Industrial Automation stories
Recycling plants are cutting contamination and costs as nearly 100 AI-powered machines take over the tedious sorting humans often get wrong.
Sensors, drones and automation are reshaping building upkeep, with smarter systems promising lower costs and better occupant comfort.
Rio Tinto’s tyre-handling forklift operators are seeing safer, simpler controls after Hydraulink engineered a joystick system for the machines.
Connected traps are letting volunteers and facilities managers monitor pest activity remotely, cutting checks and speeding up response times.
Manufacturers are gaining cheaper, safer and lighter parts as advanced plastics replace metal in machinery, buildings and bulk handling.
AGV operators can cut sensor counts and simplify integration as one laser scanner handles both safety and navigation up to 50 m.
FBR’s share price jumped 21 per cent after its Hadrian X robot built a 180sq m house in under three days, signalling possible disruption for builders.
Safer warehouse automation is getting simpler as new scanners and sensors cut installation complexity and help prevent AGV collisions.
Hygienic cabling and sealed components can cut contamination risk, reduce shutdowns and help food makers meet strict cleaning demands.
Industries inspecting aircraft engines and turbines can now avoid disassembly with a lighter scope offering brighter images and oil-clearing optics.
Factories could cut wiring by up to 38% as a new Rockwell Automation safety system gives operators clearer diagnostics and faster fault-finding.
Users can now access instructions and certificates on the hoist via an NFC tag, while maintenance is easier and runtime has doubled.
Material Recycling Facilities could boost sorting accuracy as BHS’s Max AI system uses robotics to tackle waste streams more efficiently.
New pullers and cordless pumps shown in Auckland could cut maintenance time and let one worker safely handle jobs once needing two.
USB malware can shut plants and sewage systems, prompting Honeywell to launch a tool that checks removable drives before they connect.
Computerised controls are making strand-jack lifts safer and more economical for bridges, mines and rigs handling loads of up to 1,400 tons.
Industrial plants can now log and block USB devices after malware spread via removable media helped trigger outages and sewage floods.
Workers can stay clear of drop zones as a computer-controlled jack-up system handles 2,000-ton lifts with precise automated safety checks.
Safer sites and faster project delivery could follow if new technology cuts errors and lifts productivity across New Zealand construction.
Crane operators can cut rope wear and maintenance time with a low-cost replacement that fits almost any small or mid-sized hoist.
