Robotic Kits for “Do-It-Yourself” Packaging System Design

Modular programming and articulating arm kits let you design your own robotic-based packaging system.

By Tom Jensen
Engineering Manager
ELAU Inc., a Company of Schneider Electric

For many years two factors gave robot designers and manufacturers a lock on developing equipment for the packaging market: patents and the specialized kinematic knowledge required to program robotic motion. While the robotic arms were under patent, the controls held the unique motion algorithms needed to handle the complex path planning, blending, and resolution of multiple trajectories to the same point. Thus, robot articulating arms and specific controls were exclusive to robot developers.
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Innovation Insights – Five lessons on Pharmaceutical Innovation from Dr. Lex Adjei

Late this summer, I was privileged to spend a weekend with Dr. Lex Adjei, Chief Scientific Officer of XIOS Pharmaceuticals.  While our wives made a trip to Chincoteague beach, Lex and I stayed behind to discuss innovation.  With 44 US patents to his name and a sterling resume of achievement (see sidebar), this is a topic well suited to him, and his thoughts are well suited to this, the first installment of Innovation Insights.

In my mind, five valuable insights on innovation emerged as we spoke,  two of which are illustrated by packaging examples: 1) Innovation requires that discovery be bridged to practical application; 2) Innovation requires at least two types of people – discoverers and change agents; 3) Pharmaceutical innovation frequently occurs at the intersection of two or more companies; 4) Innovation frequently occurs at the intersection of technologies; and 5) Innovation often stretches our conventional use of language. Read more