ROBOTS AND AUTOMATION | TECHNOLOGY
sumed continuous operation of 24 h, with iQ motion control and with early start, 236 more parts per cavity can be produced per day than with sequential three-point removal. In January, KraussMaffei Automation launched a similar function called “synchronous motion.” Again, component demoulding and the opening movement of the machine are synchronised. “Sometimes, this also makes it possible to do away with expensive gripper hardware,” says the company. “The ejector movement is often used for difficult-to-demould parts. The robot grips the finished part during the demoulding process and the ejector pushes the component onto the gripper. This requires a costly pneumatic system at the handling. However, if the gripper moves along with the ejector, no pneumatic system is required.” The synchronous motion enables the demould- ing time to be reduced by approximately 35%, according to KruassMaffei. In the production of refuse containers, for example, this means a 6% reduction in the complete cycle time; for crates, it can be up to 4%. KraussMaffei offers synchro- nous motion both for new machines and in the form of an update for the MC6 machine control system for existing machines and complete systems. It can be applied to LRX linear robots and IR industrial robots.
Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has launched its own range of cartesian robots engi- neered in-house. The SAM-C (SAM denoting: Sumitomo. Automation. Machine) series is claimed to deliver the smallest injection moulding footprint comprising robot and material handling technol- ogy. The company says it has intentionally focused its efforts on developing scalable units with more automation functional elements. The “handle &
place” robots are already available in four payload sizes – 3, 5, 10 and 20 kg – for injection moulding machines with clamping force sizes between 500 and 5,000 kN, and for standard applications with cycle times of 10 s and higher. Further robot kinematics and functional elements will roll out in the next couple of years. Nigel Flowers, Managing Director at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s UK subsidiary, says: “The pandemic has amplified the focus on productivity and forced injection moulding decision makers to reconsider how automation and digitalised technologies can facilitate working smarter. Scalable, flexible units are in greatest de- mand. That’s why the group launched the SAM-C series
at Fakuma last year.” He says: “Automation like this can help customers to address the acute staffing
shortages. Although labour was a challenge before the pandemic, filling certain jobs is becoming ever more challenging. Jobs being vacated by the baby boomers (which accounts for over 25% of the workforce in some territories) are not attracting the Millennials and Gen Z’s, which is another pressure on top of escalating material prices and supply chain issues.”
Above: With the synchro- nous motion function from KraussMaffei, the gripper of the robot starts faster, saving cycle time
Left: Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s new SAM-C robots are available in 3, 5, 10 and 20 kg payload sizes
� Factory robot density is accelerating
According to the International Federation of Robotics in its 2021 World Robot Report, the use of industrial robots in factories around the world is accelerating at a high rate: 126 robots per 10,000 employees is the new average of global robot
www.injectionworld.com
density in the manufacturing industries – nearly double the number five years ago. The average robot density in Asia/ Australia is 134 units, in Europe 123 units and in the Americas 111 units. Europe´s most automated country is Germany; 38% of Europe’s operational
stock is in that country. The UK has a robot density below the world average of 126 units with 101 units, ranking 24th. The exodus of foreign labour after Brexit increased the demand for robots in 2020. This situation is expected to prevail in near future.
April 2022 | INJECTION WORLD 49
IMAGE: SUMITOMO (SHI) DEMAG
IMAGE: KRAUSSMAFFEI
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