One of the most notable recent events in factory automation in the UK has been the installation by Perkins Engines of an automated line for assembly of cylinder heads. The line is remarkable because of the number of operations — it includes eight robotic assembly stations and associated...

AR‐BASIC is introduced as a more flexible programming language for the Rediffusion Reflex Robot.

The use of computer graphics has been extended to help understand robotics. A Dublin‐based company has introduced a self‐help training course that runs on DEC computers.

R. A. Lister the UK diesel engine manufacturer has introduced a very versatile system to paint its engines. The key element in the system is a bar code reader.

A UK manufacturer of tubular steel chairs is operating a robot welding cell that has increased its productivity by 30%. Also, product changeover times can be accomplished in two to three minutes.

Robots, some with vision sensors, do all the assembly in the new Seiko line; Oki Electric also develops its own robots for in‐house assembly

Established to exploit research from Imperial College, London, RD Projects has a robot and a CNC controller ready for exploitation. Brian Rooks reports.

Flexible assembly techniques were essential for ICL in the manufacture of PCBs for its new mainframe computer. But many technical problems had to be overcome, as Brian Rooks reports.

Large welding robots are now appearing in European industry as a result of the agreement between NEI Thompson and Komatsu. Brian Rooks went to see one at NEI's factory near Wolverhampton.

A £750,000 paint plant has gone on stream at the Bisley plant of UK office furniture manufacturer, F. C. Brown. Brian Rooks went to see how robots are incorporated into the plant.