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MEMBER NEWS MEMBER NEWS


NEWS FOR & FROM MEMBERS OF DEVON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


Monique and Andrew Hirshman (centre) with their award


Inspirational jewellers win big Cobots secure partnership


Family business Drakes have been awarded the top prize at the 2016 Retail Jeweller Inspiring Independents awards. The jeweller received this accolade at a lavish lunchtime awards


ceremony at London’s Grange City Hotel on Friday 14 October 2016. These awards celebrate the top 100 independent jewellery retailers voted


for by the industry for which they received 500 votes this year. The individual winners and highly commended businesses are decided by a specialist supplier panel.


Plymouth engineering company Applied Automation has been awarded Universal Robots’ Preferred Partner status by the Danish manufacturer. The elevation in status from


distributor to Preferred Partner is recognition of the X-STK division’s superior performance selling the cobots (collaborative robots) in the UK. The robot arms are used for a huge range of tasks in industry and, due to their ease of use, are proving popular with teaching establishments. UR has seen a 120% increase in robots sold in the UK market since X-STK signed up. The new status will also mean


more benefits for customers who can take advantage of the X-STK team’s technical knowledge and


expertise, an enhanced level of support and access to resources including training. Managing Director David Rowe


said: “Our sales team has been incredibly impressed with these cobots and the reaction of the market. We are selling them to a broad range of industries and for many different applications. The market response has been phenomenal and I’m very pleased our successes are being rewarded with this promotion.” The cobots from Universal


Robots are a game-changer for industry. Their cost efficient price, fast return on investment and flexibility are making it possible for companies to automate new processes.


As a tool for manufacturing,


these cobots can work safely alongside employees and are easy to program. They are proving hugely popular and resulting in increased efficiency when working collaboratively with humans. 10,000 UR cobots are now in operation around the world. Per Kloster Poulsen, Universal


Robots Regional Sale Director said: “We wish X-STK | Applied Automation congratulations with the Preferred Partner status. Getting the Preferred Status in less than a year is a solid achievement.”


For more information go to www.x-stk.com/universalrobots or call X-STK | Applied Automation on 02920 494551.


January/February 2017 Chamber Profile 5


Drakes was described by Retailer Jeweller as the “overwhelming choice” to


take home the top award, being praised for their “friendly and collaborative approach to business in addition to its forward-thinking attitude”. Monique Hirshman, Drakes Director, said: “We are really touched and


honoured to have won this fantastic award. We are so proud of everything we have achieved which wouldn’t have been possible without the work of all of our team. To be named top at the Inspiring Independents awards is unbelievable and such a complement to our business.”


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