Automation Articles for Manufacturers and Engineers

The UR series of roller guides are being positioned as a direct upgrade over Hiwin’s existing models in the same field.

Hiwin Launches New UR Roller Guides With Improved Precision and Load Capacity

Additional features include wide, modular catalogue of different sizes, longer service life, and 360 degrees lubrication.

In what Hiwin called a “genuine performance booster for demanding applications,” the company recently touted their newest line of roller guides, the UR series. They have positioned the new product as a direct upgrade over their past roller guides, with better static load capacity, dynamic load capacity, and service life.

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION

Hannover Messe 2026

Automation is the key to efficiency and competitiveness. At HANNOVER MESSE, the focus is on intelligent systems, sensor technology, and networked control technologies, as well as PLCs, DCS, SCADA systems, motion control, industrial PCs, embedded systems, and electric drives. These technologies ensure quality and enable intelligent, networked processes—across industries and with an eye to the future.

Nord to Exhibit at Modex 2026

NORD DRIVESYSTEMS has announced their participation in MODEX 2026. From April 13–16 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, NORD will showcase their latest advancements in high-efficiency gear motors, intelligent electronic control products, and modular automation solutions designed to optimize throughput and reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Attendees are invited to visit Booth B14136 to talk with experts and discover how NORD’s decentralized technology is redefining reliability in modern warehousing and distribution centers.

ROBOTICS

NVIDIA Platform Powers Physical AI

NVIDIA is partnering with the global robotics ecosystem — including leading robot brain developers, industrial robot giants and humanoid pioneers — to power production-scale physical AI. NVIDIA also unveiled new NVIDIA Isaac simulation frameworks and new NVIDIA Cosmos and NVIDIA Isaac GR00T open models for the industry to develop, train and deploy the next generation of intelligent robots.

Humanoid Robotics at BMW Group Plant Leipzig

BMW To Introduce Humanoid Robots at Leipzig Factory

For the first time, the BMW Group is now bringing Physical AI to Europe and launching a pilot project with humanoid robots at the Leipzig plant. The project aims to integrate humanoid robotics into existing series production of cars and to explore further applications in the production of batteries and components.

MOTION CONTROL

Nord Maxxdrive industrial gear units provide a high torque solution for mining systems with various configurations available to meet all application requirements.

Nord Delivers Heavy-Duty Industrial Gear Units, Motors, and Controls for Mining Applications

Nord recently highlighted what they’re doing for the mining industry, focusing on high output torque, energy efficiency, and intelligent variable frequency drives.

Safe Torque Off (STO) is one of the most important safety measures incorporated when operators and machinery work in close proximity.

Safe Torque Off Is Being Embraced Industry-Wide

Servo drive manufacturers have coalesced around a new status quo: Safe Torque Off. After a decade of development, the technology has become widely recognized as the standard in workplace safety; cheaper, safer, and more compact than the competition. If you’re working to meet modern standards for workplace safety today, there’s a pretty good chance you’re going to start here.

AI

Vention's GRIIP enables deployment of autonomous robot cells in highly unstructured manufacturing environments

How Generalized AI Can Transform Pick-and-Place Robotics

Instead of dedicated pick-and-place robots programmed for a single task, a new type of generalized artificial intelligence can allow for a more flexible and robust autonomous robotic implementation that scales across applications.

The A8 is designed for advanced industrial manufacturing applications, with a particular focus on the rapidly evolving semiconductor manufacturing equipment market. Its high-performance architecture and flexible engineering environment make it ideally suited for industries requiring precision control, scalable integration, and accelerated development cycles.

Yokogawa Introduces OpreX A8 Intelligent Edge Controllers

The semiconductor manufacturing industry continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, driven by rapidly increasing precision requirements and growing system complexity. As equipment configurations and control targets diversify, engineers are often required to modify or completely rewrite control software to accommodate new specifications or design changes. Because traditional controllers tightly couple software behavior to hardware, even small adjustments can lead to lengthy redevelopment cycles, slowing innovation and delaying equipment rollout. To overcome these limitations, Yokogawa has introduced a mechanism that enables software development centered on data rather than hardware dependencies. This architecture allows the control software to seamlessly absorb variations in equipment design, functionality, and operating conditions.