The investment of £108,000 in a novel robot application at the Prestwick site of British Aerospace is on target for a two‐year payback. Anna Kochan reports.

Japanese research and development in robotics continues to be difficult to access but there are some rays of hope, as Stephen McClelland explains.

Strong messages for the future of manufacturing automatIon were delivered at the opening of AUTOMAN. And a lively exhibition sent many robot companies happily home.

At the IPA work has been carried out into improving the quality and programming of robotic deburring using integrated sensors.

NEC, one of the world's largest electronics companies, is moving slowly but surely towards gaining from its investment in robotics. John Hartley reports.

KUKA has been working with a major car manufacturer in Germany to develop a new approach to production.

Using robotics in manufacturing THIS BOOK is one of a series being published by the Open University Press Robotics Series. The aim of the series is to give undergraduate, postgraduate and practising engineers an understanding of the essential of robotic systems for CIM and FMS.

Optimising welding performance SUBSTANTIAL gains in productivity in many welding operations have resulted from the use of arc welding robots. However, possibilities for even greater gains are being overlooked because many robot suppliers simply set up installations to take over from manual MIG...

The development of a vision‐guided robot for TIG welding is being claimed as a breakthrough by Meta Machines. Brian Rooks reports on a system to weld rocket motors for a Swedish company.

Opel, GM's German automotive company has invested heavily in manufacturing for its Omega car. Brian Rooks reports on the advanced equipment now operating in the Russelsheim plant.