COBOTs: Supporting the New Normal in the Manufacturing Industry
Over the years, technology has transformed our lives and is the foundation stone of our world. Technology is shrinking the world and turning it into a global village with no borders. Technology is a vital force that has revolutionized the global economy over the last several decades. Be it Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Internet of things (IoT), Nanotechnology, or Robotics, the recent decade has seen a dramatic accelerating pace in the adoption of new technology across all sectors.
The industrial sector has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the decades. From offshoring to job cuts, the manufacturing sector has been directly affected by economic and international trends. During these challenging and unprecedented times to tackle the COVID pandemic, the technology advancements will play even a larger role to get the world economy back in order.
It is estimated that a lot of changes in the manufacturing industry have come from consumer demand. Consumers want things faster and better with customized and unique offerings. Therefore, manufacturers have had to find a way to keep up not only with the demand for products but also with finding a skilled workforce.
This is where manufacturing units have introduced industrial robots. The use of machines and technology has been improving industrial operations. Robots have acquired a large space in the manufacturing industry thereby revolutionizing it in an unparalleled way.
In keeping with the upgraded technology, last year we introduced Collaborative robot – MELFA ASSISTA. Simpler, easier, and flexible to use, cobots are designed to be as workspace partners. They are safe, require minimal or no programming, and allow hassle-free connectivity. Having such benefits, cobots are a game-changer for a wide range of applications.
Collaborative robots like MELFA ASSISTA have a wide range of uses, including how to handle the components, assembly jobs offer a variety of finishes, apply sealant or glue, and a lot more. They are used in load building (at a production line’s end, they assemble a pallet load of products), quality control (inspection and testing procedure involves the deployment of robots for repetitive work), and warehousing (for carrying out the removal of received products from pallets and then route them to a facility’s storage location). In addition to this, they are also widely used in Food and Pharma industry for handling pick-an-place jobs.
Mitsubishi Electric’s MELFA ASSISTA allows easy programming with little or no extra effort. It requires no robot programming expertise and can be done using a tablet. It’s an advanced version of an Industrial Robot that can work alongside manpower, without any need for safety bands. The design of the product is an important aspect of the robotic assembly.
ASSISTA’s simple and unique design adds more flexibility to it, without compromising on quality. Furthermore, the cobot’s arm has operating buttons that offer easy control. Adding to this convenience is the LED present on the cobot arm which shows the cobot’s working status. It epitomizes versatility, providing vision, grippers, and other peripherals. These tools allow for easy setup and can be easily configured for specific applications. As a result, automation is better implemented and is a lot more flexible.
Such cobots have given the ease of operation, along with hassle-free connectivity, giving a backseat to the complexity associated with other industrial robots.
Besides, there are several other benefits of these cobots such as decreased product damage, accuracy, quiet operation, and improved efficiency.
Today, these industrial robots are placed in high-volume production companies. However, it is estimated that robots will find more roles in small and medium-sized companies in the forthcoming years. The major outcome of the robotic process in manufacturing is that it allows companies to remain competitive on a global scale. It allows the employees to concentrate on the company’s overall growth and success. The employees and the management of the company need to focus on a dedicated manufacturing solution, to increase the productivity of the company.
