Automation Consulting
Delivering Bespoke Automation Projects Tailored to Your Needs
We have extensive experience working with various types of robots, including SCARA robots (Omron), 6-axis robots (Kuka, Yaskawa, Fanuc), delta robots (Omron), and autonomous vehicles (Omron).
Many of our projects involve integrating vision systems to control automation tasks, and we are particularly familiar with Halcon, Omron, and Matrox vision systems. We design and build bespoke control cabinets for machine control and automation.
We have also undertaken projects to upgrade or replace outdated control systems. Our team is proficient with a wide range of PLCs, including Siemens S7, Omron (with Sysmac Studio), Festo CPX (with CoDeSys), IFM (with CoDeSys), and Mitsubishi (GX Works).
Fish Vaccination
Fish farms vaccinate their fish to prevent disease and improve welfare. Young fish are anaesthetised, removed from the water, injected with a vaccine, and then returned. This skilled job must be done quickly to minimise the time fish spend out of water.
We collaborated closely with our client to bring their concept to life by building the world's first fish vaccination robot system. Utilising a Halcon Vision System to locate the fish on a conveyor, an Omron Quattro robot picked up each fish using a bespoke end-of-arm tool, precisely injected the vaccine, and returned the fish to the water.
The successful demonstration of this system enabled our client to secure funding, allowing them to commercialise this revolutionary approach to vaccinating fish.
Telescope Coating Plant
The VISTA telescope at the European Southern Observatory in Paranal, Chile, required an upgrade to its mirror coating plant. The mirrors, coated using a magnetron sputtering process, needed enhancements to work with silver, aluminium, and silicon to improve performance.
Peacock Technology collaborated with the UK Astronomy Technology Centre to develop a new gas supply cabinet and a new control cabinet to integrate with the existing Profibus network. The Siemens S7 PLC code was updated to support these changes. Development and testing were conducted in our workshop before the new cabinet was shipped to Chile along with our engineers.
These upgrades have enabled enhanced mirror coating at the European Southern Observatory, providing clearer imaging of the skies for years to come.
Medical Device Assembly
Our client developed a new allergy screening product and secured the necessary medical approvals. The product utilised a cartridge assembled by hand—a time-consuming process that led to many devices failing quality control.
Modifying the cartridge to simplify assembly was not feasible, as it would require re-certification of medical approvals. We collaborated with the client to develop an automated assembly system using a 6-axis robot to mimic the manual steps in a consistent and repeatable manner. This solution improved efficiency and reduced quality control failures without altering the approved design.
Larvae Sorting
Our client, operating in the innovative sector of insect protein, needed a system to sort insect larvae based on criteria such as weight. Previously, this sorting was done manually, but the process was too slow to meet the demands of their growing business.
We collaborated with the client to develop an automated solution. Using an Omron EasyFeeder, we fed the larvae so they could be picked up by an Omron SCARA robot equipped with a vacuum picker. We implemented a vision system developed in Halcon to accurately locate the larvae. The larvae were then weighed and placed into containers based on their weight, significantly increasing the efficiency and scalability of their business
Mobile Robotics
We are thrilled to be an integrator for the Omron LD Series of Autonomous Vehicles. These systems can rapidly learn new factory layouts, simplifying delivery tasks that previously required complex conveyor assemblies.
Contact us for a demonstration and to discuss how we can tailor this solution to your application.
“We have engaged Peacock Technology on several projects and find them the perfect partner. Like us, they have an innovative, can-do attitude and take the time to gain a real understanding of the brief.
They mould clear, concise project plans with achievable, costed milestones that allow you to budget effectively and follow progress easily.
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Gordon Jeffrey, CEO AqualifeServices Ltd.