Schunk’s SVH servo-electric 5-finger gripping hand will be making its UK exhibition debut at Advanced Manufacturing (NEC, Birmingham, 2-4 June 2015), designed to meet the evolving needs of the UK manufacturing sector. It will be shown complete with Schunk’s LWA lightweight arm, controlled via a tablet over Wi-Fi. Replicating the movements and characteristics of the […]
ABB has aquired German collaborative robot specialist Gomtec to expand its own offering in the field of collaborative robots. Gomtec’s Roberta robot (pictured right) complements ABB’s YuMi robot by expanding capabilities into higher payload applications, with YuMi focused primarily on areas such as handling smaller parts. Gomtec’s technology platform will strengthen ABB’s development of a […]
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 […]
Danish robot manufacturer Universal Robots achieved spectacular growth in 2014, with revenue increasing 70% and profit more than doubling. The company is on track to meet its goal of doubling turnover each year from 2014 to 2017. CEO Enrico Krog Iversen is pleased that Universal Robots has been able to sustain the high, profitable growth […]
The Robotics Update team were at the Hannover Messe this April, looking at the latest innovations and talking to the various robot suppliers, who were out in force. Over the next seven pages, we’ll present the most interesting and exciting of those innovations, and highlight the latest news from the key players. For a quick […]
Kawasaki Robotics has introduced its latest arc welding robot designed for high output demand in crowded manufacturing environments. The BA-006N welding robot is a completely new ground-up design ideally suited for densely populated welding robot cells, or stand-alone cells, where minimal space is available. With a lightweight arm design and high-output motors, the BA-006N welding […]
The FlexShapeGripper robot gripper from Festo is another of its bionic creations inspired by nature. The FlexShapeGripper provides a flexible and adaptable gripping mechanism that can be used in a wide range of applications. Pictured: the FlexShapeGripper can grasp, pick up and put down several differently shaped objects in one process. The FlexShapeGripper was developed […]
ABB has acquired German mechatronics company Gomtec to expand its offering in the field of collaborative robots. Gomtec’s technology platform will strengthen ABB’s development of a new generation of ‘safe-by-design’ collaborative robots that can be operated outside of cages or protective fencing, expanding opportunities to deploy them in new applications. Pictured: Gomtec’s Roberta colllaborative robot […]
Metralabs is best known for its consumer oriented service robots, but an interesting product on show at Hannover was the Scitos G5 Manipulator, comprising a Scitos G5 mobile base unit with a robotic arm, delivering a mobile robot capable of precise and delicate transportation tasks. The company says the Scitos G5 Manipulator offers an accuracy […]
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 […]
ChocoMatic comes to life with igus 7th axis
When customers tap a screen to choose their favourite chocolates, Roose Automation’s ‘ChocoMatic’ robot arm travels along a linear track, selects each chocolate, and delivers them without human intervention. Behind this playful, hygienic automation lies a clever piece of engineering: the 7th axis from igus. Roose Automation wanted to give its robot arm the freedom […]
Cost-effective robotic automation products
Mouser Electronics announces a distribution agreement with igus, a global leader in industrial and automation products. With over 60 years of design experience and a strong reputation for quality, igus offers a range of technically advanced “motion plastics” designed for Industry 4.0 and 5.0. The igus product portfolio includes flexible cables, robotic components, motor control […]
High-payload collaborative robots from OMRON
OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies has expanded its TM S Series collaborative robot portfolio with three new models and a major software update, supporting manufacturers facing labour shortages and increasing requirements for flexible, high-mix production. The TM30S, TM20S and TM6S extend the series’ payload and reach capabilities for applications such as palletising, machine tending and […]
RARUK Automation demos cobot palletising solution
On 11-12 February 2026, Packaging Innovations and EMPACK will be returning to the NEC in Birmingham. RARUK Automation will be showcasing the PE10 Robotiq Palletising Solution designed specifically for Universal Robots collaborative robots (cobots). Palletising is a repetitive and strenuous task that poses risk of injury to workers. For manufacturers looking to increase efficiency, palletising […]
New off-the-shelf and modular palletisers
End-of-line palletising is a task commonly automated across a range of industries, due to bottlenecks and the risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI) to workers. RARUK Automation can now offer two simple approaches to palletising automation, from partner Robotiq. RARUK Automation is the exclusive UK representative for Robotiq, a Canadian manufacturer of end-of-arm tooling 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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Automation and robotics in food manufacturing
At Food Manufacturing Live, Jake Norman, managing director at OAL, discusses applications for robotics in food factories to automate the likes of pick and place operations, palletising, case packing and other areas. He highlights the picking of fresh fruit, with a particular demonstration on the stand showing a robot picking up oranges. “We work with […]
Bridging the gap in food and beverage plants
Food and beverage plants increasingly operate with a blend of equipment generations: legacy machinery that has served reliably for years, and newer automation technologies designed to enhance efficiency, traceability and sustainability. This hybrid setup gives manufacturers flexibility to modernise gradually, but it also presents a growing challenge: how to maintain ageing assets while integrating more […]
FANUC robot pairs hygiene with high performance
To meet the growing demand for food and cleanroom applications, FANUC has unveiled the latest model in its LR Mate industrial robot range. The compact and powerful LR Mate 10-11A Food/Clean has a 10kg payload and is compliant with ISO 4 Class cleanrooms. This makes it ideal for use in highly controlled environments across sectors […]
Robots can be key for the bakery sector
Chris Sumner, MD of Fanuc UK considers why robotic uptake within the bakery sector has been lower than that in other manufacturing sectors. The bakery sector is extremely broad, covering anything from ingredients, mixes and blends to bread, rolls, cakes and pre-made snack foods. Robotic uptake within the bakery segment has traditionally been lower than […]