Rising labour costs and mounting workforce shortages are a growing global concern for automotive manufacturing, according to a new survey commissioned by ABB Robotics. Nearly a third (31%) of all respondents listed labour shortages among their top three challenges, while 35% ranked labour as their most concerning area when it came to rising costs. Crucially, […]
Sustainability efforts create entirely new markets, lead to attractive business models, and offer great opportunities for the key technology that is robotics and automation. Automatica, held in Munich from 27 to 30 June 2023, presents the opportunities of sustainable production. Smart automation can make a significant contribution to achieving the set climate goals by improving […]
Scorpion Vision is presenting a new application for its AI-powered 3D vision platform. The new 3D+AI solution will enable fresh produce processors to automate the peeling, coring and chopping of apples without impacting yield for the first time ever. Apple processing is an extremely labour-intensive task, but, until now, attempts at automation in this area […]
A new near-patient diagnostic testing system which promises to slash the waiting time for results relies on handling gantries and electric axes from Festo for pipetting and dispensing. The recent pandemic taught us that rapid and reliable tests at low cost are key to future prevention and control of transmissible diseases. High throughput testing for […]
Fanuc has launched two new ultra-hygienic additions to its SCARA pick-and-place robot range: the cleanroom-standard, pedestal-mounted SR-3iA/C three-axis and SR-6iA/C four-axis robots. Said to be ideal for replacing manual labour in handling tasks, they also boast anti-contamination features, meeting the highest safety and hygiene standards in even the most challenging food, pharma and general manufacturing […]
New i4H SCARA robots from Omron are optimised for ESD and cleanroom environments for example in digital and automotive industries, such as semiconductor manufacturing. Omron says the i4H SCARA robots are the perfect solution for industrial automation applications that require heavy payload handling together with precision and speed. The latest i4H SCARA ESD (electrostatic discharge) […]
Good planning and strong partners help SMEs overcome hurdles in automation, says Peter Lange, business development manager for robotics at Omron. Collaborative robots, also known as cobots, are enjoying great popularity because they make it possible to automate time-consuming and resource-intensive tasks. The global market for collaborative robots is currently estimated at around $1.2 billion. […]
From batteries to burgers, fast scanning is finding new inspection applications, as Paul Wilson, managing director of Scorpion Vision, explains. Tech advancements such as sophisticated sensor technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and faster microprocessors are conspiring to make line-scan camera technology a compelling option in a host of new areas. Inline quality control of web printing […]
For the longest time, using robots at production sites affected by dust formation has been problematic and prone to malfunctions. A Kawasaki ZX-Series palletizing robot, however, has been in problem-free and continuous use in the packaging of dental plaster for more than three years. Since the 1880s Ernst Hinrichs Dental from Goslar in the German […]
igus makes predictive maintenance simple
Now more than ever, downtime is costly. To combat this, igus developed i.Cee, a smart plastics system that turns passive components into intelligent assets. By analysing data from sensors embedded in energy chains, bearings, and cables, i.Cee enables dynamic service life prediction, real-time alerts, and automated maintenance scheduling. Whether you are running high-speed packaging lines […]
igus introduces new humanoid robot
Humanoid robots are beginning to support industries in various ways, but what do they really bring to the table? Motion plastics specialist, igus is offering its first humanoid robot, ‘Iggy Rob’. According to estimates, 20 million humanoid robots could be in use in industry by 2030. The demand for this technology is increasing rapidly among […]
igus introduces new SID1 robotic dog
Robot dogs are being used for a variety of tasks, ranging from preserving heritage sites to assisting in manufacturing plants. igus has introduced its own quadruped robot, the SID1 bionic robot. Advancements in robotic dogs designed for surveillance and security purposes are showcasing the rapid development and deployment of technology. These quadruped robots are equipped […]
See automation in action at MachineBuilding.Live
As a result of their popularity at the 2024 event, the number of Action Areas at MachineBuilding.Live 2025 has been increased. On these special stands, leading experts from across the machine building and factory automation spectrum will be providing live demonstrations of their latest technologies and innovations. Many of them will be making their UK […]
Vision system combined with robotics
On stand 163 in the Action Area at MachineBuilding.Live, Visicon will highlight the magic that happens when you combine the latest in machine vision systems with robotics. The combination of vision and robotics enables you to unlock the potential of automation with an affordable and accessible solution. Visicon is an integration partner in the UK […]
RARUK Automation to offer collaborative 7th axis
Leading automation distributor, RARUK Automation, has announced a new partnership with Thomson, a Regal Rexnord Brand. The global leader in mechanical motion technology recently launched the Movotrak CTU (cobot transfer unit). RARUK Automation, known for supplying Universal Robots collaborative robots (cobots), can now offer Movotrak CTU as a complimentary product to its customers. The Movotrak […]
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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OMRON robots automate poultry packing line
CP Foods UK is a major poultry producer supplying leading retailers, manufacturers and foodservice operators across the UK. With operations rooted in food safety, quality, and adaptability, the company constantly seeks ways to respond to shifting retailer and consumer demands. In its UK facilities, CP Foods UK prepares and packages chicken products for a dynamic […]
Automation and robotics for brewing and beverage
ABB and its machine and factory automation business, B&R Industrial Automation, will exhibit brewery and beverage technologies together at drinktec 2025, the world economic summit for the beverage and liquid food industry, giving visitors a chance to see how ABB technologies combine to optimise operations across the full production cycle. Spanning process control, adaptive manufacturing […]
Cobot sparkles in food factory cleaning solution
Samey Robotics and Rbot9 have chosen the FANUC CRX-10iA/L collaborative robot to power a game-changing cleaning system they have jointly developed for food factories. Named VOTTA, inspired by the Icelandic word for ‘certify’ and echoing the sound of ‘Þvotta’ (‘washing’), the system offers overhead, automated cleaning of large-scale areas without bulky structures or layout changes. […]
Unlocking efficiency and productivity
Stephen Hayes, managing director at automation and control technology specialist Beckhoff UK, explores the benefits of integrating robots into a full manufacturing environment to unlock improved efficiency and productivity. Several components of a smart factory need to be integrated together in order for it to run effectively and efficiently. However, with many robots added once […]