A four-step guide to making a switch to robotic automation

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while  robots are playing a key role in helping companies to adapt to an increasingly uncertain world, entering the age of robotic automation can be daunting for companies that have never done it before. Julian Ware, UK & Ireland Sales Manager forABB Robotics, explores the main considerations when deciding to invest in robots.

Taking the first steps to introducing robots to a factory or warehouse floor doesn’t have to be daunting. When it comes to making the decision on how to choose both a robot and the right supplier, the process can be divided into four key steps.  

It may be that the answer to your challenges could lie in simply rethinking the way you do things, for example looking at ways that workers could be utilised more efficiently or reorganising production or distribution lines so that key stages are more closely integrated. 

If automation is the answer, the next question is which type of automation. While robots are a form of automation, there are also other technologies that might present the answer depending on your requirements, from software that can help to prioritise workflows through to automated tools and conveyor systems. 

If a robot does present the best option, the next stage is to identify which one to use. ABB’s robotsare available in a wide variety of forms, sizes, and formats, from small portable cobots for payloads up to 11kg through to large industrial robots for loads up to one tonne, as well as autonomous mobile robots that can help transfer parts or packages between different stages in a process. 

The diagram below outlines the recommended steps for gauging the potential for robotic automation and specifying the appropriate solution for your application.  

This process involves deciding what you need the robot to do and defining the characteristics of the application you’ll be using it in, including whether there is a need for safety measures if the robot is to be used in proximity to workers. Once you have a concept you are happy with, you can then use tools such as ABB’s RobotStudio offline programming tool to test and simulate it in a virtual environment, with the learnings from all stages then being used to identify any scope for further refinement. 

By following this process, you can create a specification that can then be used by a robot supplier or systems integrator to provide you with the optimum solution.

A thorough ROI calculation should look at all areas where using a robot could save money or help generate extra revenue. Areas to consider include wastereduction, increased production output, reductions in workplace accidents and improved space utilisation. In many cases, robots can also help improve worker productivity by releasing them to handle higher value tasks.

The inherent flexibility of robots also enable them to be easily repurposed to handle different tasks and products, presenting further possibilities for added payback through enhanced performance. 

By ascribing a cost to each of these potential benefits, a comprehensive payback calculation can be devised in clear-cut financial terms that can be presented to the decision-maker who will ultimately authorise the investment.  

While automation can be a difficult journey to start, there is a broad range of assistance available to help guide you through the process of developing and finding the right robotic solution for your application. ABB and its Value Partners have extensive experience of designing, supplying, and supporting robotic solutions. 

Take your first step

With the potential to transform productivity and efficiency and offering the flexibility and scalability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances, robots present an increasingly attractive solution for protecting against current and future uncertainties while making processes more efficient and safer.

To see whether a robot could benefit your company, take our free, no-obligation Automation Appraisal at

https://campaign.abb.com/l/501021/2020-09-18/s2l65j?utm_source=Ads+-+DP%26A&utm_medium=Advertising+&utm_campaign=Grow+with+Robots

EU Automation launches “Factory Hero” campaign to recognise those who keep the wheels of industry turning

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Technicians and engineers responsible for building and maintaining a robust supply chain are the ‘unsung heroes’ of the manufacturing sector and will play a critical role in managing parts and materials shortages in 2023, a new campaign has claimed.

Supply chain resiliency represents a major source of concern for manufacturers, according to the latest Deloitte study [1]. Of the executives surveyed, 72% believe the persistent shortage of critical materials and the ongoing supply chain disruptions present the most significant uncertainty for the industry in the coming year. 

Parts shortages can have severe implications for manufacturing organisations in terms of downtime, lost production and lost revenue. Yet the people responsible for building and maintaining a robust supply chain so that unplanned stoppages are minimised often go unrecognised.

Automation parts supplier EU Automation wants to reverse this trend. The company has launched its “Factory Hero” campaign to encourage recognition of unsung heroes within the manufacturing sector.

