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Japanese producers are accountable for 40% of robotic gross sales world wide. To grasp the worldwide robotics market, a glance inside Japan is indispensable. iREX, which claims to be the world’s largest robotics present, is a good way to just do that.
iREX 2023 was packed. There have been 654 exhibitors, making it the biggest present since its inception. The primary three days alone attracted 120,000 guests to Tokyo—thrice greater than Automatica in Munich and even 4 occasions greater than Automate in Detroit.
After an absence of 4 years, I attended the present final week. Listed here are my observations.
1. Extra cobots with value-added functions
Collaborative robots (cobots) took on an much more outstanding function this time. Yamaha launched a 7-axis cobot. Common Robots launched its new UR30 some large-load cobots on the present. FANUC and DENSO positioned some merchandise from the identical class, which had already been launched earlier this yr, prominently.
FANUC, DENSO, and UR introduced some fascinating demos of excessive drive torque tightening, precision meeting, sharpening, and screw seating inspection – functions that require clever use of built-in energy sensors. FANUC additionally highlighted its clean direct educating capabilities for welding, powder coating or with payloads as much as 30 kg.
The truth that a number of massive producers gave cobots such a outstanding presence highlights the strategic significance they’re now giving this product class.
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2. Zero train robotics
Machine imaginative and prescient mixed with automated path era acquired a lift since my final go to. “Zero train” is the brand new buzzword.
Conventional functions are random half selecting and straightforward palletizing. This has been proven by a large number of robotics producers, in addition to machine imaginative and prescient corporations which might be additionally providing robotic movement management – reminiscent of Mujin from Japan or Mech-Thoughts from China. The previous additionally introduced its TruckBot, an autonomous robotic that may unload each truck trailers and transport containers at a fee of as much as 1,000 instances per hour.
FANUC confirmed auto path era for arc welding. Each FANUC and Yaskawa confirmed zero-programming options for straightforward palletizing. Beneath the identify “Motoman Subsequent,” Yaskawa introduced some functions for verticals reminiscent of dishwashing, meals inspection and sorting, and laboratories. At this level, these are extra demonstrations of what can technically be achieved, as Yaskawa is simply beginning to provide these options to clients.
FANUC confirmed auto path era for arc welding at iREX 2023. | Credit score: Georg Stieler
NACHI and OMRON confirmed corresponding functions for the dynamic placement of FPC connectors in digital merchandise. They claimed {that a} barely completely different model was already utilized in electronics manufacturing.
DENSO introduced some spectacular functions of its real-time management software program, TwinCAT, realized in collaboration with Beckhoff, a voice-controlled cobot utility and a few clear or shiny workpiece selecting in collaboration with Cambrian.
Extra machine imaginative and prescient together with automated and dynamic path planning additionally means good enterprise prospects for NVIDIA, which was additionally an exhibitor and entertains partnerships with a number of of the main Japanese robotic producers.
3. Variable-mix, variable-volume automated traces
The cubicles of OMRON and Yaskawa featured variable-mix, variable-volume automated traces. These traces showcased cell cobots and layout-free manufacturing, enabling adaptability within the manufacturing atmosphere and on-site information administration for steady productiveness and high quality enchancment. Yaskawa is utilizing its I3-Mechatronics platform for this, a promising strategy after Japanese automation suppliers got here to embrace the idea of interconnected manufacturing processes comparatively late. Yaskawa’s new YRM-X controller controls a number of machines alongside an entire line.
4. Excessive-payload robots
Like in different nations, Japanese robotics corporations have a legacy within the automotive business. That is nonetheless mirrored within the introduction of some high-payload robots. FANUC launched a brand new serial hyperlink robotic with a 500 kg payload, overflip functionality and built-in 2D and 3D cameras. Goal functions is the dealing with of heavy automotive elements. Yaskawa introduced the Motoman-ME1000, a SCARA robotic with a payload of 1000 kg tailor-made for the dealing with of electrical automobile batteries.
