Collaborative robots have recently become an important competitive differentiator, which is making manufacturing companies become more agile and responsive to market demand. This proves that the integration of collaborative robots into existing production environments has been successful.
Below are 4 industries where the use of cobots has been helpful in their respective manufacturing and production activities:
1. Metal and machining industry
Cobots have been of great help in the metal and machining industry. Stantraek Company from Denmark is one of the companies in this industry that uses cobots. Having invested in two UR5 robots, the company is able to expand its production and significantly increase their revenue.
With only twenty-eight workers and the two cobots, the company now has a competitive advantage without the need of employing additional workers compared to their competitors thus minimising their expenses.
One of their UR5 robots is able to successfully place 300 items in a box per hour. This has greatly increased their production level and ensuring a fast return on investment.
2. Automobile manufacturing
The use of the Universal Robot in the robotic automobile manufacturing has helped achieve the desired results in the industry. One example of a company that uses cobots from Universal Robots is LEAX.
LEAX is a Swedish contract manufacturer that makes automobile parts for heavy vehicles such as drive shafts, main shafts, input and output shafts, drill bits and industrial gearboxes. Since they manufacture a variety of products which require small volumes, some of up to100, 000 units, they rely on the collaborative robots to achieve a fast execution and focus during production.
After acquiring three UR10 robots for changing bits and for loading and unloading, they have successfully optimised their production. LEAX appreciates the flexibility of their cobots because if they decide to stop making a certain product, the cobots can perform other tasks. They consider this a great return of investment.
3. Plastic and Polymer Production
The collaborative robots may be used in all areas of plastic and polymer manufacturing, which include de-gating, PCB loading and unloading, picking and placing projects. Plastic and polymer production requires a high level of flexibility since the diverse materials require exclusive processing and temperature ranges.
Multiple degrees in manufacturing automation of plastic and polymer can also be efficiently done even when there is no one round thus minimising employee exposure to harmful noxious gases produced.
The collaborative robots also enhance staff safety as they guard the personnel at the manufacturing lines from plastic shavings and sharp objects. The robot arms additionally reduce repetitive paintings for employees whilst being able to expand their production talents.
Due to the different varieties of plastics and polymers with diverse production processes unto which plastics are made, production tends to change frequently. Cobots enable one to increase or lower the production of an organization.
4. Cobots integration in wielding
Welding is one of the most important tasks in most industrial processes of production. Wielding is also labor intensive but unfortunately, many skilled workers are retiring and their replacements are not enough to satisfy the demand.
However, Universal Robots has come up with cobots that offer welding capabilities. By collaborating with reputable companies such as the American based company, ARC specialist, Universal Robots has added a great feature to its collaborative robots model, which aims at using and advancing welding solutions with the use of cobots.
The result of this partnership has been named as the ‘SnapWeld Collaborative Robot Welding Package’. This package involves a cobot interactive welding system with an easy integration into the existing manual welding booths thus eliminating the need of having new robotic cells.
The package consists of a Profax wire feeder and a water-cooled torch which enables welds of up to 600amps- featuring a torch bracket, cables and hoses. The SnapWeld Collaborative Robot Welding package is readily available in Universal Robot’s environmental program known as the UR+ platform.
Staff Writer
