Today’s manufacturers are continually looking for ways to produce high-quality products more efficiently and affordably so they can keep up with their competitors locally and globally.
Canadian based company, Robotiq works with manufacturers helping them to automate their businesses and to overcome workforce challenges.
The company manufactures flexible robot grippers and sensors and has been working with Universal Robots since 2012. Most recently around the introduction of Universal Robots+ products, which are complete, customized automation solutions designed to work flawlessly with UR robots.
Director of Marketing at Robotiq Karine Simard said the collaboration has made their products even easier to program and to use.
“Universal Robots is the collaborative robot brand that is most adapted to the realities of manufacturing. We believe in the power of Universal Robots as a platform to advance collaborative robotics in manufacturing. Making our products fit mechanically and software-wise has been very well received in the market,” she said.
On April 3, Robotiq will officially launch their newest UR+ product at Automate 2017, in Chicago. Visitors will be able to see, interact with, and program the new Dual Gripper, at North America’s largest automation solution trade show.
MACHINE TENDING APPLICATIONS
The Dual Gripper is suited to machine tending applications, where a robot has to remove a processed part from a machine and then replace it with the next raw part. Having two grippers on the same UR robot will save manufacturers cycle time, create a more efficient production line and give them the ability to increase their output.
Integrating technology like this will relieve employees of repetitive tasks and give them the chance to move onto higher-value roles within a business.
Continental Automotive Spain is using the new Dual Gripper with great success. In 2016, the manufacturer integrated several UR10 cobots into their production to automate the manufacture and handling of PCB boards. Continental has experienced many benefits including easy integration, zero maintenance, an increase in productivity and a reduction in changeover times by 50 percent (from 40 to 20 minutes) when compared to performing the task manually.