“We want to shine a spotlight on the role that so many people perform every day to keep the wheels of industry turning,” explains Darren Halford, Managing Directorof EU Automation. “This could be a factory manager, maintenance engineer, or procurement specialist: we’re looking for the real problem solvers who can think on their feet to get things back up and running while others are still scratching their heads. They are the unsung heroes in our industry.”

The Factory Hero digital campaign features an unassuming chap called Jeff, who is able to source a vital part quickly via EU Automation and thus earns the gratitude of his colleagues. Having witnessed Jeff’s story, viewers are encouraged to nominate their own Factory Hero. EU Automation will then arrange for those nominated to receive a Factory Hero certificate with a personalised message from the person who suggested them.

Reinforcing the idea that people are central to continued business success is close to EU Automation’s own ethos. “Although we work in the automation space supplying rare, reconditioned and unused parts to companies worldwide, we recognise that it is people who make the difference in our organisation,” says Darren Halford. “We focus on supporting our customers personally and building lasting relationships with them. Now we want to encourage our customers to give credit to the individuals within their own teams who are building the relationships that will make their company more agile and more competitive in the face of increasing supply chain challenges.”

EU Automation gives customers ready access to a global supply of automation parts, ensuring that manufacturers can avoid unnecessary downtime. It provides a single source of automation components for brands including Siemens, Mitsubishi, Indramat, ABB, Fanuc, 

Schneider and Omron. Customers benefit from a regular point of contact, so there is always a real person at the end of the phone to help with any sourcing issues. With offices and warehouses located on all major continents, EU Automation can provide our customers with as early as next-day delivery to minimise downtime.

To nominate a colleague as a Factory Hero, visit: https://www.euautomation.com/thefactoryhero/

PEPPERL+FUCHS PROCESS AUTOMATION

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ECOM Instruments at SPS 2021: explosion-proof solutions for Smart Production
 
On the Industry 4.0 map, hazardous areas still appear as white spots in many manufacturing operations. The requirements for robustness and explosion protection are high, the terrain extensive, and connectivity often limited. But even in hazardous areas, the intrinsically safe smart devices from the Pepperl+Fuchs brand ECOM Instruments ensure a paradigm shift. At SPS - Smart Production Solutions (23 to 25 November 2021), ECOM Instruments will be demonstrating in hall 7A at booth 330 how the gap between the safety requirements of hazardous areas and the hunger for data of the smart factory can be closed.
 
With the Visor-Ex® 01 smart glasses from ECOM Instruments, mobile workers get a powerful companion for all tasks that require hands-free use as well as continuous communication.

With the use of intelligent mobile devices, hazardous areas can be integrated into the Smart Factory with little effort. In line with this vision, the Pepperl+Fuchs brand ECOM Instruments will be presenting intelligent solutions for industrial communication in rough environments at this year's SPS - Smart Production Solutions from 23 to 25 November in Nuremberg (hall 7A, booth 330): safe, robust and intelligently networked. The manufacturer's trade fair highlights include Visor-Ex® 01, currently the lightest intrinsically safe smart glasses on the market, and Tab-Ex® 03 DZ2, the latest model in the Tab-Ex® range of intrinsically safe tablets for rough industrial environments. Fair visitors will also learn how the solutions of ECOM's Digital Products & Services product division not only facilitate device management, but can also provide new insights into processes with the help of data analysis. After all, smart production thrives on networked information.

