Machine Building

Pacepacker forecasts the next packaging automation trends

In the last decade the packaging industry has profoundly altered. External market forces have projected robotics and automation into mainstream manufacturing, with labour efficiency and productivity, implicit in Pacepacker Services earlier work, continuing to be a key driver. The automation specialist's Commercial & Information Systems Manager, Paul Wilkinson looks back on recent packaging developments and shares his predictions for the next decade.

11th January 2017

Top tips for selecting the right grease

ExxonMobil offers a five-point plan for ensuring that the right grease is selected for each application.

11th January 2017

How CAE tools boost machine builders' profitability

Manufacturing companies are increasingly turning to automation to help them retain their competitive edge, which means there is strong demand for machines of all types. But the machines are almost always needed quickly and often have to be designed specifically. How can machine builders respond while maintaining their profitability? Ken Christie, Director of EPLAN UK, has some suggestions.

11th January 2017

Top 10 factors to consider when specifying linear systems

Bob Love, Business Development Manager at Schaeffler UK, outlines the top 10 factors engineers should consider when specifying linear modules for single- and multi-axis handling and positioning systems.

10th January 2017

Persistent security - protect your business from cyber attacks

Tim Ricketts, Director of M.A.C. Solutions provides some useful hints and tips for businesses looking to improve the security of their Industrial Control Systems and better protect their business from cyber attacks.

9th January 2017

Metal detectors: the natural choice for food-on-the-go SMEs

Britain's appetite for food-on-the-go (FOTG) looks set to continue, with greater product innovations, clean and healthy eating, ethnic foods and artisan local produce driving consumers away from the daily sliced bread sandwich ritual. Fortress Technology's European Sales Director Phil Brown explores the implications that this has on the 6100-plus micro, small and medium sized enterprises who are catering to our more adventurous pallets and explains why metal detectors are the most cost-effective and popular route to protect FOTG suppliers from the most likely contaminant risk - metal.

9th January 2017

A closer look at Harmonic Drive's WavePlus technology

Sometimes, you only need one small innovation to make something revolutionary. Sliced bread, for example, simply took a stroke of inspiration for Otto Rohwedder to combine automatic bread wrapping equipment with cutting functionality. Here, Graham Mackrell, managing director of precision gearing expert Harmonic Drive UK, explains WavePlus technology, an innovative development in strain wave gearing.

4th January 2017

Computer-aided engineering drives hydraulics to new heights

A modern car is far more than an assemblage of components. To achieve the levels of speed, comfort, handling, economy and safety required, each component will have had its design refined multiple times. The way they eventually work together as systems and sub-systems is indicative of layer upon layer of careful optimisation. Jim Cairney, Engineering Manager of hydraulics company Oilgear UK, explains how the same dedication to technical processes can be applied to hydraulics systems.

30th December 2016

Industrial automation trends - predictions for 2017

As manufacturing facilities incorporate greater levels of automation, the demand for new technologies continues to grow. Recent years have seen several trends that have created a shift in the way the industry operates. Martyn Williams, Managing Director of industrial software expert COPA-DATA UK, examines three of the most prominent automation trends for 2017 and discusses how these will change manufacturing operations.

23rd December 2016

Interview: Jürgen von Hollen, President of Universal Robots

In October 2016, Jürgen von Hollen joined Universal Robots as new President. After almost 2 months full of work, time has come to draw an initial summary. We asked Jürgen to share some insights with us on his personal impressions, his vision and the Universal robots strategy.

22nd December 2016