FEATURE Robotics


Can robotics solve our supply chain headaches?


Automation holds the key to overcoming worker shortages, writes Stewart Goulding, Managing Director of precision drive system supplier EMS


T


here are product shortages across the full board in the UK right now – many of which attributed to lack of workers,


brought on by a combination of Brexit and the pandemic. The Food and Drink Federation claims the industry is experiencing around half a million staff shortages right now. While the labour force remains unsettled, there’s high incentive for businesses to invest in automation to fi ll the gap across the entire supply chain – from production to distribution. Robots can get to work right from the beginning of the supply chain in manufacturing facilities. The type of work where automation is most feasible is typically predictable physical work, such as welding, food preparation and packaging. As much of manufacturing is this type of work, nearly 60% of production activities could be feasibly automated. However, while automation has clear


benefi ts inside manufacturing facilities, not all products are produced in factories. Robots are also helping to combat the labour gap in agriculture, such as fruit picking and packing. Here, too, robots can fi ll the gap: fruit picking robots can automatically sense and pick ripe fruit from soil beds using food grade, soft robotic grippers. With machine vision and learning technology, the robots


38 May 2022 | Automation


can navigate fi elds independently and operate 24 hours a day. Automated animal feeders, area- scanning drones and seed-planting fi eld robots are just some of the many robotic systems that can support in agricultural activities traditionally handled by people.


Mastering warehousing As well as in production, robots can also be employed in warehousing. They can carry out all typical warehouse activities and ensure incoming orders are fulfilled, despite worker shortage. Upon receiving their order, an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) can navigate the warehouse independently, using its in-built digital map and a series of barcodes to locate products. Once collected, these products are transported to the packing station, where autonomous packaging machines equipped with sensors, levers and paddles pack them, ready for shipping. The order then moves down a conveyor belt or by an AMR to the dispatch area. Previously a sticking point in


warehouse automation, robots have now been developed to load and unload orders onto lorries – providing the last link in the automated warehousing chain. Still, rather than replace human workers altogether, automation can free up the time and energy of existing workers to focus on other tasks. For


example, before warehouse automation, it was normal for warehouse workers to walk over ten miles a day. Now, such activities can be replaced with more meaningful work.


Mighty power


The supply chain industry must work fast to bring enough food and goods to our shelves. Therefore, robots that are employed to help plug the labour gap must be designed with quality, high- performance powering systems. For instance, all Faulhaber motors exhibit an unmatched power-to-weight ratio, allowing robots in the supply chain to make agile yet forceful movements – whether swiftly picking fruit or carrying a load of heavy orders. In particular, thanks to its innovative winding technology, Faulhaber’s BXT series can deliver torque up to 134mNm. Additionally, the multi-pole brushless motors are available in lengths as small as 14mm, making them ideal for robots with small space requirements. Robots powered by high-quality systems can perform with enough power, agility and precision to bring goods through from production to distribution.


ems-limited.co.uk CONTACT:


EMS


automationmagazine.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62