FEATURE Robotics
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Robots are taking on the most diffi cult jobs in Finland
Finland is a hotbed of robotics implementation. The Finnish robot industry is succeeding at automating niche tasks that are considered very difficult, according to the 2022 robot market report from
HowToRobot.com, independent advisors Gain & Co and the Robotics Society in Finland
A
common stereotype of a robot is that of a dumb machine that is only capable of undertaking very basic
and highly-repetitive jobs. In Finland, however, this stereotype is being put to the test. Contrary to common practice, robots are often being used for advanced tasks in the Finnish industry, according to the new market report that is based on research on 113 robot and automation suppliers in the country. “The companies that use robots in Finland are mainly those that manufacture heavy and expensive machinery in low quantities. Automating this process requires robot cells to be more flexible and smarter than in a high-volume production, which is where you would usually find robots working,” said Jyrki Latokartano, Chairman at the Robotics Society in Finland. The robot integrators building and implementing the robot solutions in Finland have, according to the report, developed a special engineering expertise in automating these demanding niche applications required by end users.
“The integrators in Finland are automating things that no one else is willing to do. They are crazy enough to do it – and succeed,” said Latokartano.
Laser-cleaning fighter jets Examples of the niche applications that robotic companies in Finland are taking on include laser cleaning of body parts for the F-35 combat aircraft, arc welding of cruise ships, and robotic waste sorting using machine learning. Automating complicated tasks such as these requires special expertise and knowledge to be
10 December/January 2023 | Automation
a profitable investment, according to Søren Peters, CEO of
HowToRobot.com and Gain & Co:
“Most businesses use robots to solve immediate needs and are careful with going into experimental projects with a more uncertain outcome. The robotic companies that are able to prove the business case in these new areas will be worth watching,” said Søren Peters. The robotic companies in Finland have, according to Latokartano, found some ways to turn seemingly difficult tasks into jobs that are affordable for robots to do: “The Finnish integrators are working their way around automating the manufacturing of single- piece heavy machines. By breaking the task for the robot into smaller, repeatable parts they are able to resemble high- volume production with a good return
on investment.” The research is listing 113 robot and automation suppliers in Finland: • 11 robot manufacturers and 38 subcomponent suppliers; • 55 integrators; • 4 distributors; • 5 advisors.
The top industries in Finland that
robot and automation companies are supplying to are:
• Metal & Machinery: 74 suppliers; • Automotive: 44 suppliers; • Electronics & Technology: 44 suppliers The top solution types offered by
most robot and automation suppliers in Finland are:
• Handling and picking: 48 suppliers; • Inspection & QA: 36 suppliers; • Logistics: 34 suppliers; • Assembly 34 suppliers.
automationmagazine.co.uk
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