FEATURE Robotics
Feature sponsored by
Machines will unleash the next industrial revolution
By Daniel Pintar, Global Segment Leader for machine tending at Universal Robots T
he average commercial jet airliner is made up of over 350,000 individual parts. To make these parts, one process is
essential – machine tending.
As anyone in the industry will tell you, machine tending is incredibly important in manufacturing, continously relying on loading and unloading parts and materials. When done well, machine tending increases productivity and yield. Without machine tending, any production would grind to a halt, so any advancement in manufacturing should rest on optimising this crucial task.
The next industrial revolution Collaborative automation plays a vital role. Already integral to Industry 4.0, greater automation of machine tending will help manufacturers transition to Industry 5.0.
Industry 4.0 saw manufacturers integrating new technologies into their production facilities and throughout their operations. Industry 5.0 builds on this, using R&D to transition to a more sustainable, robot-centric and resilient industry. The future of manufacturing and the transition to Industry 5.0 rests on ensuring machine tending benefits from both human skill and automated consistency, something collaborative robots (cobots) are specifically designed for.
Working alongside machines For decades, the repetitive and physically demanding task of machine tending has been performed by human machine operators. However, not only is manual machine tending unsafe, it is also not scaleable.
Machine tending tasks are often performed in small working spaces, involving aggressive cutting fluids and sharp edges. In addition, the long hours and lack of natural light, also take a mental strain. Due to this, very few
12 September 2023 | Automation
people ask for this type of work. Using cobots for machine tending can help solve these issues. Cobots can be programmed to reduce contact in a defined spaces, enabling them to work seamlessly alongside humans. They also perform extremely precise work, required in machine tending. With up to seven degrees of movement, cobots can mimic the “human touch”. In some cases, automation of machine tending is already enabling real-time monitoring and analysis for manufacturers, as well as predictive maintenance and remote operation, improving overall efficiency, productivity and profitability. With these improvements, Japanese automotive company Aido Industry has doubled its productivity in three years, and Bernacki Industrial Services has successfully reduced the cost of man- hour production per precision part it makes.
Improvements across the board We know that human cognitive power and analytical capabilities remain
irreplaceable. With cobots able to take over the tedious machine-tending tasks, workers are freed to do more fulfilling tasks. At the same time, cobots’ shifts of machine tending can be a lot longer, as minimal human supervision is needed. This could mean the growth of 24/7 factories, as manufacturers obtain a consistent source of output, with factory downtime being brought to a minimum. For regions battling low growth and productivity, like the UK, the notion of non-stop factories is an attractive one.
The next step forward The next industrial step forward will rest on a greater collaboration between people and machines. Not only will this improve the working lives of those employed in factories, by enabling them to focus on higher-value tasks, it will also help companies to optimise their operations and expand production. The type of collaborative automation that can transform machine tending is vital for the transition to Industry 5.0. Without it, many manufacturing businesses risk being left behind.
automationmagazine.co.uk
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