Over the course of the last year, robots have helped manufacturers protect human operators by achieving social distancing whilst maintaining high throughput in the manufacturing process. However, robots and automated applications can do much more to create a highly efficient industrial environment where the health, safety and wellbeing of employees are prioritised. Barry Weller, robot […]
Universal Robots is launching a new financial leasing scheme with the aim of reducing the costs of introducing automation into the UK and Ireland’s SME manufacturing markets, as part of SME Automation Month in October. The new scheme ensures businesses can deploy collaborative robots now and spread the cost across a 36-month period to address […]
Fanuc will mark its return to Interplas by giving a UK tradeshow debut to its newest lightweight collaborative robot and celebrating the 25th anniversary of strategic partner and systems integrator, Hi-Tech Automation. Both Fanuc and Hi-Tech have partnered together on a broad portfolio of automation solutions for the plastics industry, over the years, notably but […]
From precise monitoring to picking and automation, there are countless applications that benefit from reliable image information. However, what can be done when there is only a tight budget for the realisation of such an application? With the introduction of uEye XCP, uEye XLE and Ensenso S, camera specialist IDS proves that industrial-grade image processing […]
Universal Robots is pleased to announce the return of its popular productivity roadshows, helping SME manufacturers to address labour shortages, improve output and make their operations more competitive. The first of these free to attend events will be taking place in Oxford on 22nd September before visiting Carlisle on 12th October and Sheffield on 7th […]
Brillopak’s UniPAKer crate loading robot for fresh produce, meat, fish and ready meals factories has won the Food Processing Robotics and Automation Award at a prestigious live event hosted by comedian Patrick Monaghan at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Coventry on 9th September. The judging panel chose four finalists for each of the eight award […]
Cobots have now been developed to a point where the only thing differentiating them from their human co-workers is soft-skills. Developing adaptive capabilities like decision-making or problem-solving in cobots is challenging for engineers, but progress is inevitable. With state-of-the-art sensors, actuators and software, cobots are now capable of experiencing physical sensations that allow them to […]
Mills CNC, a machine tool supplier based in Leamington Spa, has chosen to use a laser triangulation sensor from Micro-Epsilon in one of its bespoke machine tool automation cells (SYNERGi) with a primary focus on inspecting large, hot rolled steel railway fishplates. The triangulation sensor, which is mounted on a Fanuc robot end effector, intricately […]
ABB is responding to the growing consumer demand for choice and fast delivery with the launch of its FlexBuffer application cell. FlexBuffer brings new levels of flexibility for logistics, food and beverage, healthcare, consumer packaged goods, restaurants and retailers, offering a highly adaptable multi-functional solution for handling a variety of tasks such as sequencing, buffering, […]
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 […]
Application phase for 10th vector award is now open
The application phase of the igus vector award 2026 has begun. Now in its tenth year, a joint initiative is honouring designers worldwide who use high-performance plastic energy chains to create cable guides that set new technological standards, with winners to receive up to 5,000 euros in prize money. The vector award has gained international […]
UR and Scale AI launch imitation learning system
Universal Robots (UR) unveiled the UR AI Trainer at GTC 2026 in Silicon Valley. Developed in collaboration with Scale AI, the AI Trainer marks a tectonic shift as robots move from pre-programmed applications to fully AI-driven tasks. These systems are powered by robust data generated in AI training cells where robots imitate humans. “Our customers, ranging from […]
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 […]
ESAB simplifies robotic welding deployment
ESAB has introduced the ROBBI 360, an enclosed cobot welding cell with a manual turntable that is designed to increase productivity, improve weld quality and enhance operator safety in robotic MIG/MAG welding. Engineered for manufacturers seeking to quickly deploy an automated solution for medium- and high-volume applications, the ROBBI 360 cobot provides flexibility and user-friendly […]
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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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 […]
Efficient palletising in the food industry
Intelligent automation with the Bosch Rexroth VarioFlow plus chain conveyor system and Hitmark Robotics solutions is delivering efficient palletising solutions for the food industry. In the food industry, solutions are in demand that increase efficiency, meet strict hygiene and safety requirements, and enable gentle product transport. Therefore, manufacturers are increasingly investing in modern automation that […]
Simplified programming could improve global robotics adoption
Until recently, the Industrial Revolution was largely associated with drastic engineering efforts that transformed global industry. Two centuries later, we are experiencing another shift in global manufacturing. Nigel Smith, managing director of Shibaura Machine, formerly Toshiba Machine, industrial robot supplier TM Robotics, explains how countries can reclaim the robotics revolution by taking advantage of simplified […]