Control & Automation Features

A trip to ADI Catalyst: Where innovation and collaboration meet

Back in April 2022, Analog Devices announced the opening of ADI Catalyst, a state-of-the-art innovation hub in Limerick, Ireland. Since then, it has moved from strength to strength, with such prolific companies as ABB, Schneider and Siemens all working with ADI to bring their factories into the digital age.

From “nice to have” to necessity

For many OEMs and machine builders, energy efficiency has historically taken a back seat in favour of focusing on the overall efficacy and reliability of machines. Gareth Jones, Local Division Manager – Drives at ABB, takes a look at why the dial is starting to shift, and why energy performance is increasingly becoming a key differentiator.

Robots that can “see” are the future of smart manufacturing

Fully integrated robot vision systems are on the rise, but what does it take to create a good one?

Machine tending: From manual labour to collaborative automation

The number of potential uses for collaborative robots (cobots) in production processes continues to grow. A recent example comes from Finland, where OMRON cobots are being used to speed up and improve the production capacity of the laser marking machines at Laser Quality Markings, a specialist company based in Halikko, near Salo.

More Control & Automation Features Features

New trends in robotic automation(31/01/2024)

Steve Sands, Technical Consultant at Festo GB, explores how robotic automation is responding to new application challenges.
How AI is boosting the power of robotic solutions(31/01/2024)

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) to industrial robots is creating a new breed of solutions offering new levels of flexibility and productivity, whilst also answering industry challenges, especially labour shortages. Julian Ware, UK & Ireland Sales Manager for ABB Robotics, explains.
The three pillars of automation: What lies ahead in 2024(08/01/2024)

Welcome to 2024! Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? Are you planning on dusting off those running shoes or finally getting around to reading Tolstoy’s War and Peace? Or perhaps you’ve opted to dispense with resolutions all together, as you defiantly tuck into a leftover mince pie.
Control technology: The key to solving the UK productivity challenge?(04/12/2023)

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, output per hour worked was just 0.6 percent above its pre-pandemic 2019 average in the first quarter of 2023. This leaves the UK’s productivity on the same slow upward trajectory that it has followed since the financial crisis – and well below the trend that prevailed between the early 1970s and 2008.
Robots show healthy growth in the pharmaceutical industry(04/12/2023)

Robots are bringing the same flexibility and efficiency improvements to the pharmaceutical industry as they have to more established automated production lines, such as automotive. Julian Ware, UK & Ireland Sales Manager of ABB Robotics, explains some of the benefits that are already well proven, as well as considering what the future might hold.