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, […]
Specialist electric vehicle battery manufacturer, Danecca, has invested in two Fanuc collaborative robots to improve the accuracy and repeatability of its heat staking applications following a major customer order. The battery manufacturer, founded in 2018 by ex-Jaguar Land Rover and National Grid engineer Danson Joseph, specialises in battery development, verification and validation, as well as […]
A survey of 250 UK SME and large manufacturing companies carried out by ABB Robotics reveals a change in attitudes towards robotic automation in the UK, with 81.2 per cent of companies saying that they are considering an investment in robots because of recent events including Covid-19. Conducted as part of the launch of ABB’s […]
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 […]
Delta cobots win BIG SEE Product Design Award 2026
Delta has been honoured with the BIG SEE Product Design Award 2026 for the Delta D-Bot series of collaborative robots. The BIG SEE Awards recognise outstanding creative achievements in the fields of architecture, product design, and industrial design. “Innovation is a core component of Delta’s corporate strategy. We consistently invest more than eight percent of […]
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 […]
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 »
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, […]