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INDUSTRY News Are robots helping the UK after Brexit? ABB COLUMN
ROBOTS CAN UNLOCK SUCCESS FOR UK INDUSTRY
This month’s Robotics supplement seems as good an opportunity as any to re-examine the uptake of robots in the UK and see how we compare to our competitors. The latest figures from the
International Federation for Robotics (IFR) predicts that, from 2020 to 2022, almost two million new industrial robots are expected to be installed in factories around the world. That’s encouraging. Yet in the UK, the picture isn’t quite so rosy - the IFR finds that there are only 91 robots per 10,000 population, a figure well below rival industrialised countries. Many companies think robots are too complex to
install and operate and unsuited to small batch, high variability production. However, recent developments are making them much easier to use and integrate into any production environment. One trend is the rise of collaborative robots such as
ABB’s YuMi. Designed for jobs such as small parts assembly, YuMi allows people and robots to work side- by-side on the same tasks. Developments in software such as SafeMove2 enable other robots to become collaborative too, cutting the need for fencing and cages. The robot footprint is also getting smaller, making
them easier to fit into existing processes. ABB’s IRB1100 for instance, offers 35 per cent faster cycle times for increased productivity and a 10 per cent smaller footprint. An example of a modern robot controller is ABB’s
OmniCore, which offers a wide range of motion control options as well as an intuitive multi-touch display with gestures such as pinch, swipe and tap. Easy to use, it means more manufacturers can learn to operate robots. Today’s robots are also getting smarter. At ABB,
we’re collaborating with Covariant on the Covariant Brain, a universal AI that allows robots to see, reason and act, completing complex tasks in warehousing and order fulfillment. With their new abilities and features, robots will
increasingly be adopted by smaller companies and those with challenging production processes. Embracing robots will help UK companies improve productivity, remain competitive and meet the growing demand for high mix, low volume production.
Nigel Platt LBL manager UK and Ireland – ABB Robotics
automationmagazine.co.uk
Automation | March 2020 7
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