SHOW REVIEW | FAKUMA 2017
Sepro develops open attitude to Industry 4.0
Robot and automation specialist Sepro said at Fakuma that it is combining innovation, system integration and
smart functionality to help moulders become more efficient. David Eldridge reports
Sepro Group, the robot and automation systems supplier to injection moulders, presented products at Fakuma 2017 in the
context of Industry 4.0. Its approach is called “Open 4.0”, which encompasses not just the connectivity and data elements of Industry 4.0 but also several other aspects of collaborative working. “Open 4.0 means for us efficiency, less down time, better cycle times,” said Jean-Michel Renaudeau, CEO of Sepro Group, at a media briefing during Fakuma. “Open Innovation” is the starting point for Sepro, which says it has the industry’s broadest line of robots, from beam robots to 3-, 5- and 6-axis servo robots, which can all be operated through a single
control platform, called Visual. Developed by Sepro especially for injection moulders, the Visual platform enables connectivity and
interoperability of robots and machines throughout the factory. “Open Integration” gives moulders flexibility by providing different levels of integration
between Sepro robots and the controls
Above: Sepro Yaskawa 6X-140 is one of three new, smaller 6-axis robots for automotive and industrial applications
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on moulding machines produced by the group’s partner companies. Sepro has partnerships with ten machine brands worldwide, including Sumitomo (SHI) Demag and Billion. The most recent agreement, with Haitian International, will make 3- and 5-axis robots available with Haitian machines throughout Europe with
Right: Jean-Michel Renaudeau, CEO of Sepro Group
INJECTION WORLD | November/December 2017
Sepro’s Visual control integrated into the moulding machine operator interface. Renaudeau said Sepro is currently in discussions to expand its partner- ships further: “I can tell you there are many more to come.” Connected with these partnerships is Sepro’s “Open Branding” approach. The group also has partnerships with other robot producers, Stäubli and Yaskawa Motoman, in which additional co-developed technology could be privately labelled or co-branded. This flexibility allows its moulding machine partners to make more robot choices available to moulders. “Remaining open about branding creates new options and opportu- nities for everyone,” said Renaudeau.
Functionality Sepro’s executives presented its latest develop- ments in robot controls under the “Open Apps” banner, indicating that next-generation controls are more like smartphones, with functionality that lets users do more. OptiCycle, previewed at Fakuma, is a control plug-in for Visual that automates cycle optimisation, which Sepro developed in open collaboration with a key customer. It is like making the best machine setter available for every job, they said. When applied to existing robot programs, OptiCycle can reduce robot cycle (in and out) times by up to 40%. The key customer using OptiCycle has found a 5% improvement in moulding cycles times on average, and a 10% improve- ment on one particular machine. OptiCycle also offers suggestions for optimising end-of- arm-tooling (EOAT) and injection moulding machine strokes.
Also functioning with the Sepro
www.injectionworld.com
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