Collaborative robots have been hugely beneficial for manufacturers of all sizes over the past 15 years, and their share of the total robot market continues to grow every year. As of 2025, hundreds of different cobot models are available from dozens of manufacturers. Today, we will discuss the differences between industrial and collaborative robots, advantages of cobots, typical cobot applications, case studies, and some specific robotic solutions.
The SKF Lincoln SL-6 metering device is a single-line automatic lubrication system injector. Its proven design is thoroughly updated to meet new demands on maintainability, leakage-protection and long-lasting performance even with harsh extreme pressure greases. Today’s manufacturing environment demands less maintenance time, higher productivity demands and little to no tolerance for unplanned production stops.
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Atlanta Drive Systems, Inc., Farmingdale, NJ, offers rack and pinion systems, actuators, gearboxes, servo reducers and lubrication systems for many different industries including machine tool, automation, aerospace, woodworking, material handling, robotic, food, packaging, stone and special machinery. PTE recently discussed the company’s lubrication solutions with Peter Alfano, senior applications engineer.
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The first Gear Expo featured 22 exhibitors at the 1986 Fall Technical Meeting in Chicago. It was billed as the “AGMA Fall Technical Meeting & Gearing Exhibition” and provided attendees the opportunity to learn the latest technical advances, state of gear research and gear design. The show highlighted machine tool, software and processing exhibitors to meet the ever-changing needs of the gear industry.
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Pack Expo Las Vegas, one of North America’s most comprehensive packaging and processing events is celebrating a milestone: 2025 marks 30 years since the show’s debut. Today, Pack Expo Las Vegas continues to be a global hub for industry innovation and collaboration. Show producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, has elevated Pack Expo Las Vegas from a regional trade show to a global industry force—expanding its scale, influence, and relevance across international markets. This year, the show spanned over 1 million net square feet, featuring 2,300+ exhibitors.
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UGRacing is the University of Glasgow’s Formula Student team. Since its inception in 2005, the team has been working to compete at Formula Student UK (FSUK). Over the last decade, the team has grown to over 150 members across ten disciplines. With a strong focus on knowledge transfer and iterative design, the team has worked year after year to develop new technologies and a more refined package. In 2022, the team saw a culmination of all their hard work when they placed first overall in FSUK with their final internal combustion vehicle. The following switch to an electric powertrain brought new challenges. Through the constraint of a new powertrain architecture, the team has explored and innovated drivetrain concepts which, in future years, will improve vehicle performance.
Call it destiny, divine intervention or good ole-fashioned fate, speaking with Alejandro Pardiñas, CEO of Atlantic Bearing Services (ABS) and ABS Wind, one gets the impression he had no choice other than to become a mechanical engineer. This was evident way back when his great-grandfather became a mining engineer for Rio Tinto.
As industries adopt more automation, the demand for reliable and efficient pneumatic systems, which power everything from robotic arms to air-powered tools, continues to rise. However, despite their widespread
use, these systems often suffer from hidden inefficiencies. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director at SMB Bearings—Oxfordshire, U.K.) explores how an overlooked component, industrial bearings, can improve the
efficiency of pneumatic technologies.
More energy efficiency, higher performance and better controllability are the main reasons why more electric drive systems are being operated with frequency converters. However, these devices can cause high-frequency, asymmetrical interference currents, which, as a current passage through the output and fan-side bearings, can cause damage and premature failure.
Current-compensated CoolBlue toroidal cores made of Magnetec’s nanocrystalline material Nanoperm have proven to be effective protection against such conducted interference and its consequences. In addition, the Nanoperm Line Absorbers NaLA can also be used to significantly suppress symmetrical interference currents.
The drive system choice is dependent on key motion features of your application. Lead screws offer self-locking capabilities, while ball screws require brakes to prevent back-driving. The choice between them hinges on efficiency, cost, precision, and speed, with the screw drives themselves paired with a linear guide for optimal performance.
Bellows couplings are commonly used in applications requiring precise rotation, high speeds, and dynamic motion transmission. With zero backlash and a high level of torsional stiffness, they offer clear performance advantages in many servo-driven systems.
The Simplicity self-lubricating linear plain bearings are built to last, and they will often out-perform and last longer than a traditional linear ball bearing. Called the “little red bearing” by loyal customers, they have been a popular replacement for failing ball bearings. Simplicity plain bearings will not catastrophically fail.
The difference between a smooth-running drive and constant headaches? The right timing belt and pulley plus a whole lot more. Discover what works, what doesn’t, and put your design skills to the test—engineer your best system yet!
Discover how Regal Rexnord’s Bauer™ PMSM gear motor helped a transportation company streamline inventory, cut energy use, and save $80,000 annually. Learn how this scalable solution delivers financial, operational, and sustainability gains across facilities.
Elevate the aerospace program with AMETEK PDS. See how their complete actuation systems, designed by a team of experienced engineers, can meet your specific needs—from a single actuator for a cargo door to a full flap actuation system with motors, actuators, and system-level controllers.
Jan 30, 2026
New York Robotics (NYR) has officially partnered with SDP/SI underscoring the essential role of advanced manufacturing in New York’s rapidly growing robotics economy.
ABB has introduced its Automation Extended program, a strategic evolution of its distributed control systems (DCS), designed to help industries modernize without disruption. Building on ABB’s long-standing leadership with the world’s largest DCS installed base and vision in process automation, Automation Extended outlines how future automation capabilities can be introduced progressively – preserving system integrity while enabling the flexibility, scalability and efficiency needed for the next era of industrial operations.
Mar 17, 2026 - Mar 18, 2026
The Generis American Manufacturing Summit (AMS) has a rich history as an exclusive platform for manufacturing leaders—and now in its 12th year, it remains a premier manufacturing summit and one of the top manufacturing events for executives, built for high-level, in-person knowledge exchange and solution exploration.
May 19, 2026 - May 20, 2026
Oct 18, 2026 - Oct 21, 2026
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Power Transmission Engineering is THE magazine of mechanical components. PTE is written for engineers and maintenance pros who specify, purchase and use gears, gear drives, bearings, motors, couplings, clutches, lubrication, seals and all other types of mechanical power transmission and motion control components.
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