While camera based and other optoelectronic safety technologies are now viable options for some robot guarding applications, for a huge majority there is still little to beat a physical safeguard. For robot guarding, physical safeguards offer the dual function of keeping personnel out of dangerous environments, and keeping potentially hazardous, fast moving objects in. The […]
A demonstration robot cell at the 2015 PPMA show highlighted innovative applications in pattern recognition and path tracing. Visitors to the show’s Robot Feature Area were able to draw their own freeform shapes, present them to the vision system within the cell, and then watch as the delta robot traced the shape. The system accurately […]
A demonstration robot cell on the FANUC stand at the PPMA show highlighted how packaging companies can enjoy the best of both worlds of optimised productivity combined with the highest levels of operator safety. Completely open on two sides, the cell combined FANUC’s Dual Check Safety (DCS) technology with a safety scanner and safety camera. […]
EPSG and members B&R, Cognex, Comau and Festo recently hosted a technology day on the subjects of open robotics and Industry 4.0. More than 120 industry and university experts made their way to Lyon to find out about the latest developments in the field, and discover how the future of Industry 4.0 is already within […]
Mitsubishi Electric has developed a new optional Safety Solution MELFA SafePlus for its MELFA F Series industrial robots. The new technology limits the speed, range of movement or torque of the robot when safety sensors are activated, allowing operators to work in close proximity to a moving robot. In today’s flexible production environments, robots and […]
There are implications for safety not just when a robot is installed, but each time it is reprogrammed, and perimeter guarding should be assessed and reconsidered on each occasion to ensure it is meeting the safety requirements. Should the guarding need adjustment, the advantages of modular perimeter guarding systems come to the fore. So says […]
Ensuring worker safety should be the prime consideration in all robot applications, especially when humans and robots may need to share the same workspace. “Robot safety is an issue that transcends the requirements of specific industry sectors or applications,” says Darren Whittall, technical manager at FANUC UK. “In addition to regulatory requirements, there is also […]
With SafeMOTION Release 1.9, B&R has updated the robot safety functions for the ACOPOSmulti servo drive family. In addition to two new functions – Remanent Safe Position (RSP) and Safely Limited Acceleration (SLA) – this update also introduces machine options for SafeMOTION parameters and improves both system availability and user-friendliness in applications where robot safety […]
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 […]
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 […]
Automating with robotics at MachineBuilding.South
Industry commentators agree that UK manufacturers will need to increase their investment in robotics if they are to keep up with international competition. At MachineBuilding.South you can find out how, with numerous exhibits from robotics, control, automation and safety specialists. LG Motion (Stand 46) will be showcasing Techman Robot (TM Robot) collaborative robots at MachineBuilding.South with […]
Annual robot shipments to top 760k units in 2030
The industrial robot industry saw 5.1% growth in 2025, following a contraction of -2% in 2024, Interact Analysis reports. The market is now forecast to record steady growth out to 2030, at an average annual rate of 6.7%, rising from 549,555 units in 2025 to 761,303 units in 2030. The latest industrial robots report from […]
Universal Robots hosts Food & Beverage Masterclass
The Food & Beverage Masterclass, hosted by Universal Robots in June, 2026 at Riseholme Park in Lincoln, brought together industry professionals for a practical and engaging half-day event focused on end of line automation with collaborative robots (cobots). Designed to give attendees a clear understanding of how automation can be successfully implemented in food and […]
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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Gourmet-food-maker automates packaging process
Rockwell Automation has announced that Cranswick, one of Britain’s leading manufacturers of premium gourmet foods, has commissioned a new robotic end-of-line pick-and-place system using autonox Robotics. Every year, Cranswick produces millions of “pigs-in-blankets” (sausages wrapped in bacon) for the Christmas market. The final stage of the process – picking the sausages off the conveyor belt […]
Universal Robots hosts Food & Beverage Masterclass
The Food & Beverage Masterclass, hosted by Universal Robots in June, 2026 at Riseholme Park in Lincoln, brought together industry professionals for a practical and engaging half-day event focused on end of line automation with collaborative robots (cobots). Designed to give attendees a clear understanding of how automation can be successfully implemented in food and […]
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, […]