Seeing through the eyes of the mobile worker: Smart Glasses for industrial use
High camera quality and reliable communication features combined in an ergonomic design: With the Visor-Ex® 01 smart glasses from ECOM Instruments, mobile workers get a powerful companion for all tasks that require hands-free use as well as continuous communication. The system utilises the ECOM Smart-Ex® 02 smartphone for hazardous areas as a computing unit and a pocket unit for power supply, an intelligent ecosystem is created for a wide range of application scenarios in the industrial sector. A total of three integrated cameras transform the smart wearable into a kind of bionic eye. Two 16-megapixel cameras are centrally positioned to map the wearer's natural field of vision - so remote support, for example, sees what is happening from the same angle and perspective as the mobile worker. A secondary camera offers a 6x optical zoom for zooming without loss of quality and scanning of barcodes and QR codes.

Versatile tablet for rough environments
The intrinsically safe Tab-Ex® 03 DZ2 tablet offers Android 11, a large display and as well as larger RAM and external storage than previous models. The enterprise edition of Samsung Knox ensures high data and device security. The tablet, which is based on the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3, is easy to operate with gloves or the S Pen stylus. A 13-megapixel camera is installed for taking photos and videos, and the front camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels. The integrated Google ARCore makes the tablet fit for augmented reality applications in Industry 4.0, for example for plant management or predictive maintenance. Meanwhile, an individually programmable button enables, among other things, a quick and effective alarm, emergency calls or push-to-talk (PTT) for maximum safety and accessibility of employees at any time.

As intelligent wearable the Visor-Ex® 01 combines high camera quality and reliable communication features in an ergonomic design for user’s utmost comfort – with a weight of just 180 g. Two 16-megapixel cameras are centrally positioned to depict the wearer’s natural field of vision. A secondary camera offers a 6x optical zoom without loss of quality and a scan function.

The intrinsically safe Tab-Ex® 03 DZ2 tablet offers Android 11, a large display and more RAM and external storage than previous models.

The tablet is easy to operate with gloves or the S Pen stylus. A 13-megapixel camera is installed for taking photos and videos, and the front camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels. The integrated Google ARCore makes the tablet fit for augmented reality applications in Industry 4.0.

Short portrait ECOM Instruments
The Pepperl+Fuchs brand ECOM Instruments is one of the top addresses internationally for holistic solutions for mobile computing and industrial communication in potentially explosive atmospheres. As an industry pioneer, ECOM has played a key role in the development of explosion protection for mobile devices since 1986 and has demonstrated its technological expertise with a large number of innovations. ECOM is the preferred brand for explosion-protected mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, wearables as well as peripherals that meet the highest requirements in industrial use. As part of the Pepperl+Fuchs Group, technology leader for industrial sensor technology and intrinsically safe explosion protection, customers benefit from a seamless portfolio with technologies for conventional and Industry 4.0 applications.

In the five core disciplines of mobile computing, communication, digital products and services, measurement and calibration technology and mobile luminaires, ECOM offers an enormous variety of innovative and field-proven mobile solutions, peripherals, services and intelligent software. Each individual solution combines uncompromising safety with maximum functionality - with all the necessary approvals and certificates for the specific application. Worldwide support, with service centres in Germany, the USA, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, rounds off the range.

Fuzzy Logic raises €2.5 million to put robots in the hands of operators

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The Franco-American start-up Fuzzy Logic announces a €2.5 million seed round of financing from two European DeepTech funds: 42CAP, an industry-specialized German fund based in Munich, and Karista (via the Paris Region Venture Fund), an early-stage VC firm based in Paris.

Fuzzy Logic, which originated in the French start-up ecosystem (Agoranov and Wilco), is developing an “all-in-one” software platform that dramatically simplifies every step of robotization, from robotic cell design to daily reprogramming in the factory by operators. It reproduces a virtual environment in which the robot in the factory can be controlled “on the fly” and as simply as a video game.

Fuzzy Studio™ (desktop application) and Fuzzy RTOS™ (embedded software) are no-code platforms, allowing users to control any make of industrial robot, without the need for training or complex programming. Non-roboticist users can intuitively design robotic cells and production operators increase their scope of activity: a clearer and simpler software solution for interacting with robots and “crushing” their complexity. It’s the new standard for flexible automation.