PGN-plus Permanent is the latest innovation for the PGN-plus gripper from Schunk, employing a unique lubrication system. This provides faster, more even distribution of the lubricant in the PGN-plus Permanent gripper, even with short strokes. The complete contour of the patented multi-tooth guidance on the PGN-plus Permanent is equipped with grease pockets, which ensures a […]
FANUC Robotics UK has extended the application field for collaborative robots with the launch the human-safe CR-35iA which has a 35kg payload. The CR-35iA opens up applications that have previously been off limits for both traditional industrial robots and lighter duty collaborative robots. Over the last couple of years, the first generation of collaborative robots […]
Schunk says the EGS electric rotary gripper unit defines a new class of efficiency in the handling of small components. It facilitates the switch to pneumatic-free handling solutions and is claimed to be the first unit to combine electric gripping and rotation in a single compact housing. The new low-maintenance and affordable module paves the […]
Nigel Flowers, managing director of Sumitomo (SHI) Demag UK, examines the rise and fall of the robotic march in the plastics industry. A growing number of injection moulders are embracing automation with BARA reporting a 75% rise in robotic integration within the plastics industry between 2013 and 2014. This increase is reflected in our own […]
With a simple zip fastening concept and no need for specialist tools, the zip feature on Igus zipper e-chain and zipper e-tube enables significantly faster installation of energy chains in robotics applications. The small pitch of the zipper e-chain ensures low-noise operation, even at accelerations of 100m/s² and more. The zipper e-tube is fully-enclosed to […]
Askew & Barrett sources pulses from key agricultural merchants and then sorts, cleans and grades them at its processing plant in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The pulses are bagged into 12.5kg and 25kg paper sacks and 25kg woven polypropylene (WPP) sacks, before being palletised and transported to food manufacturers and retailers at home and abroad. Pictured right: […]
Comau has introduced a new high-speed, 6-axis articulated robot featuring a payload of 3kg and a reach of just 630 mm. The third robot within the award-winning Racer family, Racer3 is Comau’s response to the growing market demand for fast, cost-effective robotic automation within small to medium-sized enterprises and emerging countries. With a streamlined design […]
Palletizer robots often operate in factories and warehouses exposed to dust and extreme temperatures, and the installed components must offer reliable function even in harsh environments, as well as easy maintenance. Okura Yusoki, a leading manufacturer of transport equipment and logistics systems, chose Han-Yellock connectors from Harting for its new palletizer robot. Han-Yellock provides IP65/IP67 […]
For many years, the SCHUNK PGN-plus universal gripper has been considered a benchmark for gripping modules. Now with the new PGN-plus Permanent, SCHUNK, the competence leader for clamping technology and gripping systems is raising the bar. Its unique permanent lubrication provides a faster and more even distribution of the lubricant, even with short strokes. The […]
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 […]
Cobot completes one millionth PCB quality check
Hanover Displays, a UK-based manufacturer of passenger information systems for the public transport sector, has reached a major manufacturing milestone: the completion of its 1,000,000th automated quality test of printed circuit boards (PCBs) using Techman collaborative robots from LG Motion. The automation programme began in 2018, when Hanover introduced its first collaborative robot to improve […]
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 […]
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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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 […]
Getting the best out of Total Cost of Ownership
It’s an unfortunate fact that UK manufacturers – particularly within the food industry – stall on investing in robotics and automation. Investing in equipment – which for some high-spec, fully automatic turnkey lines can cost almost as much as the UK’s average house price – can bring out the fear of the unknown in many […]