The latest e‑Series collaborative robots from Universal Robots elevate industrial automation with built‑in force/torque sensing and unprecedented precision. Designed for tasks that demand exact force control—such as sanding, buffing, polishing, and deburring—the standard tool‑centric sensor works ou

ABB has unveiled the IR 14050, a single‑arm variant of its celebrated YuMi collaborative robot. Weighing just 21 lb, this cobot offers unparalleled versatility, mounting on ceilings, tables or walls with equal ease. Its ultra‑light magnesium arm boasts seven axes, making it ideal for small‑parts ass

Piab has introduced the piCOBOT, a compact vacuum gripper engineered for collaborative robots (cobots). Despite its lightweight profile, it can lift up to 15.5 lb (7 kg), making it ideal for a wide range of pick‑and‑place tasks. Designed as a plug‑and‑play end‑of‑arm tool, the piCOBOT is compatible

If I were an injection molder, the chance to learn from industry luminaries such as John Bozzelli, Don Paulson, Suhas Kulkarni, Robert Gattshall, Steve Johnson, and more than 40 top technical experts would be a dream. Molding 2019— the 29th annual conference—turns that dream into reality. Scheduled

Operating nine plants across the U.S., Mexico and China, EVCO Plastics employs more than 1,400 skilled workers and 183 injection machines ranging from 100‑to‑3,500 tons. The company serves diverse markets—medical cleanroom molding, thin‑wall packaging, automotive, agricultural equipment and househol

At the Plast 2018 show in Milan, Italy, Sytrama’s senior executives announced a strategic move: the company will shift its U.S. headquarters from New Castle, Delaware—where it currently shares office space with sister firm Negri Bossi—to Canton, Michigan. The relocation places Sytrama closer to its

In June, more than 1,400 guests from 48 countries gathered at Wittmann Battenfeld’s headquarters in Kottingbrunn, Austria, to celebrate the merger that formed Wittmann Battenfeld. The two‑day event showcased the company’s diverse portfolio—from injection‑molding machines and robotics to chillers, TC

Our April preview, May Show Dailies, and July highlights from NPE showcased groundbreaking robotics and automation solutions from industry leaders such as Absolute Robot, Arburg, Boy Machines, Beck Automation, Campetella, CBW Automation, Engel, Fanuc America, KraussMaffei, Rethink Robotics, Sepro Am

At NPE2018 in Orlando, the shift from traditional mechanical tooling to digitally connected molds accelerated the industry’s move toward Industry 4.0. While early shot counters and in‑cavity temperature/pressure sensors offered limited data, the new generation of monitors delivers real‑time producti

Absolute Robot Inc. (ARI) of Worcester, Massachusetts, has teamed with ABB Robotics of Auburn, Michigan, to deliver a streamlined solution for injection molding. By customizing the control interface on ABB’s proven six‑axis robots, ARI makes them effortlessly programmable across injection machines o

igus Inc., based in Providence, R.I., has unveiled a lightweight, low‑maintenance assembly robot that starts at just $6,200. The unit can be delivered pre‑assembled or set up on site in about 30 minutes using straightforward instructions. Key features: Stepper motors and encoders for ±0.5 mm accura

Industry 4.0 has traditionally concentrated on injection molding, but the latest releases show that extrusion is now ready to embrace digital standards. The first fully approved interface, Euromap 77, uses the OPC‑UA protocol to connect injection machines directly with MES computers. Following that,

Hahn Group, a leading German robotics and automation conglomerate, has expanded its portfolio to include collaborative robots (cobots). In October, the company acquired all patents and trademarks of Rethink Robotics—a Cambridge, Massachusetts‑based pioneer known for its Baxter and Sawyer cobots—alon

OnRobot, a Danish leader in electric gripper technology for collaborative robots, has inaugurated its first U.S. headquarters in Dallas. The company’s hardware and software solutions seamlessly integrate with cobots from industry giants such as Universal Robots, Kuka, Fanuc, and Yaskawa, enabling pr

Private‑equity firm Barnes Group Inc., based in Bristol, Connecticut, is broadening its industrial footprint by acquiring Italian robotics specialist Gimatic S.r.l. The deal marks Barnes Group’s inaugural move into robotics and automation, complementing its well‑established plastics and molding solu

When we launched Absolute Robot Inc. in 2013, our mission was clear: help North American molders stay competitive by delivering high‑quality, cost‑effective automation that keeps production onshore. If a product can be made here at a price North Americans can afford, why not? That philosophy guided

How smart can a robot be? At Booth W2173, Yushin America tested several linear robots—including unique non‑linear models—within fully automated cells. Chris Parrillo, national sales manager, frames these machines as integral to Industry 4.0, emphasizing connectivity and autonomous regulation. The ne

Just 13 months into his tenure as president of Boy Machines Inc., Todd St. Pierre shared a compelling vision for visitors to NPE2018: “It’s not your father’s Boy machine anymore. We once earned a reputation for producing small, low‑cost, high‑productivity workhorses you could set and forget. Today,

At this year’s National Plastics Exposition (NPE), the buzz that dominates the halls is unmistakable: Industry 4.0 – the Smart Factory revolution. Across the Atlantic, European leaders such as the German machinery association VDMA and EUROMAP are already setting the pace, rolling out new machine‑to‑

During the 2018 NPE, visitors observed a shift from isolated molding machines to integrated automated cells that combine multiple upstream and downstream functions. According to Chris Parrillo, national sales manager at Yushin America, We’re seeing more automation beside the press—enhanced inspectio