Topic: Control & Automation
Blog Articles
Retrofitting Automation into Older Factories: Where to Begin
As UK manufacturers adapt to the changing demands of production, factory automation is becoming essential, not just for new high-tech facilities, but for older, established sites too. Many mid-sized and large manufacturers operating in legacy buildings are turning to automation to increase productivity, lower costs, and deal with staffing challenges. However, adding automation to an […]
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Factory Expansion? Why Control System Design Should Be Step One
Expanding a factory isn’t only about adding floor space and new machines. The real make-or-break factor is how well your control system runs the whole operation—people, equipment, safety, energy, and data. If you leave controls until late in the project, you often end up with workarounds, extra cost, and a long, painful commissioning phase. Put […]
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Machine Safety Upgrades: How to Retrofit Safety Controls on Legacy Systems
Modern manufacturing demands more from machinery than ever—higher throughput, faster changeovers, and uncompromising safety. Yet many UK factories still rely on legacy equipment: robust, reliable workhorses built long before today’s safety expectations and data driven controls. The good news is that, with a structured retrofit plan, you can elevate safety performance, extend asset life, and […]
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Future-Proofing Your Factory: The Role of Automation in UK Manufacturing
As the UK manufacturing sector navigates a rapidly evolving landscape, one thing has become clear: the factories of the future will be built on automation. From rising production demands to persistent skills shortages, manufacturers are facing pressure to do more with less. Automation is fast becoming the key to unlocking long-term efficiency, safety and competitiveness. […]
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Why visibility of the production process is so important
Operational excellence, efficiency and quality are top priorities for almost every manufacturer worldwide. These things lead to improved productivity, happier customers and reduced waste – all of which result in increased profits. Visibility of the production process is the key to achieving these things. And manufacturers now have access to technology that can provide real-time […]
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How control and automation can impact manufacturing efficiency
There’s no doubt that AI and robotics are changing the manufacturing world, making factories safer and more efficient and allowing production to be scaled up and down more easily. The key to unlocking these benefits is having effective control and automation systems. But what exactly does “control and automation” mean for manufacturers? Put simply; automation […]
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How control and automation can improve equipment reliability
Unplanned machine downtime can delay production, increase waste, and impact profitability. That’s why having reliable equipment is so essential to manufacturers. One of the many benefits of control and automation is that good systems can improve equipment reliability, minimising unplanned downtime and reducing maintenance costs. What is control and automation in manufacturing? Control and automation […]
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How Control & Automation can identify potential production problems early
As the saying goes – time is money. And this is certainly true in manufacturing, where an hour of lost production time can cause major problems. When everything is carefully scheduled – from the purchasing of raw materials right through to the transportation and delivery of the end product, you can’t afford lost production time. […]
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How to review which production processes can be automated
Smart manufacturing has arrived, and many manufacturing businesses are already well on their way to fully automated systems, significantly reducing their assembly time and costs. Cutting-edge machinery, and technical innovation such as AI, are fast becoming common practice and manufacturers who don’t invest are likely to get left behind. But major upgrades can mean considerable […]
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How control & automation can protect your staff and put you in control
While many modern machines are created with automation in mind, countless factories still run on old, inefficient technology. But without efficient equipment, systems and processes, your costs become unpredictable. If you’re still using outdated technology in your manufacturing plant, you’re likely paying over the odds for staffing, machinery and utilities. And old equipment isn’t just […]
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Understanding the design process in new factory installations
The key to achieving an efficient production plant lies in its design. Whether you’re creating a brand new facility or simply assessing your current installations to make improvements, getting the design spot-on is essential to the production output. In this article, we’re looking at manufacturing design in more depth – asking questions about the DFM […]
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How automation can make a dramatic impact in manufacturing
With AI and robotics advancing at an astounding rate, there aren’t many parts of a manufacturing process that can’t now be automated at some level. In this article, we’re looking at how automation can dramatically impact the productivity and profitability of manufacturers in any sector. What can be automated? It’s easy to think of […]
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Case Study – Bond it
Mixer refurbishment provides perfect opportunity to make maximum impact
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Case Study – Everbuild
Elimination of manual handling delivers product consistency improvements
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Case Study – Kerry Foods
Operational efficiencies maximised with new equipment integration.
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Case Study – Galmay
AES simplify machine controls, documentation and improve reliability and functional safety.
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Guide – Control & Automation
Modernising production operations to maximise output efficiencies.
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