INFRGY has introduced a prototype device that converts radio frequency (RF) signals into electricity. It supplements energy used to transmit RF signals and amplifies it with electromagnetic energy harnessed from the environment, to produce greater output. The amplified energy output has been tested and documented by the University of Kashmir’s Institute of Technology in India. The resulting energy output may be used in a combination of wired and wireless devices. Although the INFRGY smart circuit is relatively small, the prototype performs multiple functions at the same time, and can be though ..read more

FRAMOS and Antmicro are partnering to jointly build state-of-the-art, modular embedded vision devices based on FRAMOS optical sensor modules and Antmicro’s wide open source hardware portfolio, comprehensive software, edge AI, simulation and hardware engineering services. FRAMOS and Antmicro customers can immediately access the interactive System Designer framework that leverages the modularity and openness of product building blocks, allowing them to prototype and see their ideas come to life with block diagrams and beautiful, interactive 3D renders of physical boards, adapters for FRAMOS sens ..read more

French company, Integral System, a specialist in the distribution and assembly of industrial IT solutions, has expanded its IIoT portfolio with a TCT’s E-Green Sensor, an innovative self-powered IoT current sensor which operates autonomously without wiring or batteries. The sensor uses residual energy recovery technology, or energy harvesting, thus causing no excess current consumption. Installation is done non-invasively using pliers and requires no prior disconnection. The sensor communicates wirelessly via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and LoRaWAN technologies, covering distances of up to 5km ..read more

Automate UK Chief Technical Officer, Laurie Barnes, has become a committee member of TC 313 and its overarching committee MCE/3/3 Packaging Machines and added to the CEN TC 146 equivalent within the ISO Global Directory. He’s been integral in starting conversations that lead to establishing standards within the industry that are to become best practice for our members, canvassing not only UK entities and governing bodies but negotiating with our opposites in America. Laurie recently launched the UK vision industry standard (UKViS) at Automation UK 2024 which at the time was co-locate ..read more

Copia Automation has just released its first annual State of Industrial DevOps Report today, the first survey of its kind on the application of information technology (IT) DevOps principles and practices to the industrial sector. The report reveals that industrial coding errors cause manufacturing shutdowns lasting 30 hours on average, costing $4.2M per hour and $126M per shutdown. Half of all downtime is caused by industrial code changes, code confusion, lack of visibility into industrial code, and issues with programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Among the key findings of the survey are: T ..read more

The integration of Industry 4.0 on-premise or cloud-based platforms is pivotal for manufacturing and logistics organisations striving to enhance the operational efficiency. These advanced systems leverage cutting-edge technologies such as IoT and big data analytics, enabling real-time data processing and decision making directly on-site. This local data handling ensures heightened security and reduced latency, crucial for maintaining uninterrupted operations. For manufacturing entities, on-premise or cloud-based platforms facilitate seamless monitoring and control of production processes. They ..read more

Logistics solutions provider XPO has set up a new Female Driver Academy to attract more women into the industry. The female drivers who join the Academy will undertake a 12-16-week programme using the XPO Logistics internal driver training team to develop and sharpen their skills. The goal is to create a team of highly-skilled female drivers who will then immediatly land a job at  XPO. “We will be employing the candidates from day one so they can earn a living whilst training to become a vital part of our team. Our customer, Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland, has backed the initiative by offeri ..read more

A recent study by Zebra Technologies has found that 54% of manufacturers in Europe (61% globally) expect AI to drive growth by 2029, up from 37% (41% globally) in 2024. This surge in AI adoption, combined with 92% of survey respondents prioritising digital transformation, underscores manufacturers’ intent to improve data management and leverage new technologies that enhance visibility and quality throughout the manufacturing process. While digital transformation is a priority for manufacturers, achieving it is fraught with obstacles, including the cost and availability of labour, scaling techn ..read more

Autonomous and without statutory break times – Robots can offer real value to carpentry workshops and boost production. However, acquiring such machines is often associated with high costs. Used machines might offer a viable solution. Carpentry has been a traditional craft for centuries. Yet, this trade is not exempt from digitalisation and automation through the use of robots. The development of digitalisation in woodworking began in the mid-1970s with the introduction of the first CNC and electronically controlled machines. By the late 1990s, the first high-performance assembly lines with ro ..read more

When looking to invest in a high-value piece of automation equipment, a key question of any potential purchaser is: what is the payback period? In the UK, the typical expectation is that this will be under two years. Yet the value that the right automation solution can deliver to a manufacturing business will last far longer than that. This focus on short-term return is hindering our productivity as a nation. Our neighbours in the EU typically expect payback in three to five years, which goes some way towards accounting for their higher levels of both automation and productivity (a German work ..read more