMR, inspections can be performed consistently and uniformly on every product, mitigating the risk of human error and ensuring consistent quality assurance throughout the production process.

Real-time data and analytics play a crucial role in the integrated system, enabling seamless data exchange between the Inspection Station, the AMR, and other connected systems. Manufacturers can gather real-time data on inspection results, defect rates, and production performance, facilitating data-driven decision-making and process optimisation. The integration not only improves operational efficiency but also helps in reducing waste and enhancing overall productivity.

Safety is a paramount concern in manufacturing, and the integration enhances safety by reducing the risk of injuries or accidents associated with manual handling. Equipped with advanced sensors and navigation capabilities, the AMR can safely navigate through the production facility, avoiding obstacles and adhering to predefined safety protocols.

The integration also offers scalability and future-proofing capabilities, enabling manufacturers to adapt and expand their operations without significant disruptions or capital investments. As production demands increase or new products are introduced, additional AMRs and Inspection Stations can be seamlessly integrated into the system.

To add to the excitement, Omron invites visitors to join in celebrating the company’s 90th anniversary. Stand B34 offers a unique opportunity to shake hands with a difference, embodying the spirit of Omron’s innovative and forward-thinking approach.

Garry Lewis, Omron’s market development manager, expresses his enthusiasm, stating: “Celebrate with us as Omron marks its remarkable 90th anniversary. Discover how our innovative solutions are shaping the future of manufacturing by enhancing efficiency and ensuring quality control. Join us at stand B34 as we showcase the latest automation, robotics, and inspection technologies. Don’t miss the chance to witness the power of Omron’s expertise and be part of the next chapter in manufacturing innovation.”

Visit the Omron website for more information

See all stories for Omron