Collaborative Robots

There are many types of robots, and many probably immediately think of the classic industrial robot, which is both large, expensive, and inflexible. Norwegian industry consists mostly of small and medium-sized enterprises. For many of these, robot technology has been seen as unattainable, often due to price and complexity. Many are also probably unsure how to implement this type of technology.

The Norwegian labor market has record-low unemployment, and it is difficult to find qualified labor. At the same time, industry has great potential in automating work tasks that are largely manual, repetitive, dangerous, or ergonomically unfavorable. This is not about reducing the number of industrial jobs, but about utilizing the work capacity we have. For the industry, it is also a struggle to capture future employees. Previously, it was easier to get employees to perform repetitive tasks, while today it is difficult to recruit for such positions.

A cobot has features that will be of interest to many:

• Small footprint and space: The cobot takes up little space and has built-in safety features that mean it does not have to be fenced in or take up valuable space like the larger industrial robots.

• Many areas of use: The cobot can perform and take over many human work tasks that are currently manual and repetitive. This can include, for example, gluing, polishing, screwing, assembly, welding, quality control, etc.

• Moved as needed: The cobot can easily be moved where it is needed. Perhaps it spends one week assembling a batch of products, while the following week it is used for polishing.

• Special expertise not necessary: The cobot is easy to program, and employees can use their own creativity to find new areas of use where a cobot can create value. In addition, external expertise is easy to call in for help with more complex applications that require integration of the cobot into other systems.

• Short payback time: The cobot is not particularly expensive, and it normally does not require large investments for assembly, programming, or commissioning. The payback time is approximately one year, which makes it particularly attractive for small and medium-sized enterprises.

• Sustainability: Sustainable development is high on the agenda and is about both small and large measures to secure the future. It is common to think of sustainability in three dimensions: climate and environment, economy, and social conditions. Cobots undoubtedly contribute to the latter two dimensions by creating solid companies with a good working environment.

Examples of applications:

• Pick-and-place

• Palletizing

• Grinding

• Painting

• Welding

• Inspection

• Assembly of parts

• Gluing

• Mounting

• Operating a machine

Are you wondering how Cobots can facilitate your company’s everyday working life? Contact GA Meknett for more information.

Our collaborative robots from AUBO Robo: