At Automate 2025, the Design World staff also chatted with engineers at several booths about connectivity, robotics, and material-handling topics. Innovations reflect the industry’s evolution toward more powerful actuation, modularity for reconfigurability, and integrated safety support. Read about it here … Day 1: New technologies at Automate 2025.
In one of our first stops on Day 2 of the Automate Show, we chatted with some folks at the PHD Inc. booth about tri-axis transfer press grippers. Territory sales manager Matthew Robin explained to us how the systems offer modular [read: customizable] construction with completely interchangeable subcomponents. Combined with series-GRM automated sheet-metal handling clamps, the system provides a total solution for tri-axis transfer presses. Design World has covered this offering in the past.
In fact, at the Automate Show PHD also exhibited a new product to electrify pneumatic actuators. The new ERDP remote drive simplifies the electrification of pneumatic actuators in a closed-loop system via standard air lines to connect to one or more pneumatic actuators. The drive lets builders install the power system near the point of use for easy setup. The ERDP remote drive is designed to deliver substantial energy savings compared to traditional compressed air systems. It is suitable for a wide range of applications, including automated guided vehicles, welding cells, robotic end of arm tooling, and food processing.
Even the lower level of the Automate Show was bustling.
Yet other announcements and new product introductions were made at this Automate Show.
AI enhancing barcode reader performance: Cognex Corp. is enhancing industrial barcode reading with two New AI-powered products: DataMan 290 and 390 barcode readers on display at the Automate Show. These readers are meant for manufacturing applications. needing top operational efficiency.
“The DataMan 290 outperformed other competitive solutions we tested, successfully reading codes that others couldn’t,” said CEO of Modern Technology Systems Peter Laurincík.
Advanced AI capabilities let end users reliably read codes with a single click, simplifying setup and maintenance while reducing downtime … even for nontechnical users. There’s effortless handling of varied code types and symbologies — including damaged or low-quality codes — and high read rates even in low-visibility environments thanks to an integrated all-in-one light.
TR Electronic shows di-soric vision sensor with Ethernet/IP: The CS 60 from di-soric GmbH excels at checking assembly processes and position and orientation control thanks to M12 interchangeable lenses, high-power LED, and IP67 protection — and now, support of the Ethernet/IP supportive protocol. A variety of optical accessories, advanced algorithms, and customizable software ensure high read rates and smooth PLC integration. In fact, the vision sensor detects all common 1D, 2D, and DPM codes and works with digital I/O, TCP/IP, Profinet, Ethernet/IP, HTTP, FTP/SFTP, and REST-API. New OCR software also imparts the ability to read plain text. An IP67-rated casing renders the sensor suitable for washdown environments.
Parvalux motors and compact drives are used in electric vehicles. Expect a Design World followup on these technologies.
Jenny Science ROTAX Rxhq 50 and 110 rotary motor axes feature direct drives: These systems deliver high torque values of 1/4.0 Nm and feature large hollow-shaft diameters of 12/50 mm while maintaining compact external dimensions. Single-cable connections simplify installation; absolute feedback and a XENAX servo controller allow multiturn absolute positioning. The Rxvp motor features a compressed air or vacuum feedthrough and fits perfectly onto the front flange of the ELAX linear motor slide — making it suitable for pick-and-place applications.
The direct-drive servomotor is based on the magnetic flux technology of wind turbine generators for high torque at low speed. This makes for double or triple the torque of comparably sized and constructed direct drives of competitors. A patented force calibration compensates for any cogging or frictional effects.
Mencom introduces magnetic sensors for industrial applications: Mencom now offers magnetic sensors. Designed to meet the diverse needs of modern industrial environments such as automation, manufacturing and process control, automotive, medical, and aerospace, these sensors provide reliable and versatile solutions for a variety of applications. Available in reed and GMR types, the sensors are designed for easy installation via a clamp or screw. They operate within a voltage range of 10 to 100 V and 5 to 30 V in temperatures from -25° C to +90° C. The reed sensors have a maximum load capacity of 10 W dc and a switching current of up to 400 mA at 25°C. The GMR sensors can switch up to 150 mA and detect field strengths of 2.8 mT. Built to withstand harsh industrial environments, both types of sensors feature an IP67 protection rating, making them resistant to dust and water. They also feature a yellow LED operating indicator for easy status monitoring.
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