Category: Features & Interviews

Robot technologies – once unattainable for SME’s – are now becoming a commodity: Standardised, affordable and easier to implement  A huge range of robot technologies that were considered experimental a few years ago, are now commercially viable for small and medium sized enterprises (SME’s) in the manufacturing sector, according to a recent analysis from global robot hub HowToRobot.com.  The study estimates that robots will be a feasible option for more than 50% of SMEs within the next three years1 due to a global […]

RTITB has launched a new eLearning course for those ‘Managing and Supervising’ Material Handling Equipment Operations’, highlighting that it’s not only lift truck operators at fault when an incident occurs and that many who are currently managing, or supervising lift truck operations are unaware of what their role entails, and that legislation requires them to […]

One of the UK’s leading utility management specialists for industry is celebrating its 40th birthday in style by committing to helping tens of manufacturers become Net Zero. Control Energy Costs (CEC), which has its Headquarters in Surrey and a strong presence in the Midlands and Yorkshire, is helping SMEs become more sustainable by launching a […]

Automation offers a route forward for hard-pressed e-fulfilment operations – particularly, when it comes to packaging processes. But how do you build in operational resilience? What are the secrets to maximising uptime? By Will Carder, Automation Sales Engineer at Quadient The pandemic has turned the retail sector on its head. Online order volumes rocketed by […]

While current emissions legislation has little impact on generator servicing companies at present, as new, low emission engines saturate the market, the way maintenance is managed could drastically change. Here Pete Trueman, Service Delivery Manager at DiPerk, the UK and Ireland’s Perkins engines expert, explains how new partnerships will form in light of changing emissions […]

Precision engineering firm JJ Churchill reduced the traditional response time by two thirds for parts required by Surface Technology International (STI) for asymptomatic COVID-19 testing equipment. Progressing from the first telephone enquiry to the manufacture of production parts in a matter of weeks, with prototype parts machined in days. A prototype to the production process, […]

~ Digital technologies are driving a new frontier in medical treatment ~ In September 2020, the Government announced £32 million of funding for research and development in transformative healthcare technology projects. After previously lagging behind other industries in digitalisation, this new investment could catalyse the fourth healthcare revolution. Here, Stewart Goulding, managing director at precision […]

Recent years have seen the development of digital pills — tablets that combine traditional medicine with sensors that monitor the body after ingestion. This is just one example of how digitalisation is advancing pharmaceuticals. Here Dave Walsha, commercial development officer at precision drive system supplier, Electrical Mechanical Systems (EMS), explores other areas where digital automation […]

Why ROI is more than just the payback period One of the major considerations when specifying an adhesive is how quickly it will deliver return on investment (ROI), a metric that is affected by a variety of tangible and intangible factors. Here Matthew Baseley, Technical Sales Executive at adhesives specialist Intertronics, explains the considerations that […]

~ How has WEG transformed its operations in response to COVID-19? ~ The COVID-19 pandemic has tested the resilience of the most robust supply chains and has ushered in a new way of working. This has changed how companies operate in an unprecedented manner. Here’s how motor and drive manufacturer, WEG kept going during the […]