People on the move

A valued member of the RNA team, Ken Cotterill celebrated his retirement day at the end of August 2011 after more than 22 years with RNA.


Ken, one of the company’s longest serving employees, first joined RNA in 1989 as part of the sales department, he witnessed a lot of changes and growth at RNA over the last two decades. A popular member of the team he was held in high regard by customers who were often keen to be updated with his latest cruise ship holiday adventures. 


All members of the RNA team wish Ken the very best during his retirement and thank him for the hard work and contribution he has given to RNA during his time here. 


Alan Edmonds (Pictured) has joined RNA and will replace Ken’s sales role in the southern territory. Alan brings RNA a wealth of experience in the automation sector with a career starting in 1983. We welcome Alan as a new member of the RNA family and are very happy to have him on board. 


Contact Alan with any requirements please email alane@rnaautomation.com.

PPMA 2011

UK's leading processing & packaging machinery exhibition

Date: 27th - 29th  September 2011
Venue: Hall 5, NEC Birmingham, UK
Booth: F39
Contact: Ying Zhang

RNA showcases bowl feeder and robotic system at PPMA 2011

PPMA 2011 Preview

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Integrated with a vision system, the RNA vision guided robotic system will demonstrate high speed, accurate repeatability within a compact versatile setup.

Andy Perks, Sales Manager commented , “RNA have a proven track record for supplying a turn key package for part handling and robotic systems .Our systems are currently in use in a number of applications for the packaging and processing industries, mainly focusing on pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics and repetitive machining operations.

RNA welcome its latest work experience student

Laurence Pied has joined RNA for 3 months work experience where she will gain practical knowledge of the mechanical handling industry.

Laurence, 22 is from La Rochelle, France and is currently studying for an engineering degree. She is being sponsored by Delphi Diesel a business where RNA have several installed systems.

Working alongside three RNA apprentices, Laurence will also gain exposure to 3D CAD Design and Vision Guided Robot programming.

Managing Director Stuart Brettell commented,’ Laurence is the 4th International student we have had here and is a reflection of the global nature of our business and aim to cement relationships with key customers.’

RNA celebrates 25 Years in Birmingham

RNA UK recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in the UK. Over the last 25 years RNA have developed and designed specialist handling systems in a host of different industries worldwide.

Full story can be found Here

Do you remember during 1986?

• Bad by Michael Jackson was the UK best selling album
• The 1986 FIFA World Cup: Argentina v England 2-1
• The M25 was finally completed
• British boxer Amir Khan was born
• 'Big Bang Day': London Stock Exchange is computerised
• RNA UK was founded.

More pictures are available on RNA Facebook page

CASE STUDY - Vision Guided Robot Handling & Press Loading Range of Fittings

Component: Range of fittings - Straight coupler, 90 degree elbow, 45 degree elbow, and Tee size range 

RNA were contracted to design and manufacture an automated press loading system for a range of copper plumbing fittings. The system incorporated a bowl feeder, vision guided robot and control system to accumulate and load fittings into a hydro form press. The project was for a global leader in the plumbing fittings industry that manufactured a diverse wide range of fittings often with short batch runs and short lead times.

Full story can be found HERE

To know more about RNA Vision Guided Robotic System please click HERE

Vision Systems for every business

By Mark Williamson, UKIVA Chairman

Vision system has four main application areas:- automation, inspection, process optimisation and traceability which can make a big difference to the process and packaging industry.

Systems range from simple vision sensors that can detect and inspect parts on production lines or check for the presence of specific features on products and packages, to full PC-based systems featuring single or multiple cameras connected to a PC running sophisticated software. The latest neural network processing even allows vision systems to 'learn' in order to allow decisions to be made on the difference between components. Developments in technology mean that vision systems are now easy to use and quick to integrate into existing manufacturing equipment.Crucially, cost doesn't have to be an issue as there are many effective low cost vision system that add real value to process or an OEM machine. More information can be found at the UK Industrial Vision Association's website: www.ukiva.org

To know more about RNA Vision Inspection System please click HERE

Source: PPMA News 2011, 'Vision Systems for every business' , Issue 17 Summer, p.13 

CASE STUDY - Robot gets a Grip on Spoons

Plastics Industry

Component: Disposable plastic spoons

Performance: Correct placing plastic spoon into a cap at a rate of 120 components per minute

A specialist supplier of plastic injection moulded components for the food industry approached RNA to automate a production line for disposable plastic spoons Some of the industries largest food and snack manufacturers use this type of spoon in ready meals and convenience snacks

For this particular project a foldable spoon needed to be placed into a cap, the cap is supplied to a manufacturer of milk based fast foods. A disposable plastic spoon is very difficult to orient due to the design of the moulding especially at 120 parts per minute.

The solution chosen was a vision guided robotic system equipped with an RNA step feeder, a bulk storage hopper and a 6 axis robot.

The spoons are automatically fed from the hopper, into the step feeder and then on to a conveyor belt. A brush positioned above the out feed conveyor separates the spoons under a camera system. The image processing software pinpoints the exact location of the spoons and sends the information to the robot. The robot utilizes conveyor tracking software IE the components can be picked without stopping the conveyor belt. In order for the assembly to work correctly the spoons need to be fed with the oval side facing down. Components lying on the wrong side are therefore automatically recycled into the step feeder via camera recognition.

The robot is fitted with a special gripping unit which picks the spoon and places into the waiting cap positioned on the existing production line.

The spoon handling system has been running successfully since the beginning of 2009 and the customer is investing in further systems to cut operating costs and improve production.

The vision guided robotic system replaced manual handling by operators, and was designed to supply assembly machines, sorting equipment and other machinery that require short cycle times with multiple component handling.

As a standard in the RNA range delivery is also short thus reducing lead times and improving payback periods on the investment. RNA can offer alternative vision guided robotic systems, each of which is developed to match almost any specifications as an off the shelf package

Another main advantage of the system is the simplicity to teach in new components. To teach the system a new component takes just a few minutes. The teach-in is menu guided from windows PC software and requires no pre-requisites. The vision guided robotic system is robust, compact and prepared for 4 or 6-axis robots, Scara robots and suspended picker robots, offering new opportunities to automate the feeding of components.

If you are interested in more details of the “Lemon” system or have a process that needs improving please contact us at rna@rnaautomation.com

Find out more RNA specialist handling of sachets and pouches...Here

Find out more RNA special purpose machinery for food handling...Here