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 September issue of Drives & Controls will contain a special section on energy eciency, as well as a feature covering developments in the food and beverage industry, and a look at what’s been happening in the world of service and repairs. UPDATE 14 Comment 15 ABB Back to Basics 52 Gambica column 54 New Products 62 Design Data and Multimedia 185 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 38 30 28 19 5 62 DRIVES & CONTROLS July/Aug 2024 Vol 40 No 7 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. 28 Precision Gearboxes The global market for precision gearboxes and geared motors that are used in mobile robots is set to mushroom with a CAGR of 45.9% in the period to 2028. This growth will far outstrip that of the wider automation market, with planetary gearboxes and geared motors being the fastest– growing segments. 30 Robotics and Automated Manufacturing Examples of industrial automation and robotics in practice from aerospace, to the food and beverage sector. Plus how AI modelling is being used to program robots and to distinguish items in warehouses, and how to ensure that robots and humans get along safely. 38 Transportation The engineering plastics specialist igus has developed a bicycle, 92% of which is made of plastic. As well as making and selling its own bikes, igus has also established a new business that is supplying plastic components, including frames, to other bicycle manufacturers. 42 Clean Energy How robots are being used to create wind turbine blades, and how 3D printing and recyclable materials are helping to improve the environmental footprint of blade production. Plus a look at novel ways of storing large amounts of energy, and how a solar farm in York will be a testbed for robots and other autonomous systems used to inspect and maintain the arrays. 50 Talking Industry In the latest episode of the Talking Industry series of online panel discussions, three industry experts debated how to increase the take-up of industrial automation – and robots, in particular – within the UK SME community. 42 Average net circulation January to December 2023 52 58 61 63 ANNUAL BUYER’S GUIDE This issue contains the 2024/2025 edition of the industry “bible” for power transmission, automation and motion engineers, telling you who sells what and how to get in touch with them. Subscribe for your FREE copy now 18,942
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