News » UK News Sony welcomes collaborative robot with open arms
Sony has placed the first UK order for ABB’s two-armed collaborative robot called YuMi. It will use the robot at its Sony UK Technology Centre (UKTEC) in South Wales to pick-and-place circuit board parts, mainly for research and development purposes. The technology will help Sony to improve its PCB assembly techniques and to explore the benefits of collaborative robotics in high-volume board production.
£0.5m grant will help to develop medical production system
The machine vision specialist, InterVision Global, has been awarded a £560,000 grant from the UK's innovation funding body, Innovate UK, to develop and manufacture a flexible automated system to produce components for orthopaedic medical devices.
EU regs have not produced surge in IE3 motor sales
Europe's electric motor efficiency regulations that came into force at the start of 2015 have not resulted in the expected boost to sales of high-efficiency IE3 motors. Under the Ecodesign regulations, common types of motor with ratings from 7.5–375kW placed on the market since 1 January 2015 must either meet the IE3 efficiency level, or meet the lower IE2 level and be fitted with a VSD (variable-speed drive).
First Motion Control Awards attract 200 bookings
ABB, Parker Hannifin and Gambica have become sponsors of the UK's new Motion Control Industry Awards, which will be presented for the first time at a dinner at the National Conference Centre on 12 April, 2016 – during the same week that the Drives & Controls Show is taking place at the nearby National Exhibition Centre.
UK engineering sector ‘generates more than 27% of GDP’
The engineering sector generates more than 27% of the UK’s GDP and is 68% more productive than the retail and wholesale sectors, according to a new report published by EngineeringUK – the non-profit organisation that promotes the role of engineers and engineering in the UK.
Yaskawa and Baxter join the line-up at the Drives Show
The Japanese drives and motors giant, Yaskawa, is one of the latest exhibitors to sign up to appear at the Drives & Controls Show at the UK's National Exhibition Centre in April. As well as sharing a large stand with its Vipa controls subsidiary, Yaskawa will also take part in the show’s robot demonstration zone.
£23m UK research consortium will examine IoT issues
An interdisciplinary research hub has been created in the UK to drive research into the Internet of Things (IoT). A consortium of nine UK universities will work together over the next three years to explore issues affecting the IoT in terms of privacy, ethics, trust, reliability, acceptability, and security (Petras).
Siemens links geared motors and motion controls in the UK
Siemens is integrating its geared motors and motion control divisions more closely in the UK, and has promoted Julie Ferguson to be the new manager of its geared motors business with the aim of doubling the business within three years.
Bookings continue to roll in for Drives & Controls Show
Exhibitor bookings for the upcoming Drives & Controls Show are continuing to stream in. One of the latest to sign up is Schneider Electric which is returning with an even bigger stand than it had in 2014, as well as an application display at the front of the hall.
Taiwan’s Adlink buys UK IoT specialist, PrismTech
The Taiwanese automation supplier, Adlink Technology, is buying the British IoT (Internet of Things) specialist PrismTech for a reported $16.6m. PrismTech, established in 1992, has about 70 employees and a turnover of around $10m. It will operate as a “semi-autonomous” business within Adlink.
Schneider Electric and Aveva call off their £550m merger
Schneider Electric’s planned reverse takeover of the UK-based industrial software developer Aveva has been abandoned after the two parties were unable to agree on the terms of the transaction.
UK manufacturers doubt Government’s commitment to sector
UK manufacturers have become less confident in the Government’s ability to create a more balanced economy by expanding the sector, according to a new survey by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the accountants and business advisers, BDO.
Goodwin moves from B&R Automation to Weidmüller
Simon Goodwin, general manager of B&R Automation in the UK for almost ten years, has been appointed managing director of Weidmüller in the UK and Ireland. He will be responsible for developing and driving the business, providing strategic leadership, and overseeing the company’s activities in the UK and Ireland.
Swedish group snaps up Acorn Industrial Services
The Swedish industrial conglomerate, Axel Johnson International, has acquired the UK industrial parts distributor, Acorn Industrial Services Group, for an undisclosed sum. The deal strengthens Axel Johnson’s position in the UK market and expands its bearings and transmissions business.
‘Every £1 invested in UK automation could deliver £49 return’
Investing an extra £1.2bn in automation and robotics could add more than £60bn to the UK economy over the coming decade – a £49 return on every £1 invested – according to a new report from Barclays bank. Such an investment, it adds, would expand the UK manufacturing sector to reach a value of £191bn by 2025 – a £38bn increase on the current value – as well as safeguarding 105,800 jobs across the economy.
