Automation technology is proving it can mix effectively and unobtrusively with the heritage craft of barrel manufacturing at Speyside Cooperage in Alloa. Two Kawasaki robots and a purpose designed lathe are being used in the refurbishment process of traditionally built oak barrels. An independent cooperage, Speyside manufactures and refurbishes over 100,000 oak barrels a year […]
RA Rodriguez is pleased to confirm the arrival of a new release of software for the Universal Robot easy programming, even easier. It also introduces new features, including a force mode. Simple programming is one of the key attributes that makes the Universal Robot from RA Rodriguez such a good choice for any manufacturer regardless […]
Engineers, scientists and mathematicians in the Centre for Robotics Research (CoRe) at Kings College London are working on a number of different projects, each designed to take robot technology forward. Their time horizon is 25 years or more; the idea is not so much small scale improvements to existing technologies but the foundation of fundamentally […]
RA Rodriguez says its range of rotaryARM swivel arm modules from IEF Werner can be easily integrated with the company’s linear motion modules to create fast and cost effective automation systems with many advantages over traditional robots. The simple and compact design of this swivel arm module can be complemented by an integrated turning axis […]
ABB’s new PC-based RobotStudio Machine Tending PowerPac and controller-based RobotWare Machine Tending software allow for simulation, validation and optimization to be completed in the 3D virtual world and then transferred directly to the real-world. These new robotic machine tending software solutions deliver flexibility and ease-of-use for applications from die-casting to injection molding and machining. Cycle times, […]
ABB Robotics has launched its GateFramer robotic car body framing system, enabling multiple cars to be produced on the same line, while maintaining short cycle times, high accuracy, high reliability and ease of operation. The technology allows for up to six different car body variants to be framed on the same line by swapping gates […]
By extending the safety function “Safely Limited Speed at Tool Center Point” (SLS at TCP), B&R now makes it possible to monitor the full spectrum of serial robot types in a safety application. This is a significant advancement of the function first introduced in 2011, which has already allowed safe monitoring of all joints on […]
A common perception of robots is that they are big, expensive and clunky. But as delegates to a recent seminar discovered, there is a notable exception – the Universal Robot. The Northern Regional College in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, is much more than just a seat of learning. This award-winning campus is a centre of manufacturing […]
Jaguar Land Rover has reduced the downtime on one of its factory robots by 66% thanks to installing equipment from leading energy chain specialist, igus UK. Triflex RS is a very compact multi-axial energy supply system that safely houses the energy cables, and as a result, enables manufactures to increase reliability and make operational cost […]
FANUC has added a new 3kg payload parallel link (delta) robot to its high-speed Genkotsu series. The company says the M-2iA fills a gap between existing 1kg and 6kg arms, providing a large work envelope combined with high throughput performance to meet the needs of mid-range assembly and handling tasks. Two variants of the M-2iA […]
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 […]