While automotive assembly plants are generally heavily automated, there are still many areas where operators are required, either due to the complexity of the task or where full automation cannot be financially justified. One such area is the assembly of dowels and cam brackets to a cylinder head before the cam bolts are torqued. When […]
Automated machine loading and the trend toward Industry 4.0 are the central topics of AMB 2016, according to Dr. Markus Klaiber, the CTO of clamping and gripping specialist Schunk. “Modern machining center concepts must take three factors into account: the shortest possible cycle times, maximum system availability and the ability to respond very flexibly to […]
A collaboration between motion control and robotics specialist Yaskawa and a leading intralogistics and packaging company has resulted in the development of an automatic robot-based palletising cell which takes robotics handling to new levels of sophistication. The food logistics system developed by MPS Food Logistics Systems based in the Netherlands features a Profinet interface which […]
Pilz is adding PSENmlock to its range of safety switches. PSENmlock offers safety gate monitoring (also known as interlocking) and safe guard locking for the protection of personnel and processes to the highest levels up to PL e (of EN ISO 13849) in one device. It fully satisfies the requirements of the latest interlocking standard […]
Comau introduces Rebel-S, its own 4-axis SCARA robot, in 5 different models with a payload of 6kg and 3 different reaches. All models are controlled by the R1C 19″ rack-mounted controller, which can be integrated into a single cabinet to control an entire line. The robots are also available in the openROBOTICS version, where the […]
The triflex R the energy chain solution from Igus is designed to deal with the three-dimensional movement needed by industrial robots, and the company has developed this further for robots with the new compact universal triflex RS dresspack module. As well as electrical and pneumatic lines, industrial robots often require feed hoses for bolts, rivets […]
Comau introduces Rebel-S, its own 4-axis SCARA robot, in five different models with a payload of 6kg and three different reaches. All models are controlled by the R1C 19in rack-mounted controller, which can be integrated into a single cabinet to control an entire line. The robots are also available in the openROBOTICS version, where the […]
Thanks to the development of a well-established interface, robots can be integrated directly into a PLC even more simply and without previous knowledge of robots, delivering all the benefits of a modern control system. The interaction between machines and robots is vital for efficient industrial manufacturing. Originally, the two systems were programmed and operated separately […]
Universal Robots, the Danish pioneer of human-robot collaboration, says it will revolutionise the automation industry with the launch of Universal Robots+ – a showroom of ‘plug and play’ application solutions offering a new level of simplicity for companies that want to hit the ground running when installing their next UR robot application. By choosing accessories, […]
Motion plastics and low-cost automation at MACH 2026
igus returns to MACH with a comprehensive range of engineering innovations designed to improve machine reliability, reduce downtime and deliver long‑term cost savings for manufacturers across all industry. With the UK operation based in Northampton, igus develops lubrication‑free motion plastics that replace traditional metal components, increasing performance while eliminating the need for grease and maintenance. […]
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 […]
ABB Robotics launches high-speed PoWa cobot family
ABB Robotics is combining the flexibility of cobots with higher payloads and performance, with the launch of its new PoWa cobot family into the rapidly expanding global collaborative robot market, which ABB Robotics estimates will grow by 20 percent annually through to 2028. “Cobots are growing significantly faster than traditional industrial robots, driven by demands […]
Flexible industrial automation solutions from Delta
Delta showcased its comprehensive portfolio of industrial automation solutions at Hannover Messe 2026, highlighting how its advanced drives, HMI panels, and controller solutions enable smarter manufacturing by improving energy efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability. At the same time, Delta ensures robust protection for customers across a wide range of industries, from machinery and food and beverage […]
Intelligent automation for laboratory workflows
Beckhoff UK will exhibit at London Lab Live at ExCeL London from May 6-7, 2026, where it will demonstrate how PC-based control can help pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers build more flexible sample and product handling processes. A key attraction on the stand will be a live demonstration combining Beckhoff’s XTS intelligent transport system with a […]
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
... Read More »
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 […]
FANUC: Selecting the right robot arm for the job
What determines the choice of palletising robot to handle product X at point Y on the line? With a choice of 20+ FANUC robots arms all capable of performing palletising tasks, Andrew Armstrong, UK sales and marketing manager at FANUC UK picks out some of the main criteria that factories should consider in order to […]