50 CONTENTS n Drives & Controls is a controlled circulation publication. If you live in the UK and want to subscribe phone 0333 577 0801 or fax 0845 604 2327. Alternatively for both UK and overseas subscriptions please subscribe online at www.drivesncontrols.com. If you have any enquiries regarding your subscription, please use these numbers. The content of this magazine, website and newsletters do not necessarily express the views of the Editor or publishers. The publishers accept no legal responsibility for loss arising from information in this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the publishers. Paid subscriptions UK: £110 per annum Europe: £145 per annum Rest of World: £180 per annum Printing: Warners Midlands PLC., PE10 9PH ISSN 0950 5490 Copyright: DFA Media Group 2024 NEXT ISSUE The May issue of Drives & Controls will contain our annual supplement on electric motors, plus a look at developments in linear motion technologies, and applications in the scientic, pharmaceuticals and medical engineering markets. We will also be previewing Smart M&E Week 2024. UPDATE 14 Comment 15 Back to Basics 45 Gambica column 46 New Products 48 Design Data and Multimedia 49 Products & Services IN DEPTH Follow us on X @DrivesnControls Drives Magazine Web site www.drivesncontrols.com Follow us on LinkedIn @ Drives & Controls Join us on Facebook Drives & Controls Drives& Controls REGULARS DfAmedia group 34 30 26 24 5 47 DRIVES & CONTROLS April 2024 Vol 40 No 4 Editor Tony Sacks t: 01732 465367 e: tony@drives.co.uk Consultant Editor Andy Pye t: 07808 137312 e: andy.pye@dfamedia.co.uk Production Manager Sarah Blake t: 01233 770781 e: sarah.blake@dfamedia.co.uk Operations Manager Emma Godden-Wood t: 01732 370340 e: emma.godden-wood@dfamedia.co.uk Marketing Manager Hope Jepson t: 01732 370340 e: hope.jepson@dfamedia.co.uk Financial Finance Department t: 01732 370340 e: accounts@dfamedia.co.uk ADVERTISING Sales Director Damien Oxlee t: 01732 370342 m: 07951 103754 e: damien.oxlee@dfamedia.co.uk Sales Manager Sara Gordon t: 01732 370341 m: 07505867211 e: sara.gordon@dfamedia.co.uk DFA Direct Ian Atkinson t: 01732 370340 e: ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk Italy Oliver & Diego Casiraghi e: info@casiraghi.info t: +39 031 261407 f: +39 031 261380 Managing Director Ryan Fuller t: 01732 370344 e: ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk Chief Executive Ocer Ian Atkinson t: 01732 370346 e: ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk Reader/Circulation Enquiries Perception-MPS Ltd t: 01825 701520 e: cs@perception-sas.com HEAD OFFICE DFA Media Group 192 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1BE t: 01732 370340 f: 01732 360034 e: info@dfamedia.co.uk www.drivesncontrols.com 5 News A round-up of the latest business and industry developments from around the world. 18 Technology Cutting-edge innovations in motion, power transmission, controls and related technologies. 26 Humanoid Robots A urry of recent developments suggest that humanoid robots are starting to move from laboratories to factories and warehouses. A major bank has dramatically revised its predictions for the size of the humanoid market, predicting it will be worth $38bn by 2035 – a six-fold increase on a year ago. 28 Machine-Building We report on a novel packaging machine that has all of its controls onboard, instead of in an external cabinet, saving wiring and space. Plus what does the EU’s new Machinery Regulation, which replaces the earlier Machinery Directive, mean for you. 34 Conveyors and Materials-Handling A Swiss food machinery specialist has turned to a levitating technology to transport sliced foods and is reporting it has many advantages. Also, how mobile robots can help to move items around warehouses, overcoming some of the limitations of traditional conveyors. 38 Machine Vision A German vision specialist has developed a technology that combines robots with four 3D cameras to load and unload pressed parts automatically from large containers. Plus a look at how vision systems can transform blister pack inspections, making them accurate, precise and ecient. 42 Smart M&E Week Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week 2024, including the Drives & Controls Show, will take place at the NEC on 5 and 6 June. We dig a little deeper into what visitors can expect at the event, and at the other activities happening at the same time. 44 Virtual Reality Augmented and virtual reality technology are being used increasingly in factory settings. An expert examines some of the implications. 40 Average net circulation January to December 2022 44 45 42 Subscribe for your FREE copy now 21,157
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