A profile of Birkby's Plastics, a UK‐based leading European plastic moulding company that has successfully completed a management buy‐out. Birkby's supplies to the major automotive OEMs and Tier One manufacturers and to leading business machine OEMs. It is more than a standard trade moulder...

Graham Engineering, a UK company specialising in the manufacture of large complex components for high‐tech industries has pioneered the application of 3D laser trimming and welding of stainless steel and other difficult‐to‐process pressings and fabrications. It uses a Prima Optima 3D laser...

This paper focuses on some of the presentations given at a technical workshop on “Laser processing of polymer‐based materials”, organised by Association of Industrial Laser Users. Applications in cutting and welding are discussed and specifically how different combinations of polymer...

ABB has launched a new robot controller, the fifth generation IRC5. One of its major features is MultiMove, a function that enables fully coordinated control of up to 36 axes, equal to four six‐axis robots plus work positioners or other servo devices. This opens up new application areas with a...

A review of the MACH machine tool exhibition held at the NEC, Birmingham, and specifically on the robotic exhibits. Although the number of stands demonstrating robots was down on the last MACH in 2002, there were some new product releases from Rexroth Bosch, Fanuc and ABB. Two of the first...

Kuka Robotics – Automation celebrated 30 years of operation in the UK and a new name by holding an Open Week at its UK headquarters in Halesowen, at which a diverse range of products and application solutions were exhibited. On show was the RoboCoaster, the “world's first passenger carrying...

Purpose – To provide a concise briefing on the developments in robotic welding. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on the ABB “Open Days” held at its UK operation. Findings – Gives information on the launch of MultiArc; the arc welding application based on its MultiMove...

Purpose – To review presentations on robotics in “less familiar environments” given at a seminar, “The changing face of robotics: inside and outside the factory”, organised by the UK Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE). Design/methodology/approach – This paper covers the second...

Purpose – To describe the design methodology and human‐centre functionality of the whole arm manipulator (WAM) developed originally at MIT and brought to commercial fruition by Barrett Technology. Design/methodology/approach – The WAM arm is driven by cable‐and‐cylinder transmissions,...

Purpose – To report on a workshop, “Future UK Robotics Research Opportunities and Challenges”, held at Salford University in November 2005. Design/methodology/approach – The driver for the workshop was fear that the UK could miss out on future opportunities in the robotics market, which...