TECHNOLOGY | ROBOTS AND AUTOMATION


Right: Yushin’s FRA high-end take-out robot series, launched at NPE 2018, is equipped with the company’s IoT (Internet of Things) solution service, Intu Line, which the company continues to update. This app, which runs on PCs and mobile devices, allows moulders to monitor production status of their moulding machines and auxiliary equipment while away from the office. If an error occurs, a Yushin service technician can assess the robot’s data and troubleshoot the issue. AI predicts possible breakdown risks so users can take early preventative action


Below: Collaborative robots can be quickly


implemented


variable workforce staffing situation brought on by the pandemic itself. Robotics allowed these companies to continue to produce while compa- nies were short staffed, and to allow for, in some cases, to introduce the much needed social distancing into their plant production operations.” On top of this, says Cooper, more recent developments, such as cobots, allowed for quick implementation of robots into these operations. He cites Fanuc’s CRX cobot, which he says has a simple and easy programming interface that allows for quick programming, “even by new users who have never programmed a robot in the past.” Chris Parrillo, National Sales Manager for Yushin in the USA, also points to how emergency produc- tion of plastic parts required to combat Covid-19 in the healthcare industry has increased the demand for robots and automation. “Many plastic injection moulding companies have turned to us for help with this need,” he says. “We have been very busy with customers that were moulding everything from parts used in lifesaving medical equipment like ventilators and PPE including masks, glasses and face shields. We were also quite active with components used for testing and vaccinations.” He says: “The pandemic added another burden on labour shortages, as workers could not or would not report to work. Customers are reporting problems filling open positions throughout their organisations and turning to automation to address


this concern. Value-added tasks like packaging, quality inspection, and assembly need to be automated for them to stay competitive in the market. The need to implement robotic automation into the process allows moulders to streamline their process efficiently, while safely meeting social distancing requirements.” Yushin has also recently begun offering a virtual


runoff process for new equipment. “In the past, cus- tomers were able to come in and conduct a factory acceptance test for a new automation system running before it was delivered,” says Parrillo. “Our virtual support offers our customers the opportu- nity to see their equipment running, interact with our engineers in real time and make necessary changes right on the spot. We will continue to improve on the process.” Muller Technology, which supplies moulds and


automation solutions for thin-wall packaging, in March launched what it says is the industry’s first self-contained cobot case packer for lids and containers. Incorporating an Omron six-axis cobot, the case packer “helps processors who struggle filling unskilled labour positions while also meeting Covid-19 social distancing requirements,” says Taras Konowal, Director of Sales and Marketing for North America. He adds that moulders can re-allo- cate their workforce to more productive, fulfilling jobs. Muller worked together with Omron to develop a version specifically for the application. “Applications that traditionally have been quite


labour-intensive, such as box packing, are now going either to full automation or automation with cobots,” Konowal says. “There were labour short- ages in this sector before the pandemic, but now it has got worse. There is a really high level of absenteeism. But automation doesn’t call in sick! Plus, it can handle the increased volumes we are seeing. Packaging for things like groceries has been skyrocketing. Our customers are seeing volumes up over 150% from pre-Covid.” The cobot case packer offers portability, quick part changeover for different size configurations,


16 INJECTION WORLD | April 2021 www.injectionworld.com


IMAGE: YUSHIN


IMAGE: FANUC


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