Japanese robotic maker Man-Machine Synergy Effectors confirmed a master-slave high-place working robotic at iREX 2023. | Credit score: Georg Stieler
5. Sturdy presence of Chinese language gamers
Fifty out of the 121 worldwide exhibitors had been from China. They had been primarily producers of cobots (AUBO Robotics, Elite Robots), cell robots, machine imaginative and prescient (Mech-Thoughts Robotics) and core elements. Japan, as a big market with shut geographic proximity, is a chance for Chinese language gamers to mitigate the cut-throat competitors at residence.
6. Japanese robotics corporations collaborate on SME automation
Possibly an important information for the Japanese robotics business lately got here a day earlier than the beginning of iREX 2023. The Robotic Industrial Fundamental Know-how Collaborative Innovation Partnership (ROBOCIP), a gaggle together with main Japanese robotics and automation corporations, introduced that they had been making a joint database to facilitate the introduction of robots at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
In line with a white paper by the Japanese authorities, SMEs are accountable for 99.7% of Japanese corporations, but the value-added per employee for the nation’s SMEs in manufacturing is simply over 1/3 of that for its large companies. On the similar time, SMEs typically lack the funds for capital funding.
The brand new system is meant to hurry up the automation of this sector by sharing some primary info on robotic specs, operations and software program. It’s set to be accessible in 2024 and is meant to scale back integration prices by as much as 60%. Entry might be free for smaller corporations to start with.
Moreover robotics producers reminiscent of FANUC, DENSO, Panasonic, Yaskawa, NACHI, Kawasaki, Epson, Daihen and Mitsubishi, the initiative is supported by the College of Tokyo, the Nationwide Institute of Superior Industrial Science and Know-how and the New Vitality and Industrial Know-how Improvement Group. This system is open for additional contributors to extend the completeness of the database and finally the competitiveness of the Japanese manufacturing sector.
Sooner or later, the group is contemplating combining generative synthetic intelligence with its database to additional decrease the edge for automation. An analogous strategy by Google Deepmind and 33 analysis establishments not too long ago has proven some promising outcomes.
This announcement was in step with the theme of this yr’s present – “Sustainable Society Introduced by Robotics” – emphasizing options to world challenges and the creation of a sustainable society by means of collaborative efforts between producers, system integrators and customers.
Outlook
Initiatives to spice up productiveness by means of extra automation are urgently wanted in Japan. The nation’s financial system has been stagnating for 3 a long time and its post-pandemic restoration stays fragile.
A shrinking inhabitants additional limits the upsides to its progress. Regardless of Japan’s distinctive cultural traits, reminiscent of its strategy to immigration, its developments can function a mannequin for different nations dealing with growing older populations.
The excessive degree of innovation seen at iREX and the concerted efforts by Japan’s main robotics and automation producers, reminiscent of a joint database to share info as function and alter robots (doubtlessly enhanced by generative AI quickly), present an optimistic outlook for the long run.
As corporations are re-evaluating their geopolitical dangers and are shifting a few of their provide chains, Japanese manufacturing facility automation corporations stand to learn.
Company tradition in Japan appears to be altering, too. Company governance reform pressures administration groups to boost company worth and return on fairness. The common age of CEOs at corporations within the Nikkei inventory index has dropped by 12 years during the last decade. And Japan’s startup ecosystem continues to be small relative to its GDP, though it’s changing into more and more vibrant: investments grew 10-fold from 2013-2022, and the variety of VC funds quadrupled.
Notions of those adjustments are already changing into seen at Japanese robotics and automation enterprises. Overseas corporations talked about they’re changing into extra open to collaboration with a brand new management era. I’m already excited for the following iREX in two years.
Concerning the creator
Georg Stieler is Managing Director, Asia, of Stieler Know-how & Advertising and marketing Consultants. He established the Asia department of his household’s consulting enterprise in Shanghai in 2011. Collectively together with his workforce, he presents pivotal analyses and progress methods for a number of the globally main robotics and automation corporations. Along with his main function, Georg serves as an advisor for high-potential start-ups.