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Common Robots defined why cobot use remains to be rising within the automotive trade. Supply: Common Robots
Common Robots A/S is among the most profitable collaborative robotic builders on the planet. So far, the Odense, Denmark-based firm mentioned it has put in greater than 75,000 cobots in numerous industries.
It has additionally launched over 440 UR+ merchandise, has 1,100 companions, and has greater than 20 places of work globally. With the launch of the UR20, Common Robots is on its fifth technology of cobots.
The worldwide marketplace for collaborative robots may attain $1.6 billion this yr, with a compound annual progress price (CAGR) of 26.12% to 2026, predicted Analysis and Markets. It cited the rise of sensible factories and rising demand within the Asia-Pacific area.
David Capellani, a regional key account supervisor at Common Robots, not too long ago shared insights in an organization webcast into how the automotive trade can use collaborative robotic arms, and particularly UR cobots.
A posh trade with advanced challenges
The automotive trade faces many distinctive challenges that make it an amazing match for automation, mentioned Common Robots. To construct a automotive, automakers must work with a variety of different industries to supply every part. These embrace metals, plastics, rubber, electronics, textiles, and glass. This leaves the trade weak to produce chain disruptions in plenty of areas, mentioned the firm.
“Delays in manufacturing may cause a number of ripples all through the trade,” Capellani mentioned. “Take into consideration a automotive as a collection of elements, and also you’ll see a variety of industries and functions.”
As well as, autos are designed for a variety of functions, from trucking to agriculture, and people constructing them want to regulate to shifting model, mannequin, and quantity necessities. Many suppliers are additionally going through a expertise scarcity, making it troublesome to fulfill demand and high quality necessities.
That is solely the tip of the iceberg in the case of challenges inside the trade. For instance, automotive producers additionally must consider frequent modifications in automotive fashions, environmental issues, and regulatory compliance, mentioned Capellani.
“Regardless of these challenges and market situations, the automotive manufacturing trade is primed for vital and long-term progress,” he added. “And now’s the time to make the required modifications.”
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What do cobots carry to the desk?
Traditionally, the automotive trade has been the most important purchaser of robots. Nevertheless, its factories largely use industrial robots, which may raise heavy masses and transfer in a short time however can not work round people. Capellani mentioned he believes that, regardless of historic developments, collaborative robots are higher suited to fulfill the challenges the automotive manufacturing trade is going through right this moment.
“Cobots perform the identical capabilities as conventional robots, however with a far higher vary of advantages,” Capellani mentioned.
For instance, have smaller area necessities than industrial robots. They’ll work freely round different individuals, so finish customers don’t must put money into security guarding or fencing to make sure a protected work atmosphere for human staff.
As well as, Capellani mentioned that automakers can deploy cobots a lot quicker than industrial robots, partly as a result of they don’t require a lot infrastructure change to be put in.
Common Robots can deploy cobots in as little as 4 weeks from buy order, in keeping with Capellani. He mentioned it’s because its robots require much less engineering, programming, coaching, and lead instances than industrial automation.
“If you take a look at collaborative robots in distinction [to industrial robots], we’re speaking about one thing that’s fast to deploy,” Capellani mentioned. “The place the usual is 110 to 230 volts. So, it’s merely take it out of the field, and plug it in. It’s versatile and varsity, so it’s simple to vary over to new half variations and incorporate new processes as a smaller footprint.”
Capellini famous that whereas these robots might be put in in a short while and are protected sufficient to work round individuals, threat assessments ought to all the time be achieved earlier than deployments.
Incremental automation for automotive producers
Capellini highlighted the significance of understanding the worth of incrementally automating your processes.
“Within the conventional method, tasks have been lengthy, and the problem was to automate each step within the manufacturing course of,” he mentioned. “As a result of the programs have been closed behind security limitations, that was the one means that funding could possibly be justified.”
In accordance with Capellani, with industrial robots, automating one or two steps within the processes may eat as much as 50% of the undertaking’s finances. However with cobots, automating one or two steps of the method could be a good method to rapidly begin producing a return on funding (ROI).
“Begin with the roles the manufacturing workforce actually doesn’t wish to do. Automate these steps,” Capellani mentioned. “Begin producing ROI and happier staff, after which transfer on to the following course of. We’ve watched firms begin with one UR cobot and proceed to develop their put in primarily based yr over yr, month over month.”
Common Robots lists the place to start out automating
Capellani says that automotive producers usually begin automating with certainly one of 4 functions. These embrace:
- Meeting functions, which may embrace meeting, glue and dishing out, screw driving, and welding
- Machine tending, which incorporates machine instruments, take a look at machines, and injection molding
- Materials dealing with, which incorporates packaging, palletizing, and transferring
- High quality inspection
“So, if we’re able to automate, the place can we begin?” Capellani mentioned. “Let’s consider potential functions. We like to have a look at what we name the ‘three Ds’ — the uninteresting, soiled, and harmful duties.”