Effectors

Robot gripper based on the human hand

Robot gripper based on the human hand

A new design of robot gripper was one of the highlights of the Festo stand at this year’s PPMA show. The MultiChoiceGripper is a flexible gripping concept that offers variable gripping based on the human hand. Pictured: Festo’s MultiChoiceGripper robot gripper picks up a ball using the centric grip. The form-fitting Fin Ray fingers on […]

By October 8, 2014 Read More →
Robot gripper for a wide range of different objects

Robot gripper for a wide range of different objects

Robot gripper systems come in many forms, but Empire Robotics has a whole new take on it with its Versaball. This agile robot gripper can hold a wide range of different object shapes, providing different grip dynamics and grip strengths. The operating principle of the Versaball robot gripper is to leverage the phase transition of […]

By October 8, 2014 Read More →
Robot palletising and depalletising for packaging lines

Robot palletising and depalletising for packaging lines

Specially designed to solve even the most complex palletising and depalletising challenges reliably and efficiently, the robotpac from Beumer Group is a space-saving, fully articulated palletising robot. It is able to stack bundles such as bags, cardboard boxes, canisters and trays safely and economically. Beumer Group is single-source provider for filling, palletising and packaging technologies. Over […]

By August 12, 2014 Read More →
Industry 4.0; job creation; food manufacture; and grippers

Industry 4.0; job creation; food manufacture; and grippers

This month we look at the issue of programming robots within an Industry 4.0 environment, we highlight a new report that suggests robots are helping to create jobs in the electronics industry, we look at how robots are driving down costs in food manufacturing, and we look at a new, flexible gripping concept. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/161810637″ […]

By August 5, 2014 Read More →
FANUC food packing and palletising robots at PPMA

FANUC food packing and palletising robots at PPMA

If you want to see the latest in robotics technology for food packing and palletising applications at this year’s PPMA show, then visit the FANUC stand (C50) in Hall 5. Showcasing five different food handling robots, FANUC will present its biggest selection ever at a PPMA show this year. IP67 and IP69K certified robots will […]

By July 15, 2014 Read More →
Festo highlights flexible, adaptive gripping concept

Festo highlights flexible, adaptive gripping concept

The natural world often shows how maximum performance can be achieved with minimum energy consumption in a wide variety of ways. By transferring these principles to the development of new technological methods and innovative processes, engineers can better understand how automation systems can be more efficient. Festo says its advanced handling and kinematic robot systems […]

By July 8, 2014 Read More →
Driving down costs in the food manufacturing sector

Driving down costs in the food manufacturing sector

With efficiency high on every food manufacturer’s agenda, automation integrator Pacepacker Services hosted an educational workshop to highlight solutions for driving down manufacturing costs. The workshop showed visitors how automation can improve energy efficiency, including novel options for food manufacturers with tighter budgets. Leading food manufacturers and retailers, including Frederick Hiam, Huntapac Produce, Bakkavor and […]

By July 3, 2014 Read More →
Robots clean the Sydney Harbor bridge

Robots clean the Sydney Harbor bridge

Using the Sydney Harbor Bridge as an example, Australian specialists have highlighted how service robots will soon revolutionize how steel structures are serviced. The robust lightweight robotic systems are planned to go into serial production at the end of 2014. At their core is a lightweight arm designed by SCHUNK, the competence leader for clamping […]

By May 14, 2014 Read More →
Tiny gripper has fastest stroke to closing time ratio

Tiny gripper has fastest stroke to closing time ratio

With a maximum stroke of 3mm, the Schunk EGP 25-speed mechatronic gripper only takes 0.03 seconds for its fingers to close, which Schunk reckons gives it the fastest stroke to closing time ratio. This offers optimal pre-requisites for minimal cycle times. Claimed to be the smallest electric gripper with integrated electronics on the market, the […]

By May 8, 2014 Read More →
Robots help to improve quality on packaging lines

Robots help to improve quality on packaging lines

Robotic handling systems and packing technology can help manufacturers to improve their competitive edge, improve product quality, reduce waste and increase throughput, with significant increases to the efficiency of packaging lines. Pacepacker Services recently held an open day event to show just that, demonstrating a 25m² bulk solids automated packing line featuring the latest sack, […]

By March 18, 2014 Read More →