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ROBOT S & M TI N C NTR


TIICS & MOTION CONTRO L THE ARRIVAL OF COBOTICS THE ARRIVA y D oley, offer m


Ireland, Intro incre se


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Ray Dooley, offer manager for industry at Schneider Electric Ireland, Introduces ‘cobotics’, heralding improved productivity and increased safety for industrial appliications


ger for industry at Schneider Electric ics’, h raldin im stria


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and ultimately high quality. In addition, with increasingly


sophisticated sensors and more highly functional robotic equipment, the collaboration between humans and machines on the factory floor is imperative to ensure uniformity and efficiency. This is because robots not only reduce the chances of human error, but also because they manage resources to achieve the best ma food manufacturers


such as bakers have rgin. For example,


science fiction There is perhaps no greater illustration of the technology’s growth than in the food and drink industry. Robots are perfectly suited to this field, cost-effectively and accurately carrying out tasks, in a fraction of the time it would take a human. Functions like food picking and placing into containers, packaging, handling and packing are widely performed by robots. Although robots are also starting to creep into quality control andmaintenance .


phenomenon with a much older reckoning rooted through the ages of .


R


HE I INTRODUCTION OF ‘COBOTICS’ Like many industrial processes, food and drink production is always at risk from human error, which can cause downtime, poor quality and product loss, ultimately increasing costs. To minimise these risks and protect the production line, we are seeing the introduction of ‘cobotics’ - compact, easy-to-use and collaborative robots to work alongside humans. As automation developers introduce better sensing capability and more responsive safety systems, the


THE N RODUC ION O F COBO ICS


application of robotic equipment in this space will only increase – paving the way for improved interaction so that complex processes can be completed faster, more easily and more safely.


8 APRI MA 201 APRIL/MAY 2018 | IRISH MAN RISH MANUFAC ACTURI RING obotics is a 21st century


With this change comes an additional benefit for a skills-poor industry struggling to attract engineering expertise. The cobotics movement


doesn’t replace humans, rather it simply frees up highly skilled workers time for more value-add activity.


MINIMISING HE RISKS MINIMISING THE RISKS


With the collaboration of robots and humans becoming increasingly a focus point for UK food production lines and supply chains, we are beginning to see how this collaboration can minimise risks to employees working on the factory floor. Robots are able to perform more dangerous and repetitive jobs that can often be hazardous for humans, such as cutting and slicing. In turn, this allows workers to apply their skills elsewhere. An example of robotic capability working alongside people is the meat packing process. This involves handling and sorting products with a high degree of variability. Such differences are only visible to highly trained individuals and have not yet been mastered by machines. However, the repetitive nature of the physical packaging of the meat is far more effectively performed by robots. This is a situation in which humans and robots can work on the same production line to create an environment with a greater level of flexibility, measurability


Figure 1 & 2: Figure 1 & 2:


Incorporating robotics into the production line is a vital step in the path to progress


Incorporating robotics into the production line is a vital step in the path to progres s


started to notice increased productivity and quality as a result of incorporating smart technologies into their equipment. Connecting these devices has shown it is possible to control speed, precision and the volume of ingredients, combining high turnover with consistent quality. Ultimately, all food manufacturers must implement robotics and analytics t o ensure they are getting the most out of their food lines. The only way to guard against human error or equipment failure, preventing downtime, product loss, and security breaches, is to have greater insight into processes and have the capability to react in real-time. Incorporating robotics into the food and drink production line is a vital step in the path to progress. In fact, the health and longevity of the sector relies on it. The safety of staff in thes e


collaborative scenarios should be of the upmost priority to manufacturers. This can be supported through both technology advancements and by upskilling staff on how to mitigate the risks on the factory floor when working alongside robots. The capabilities to tap into advances in computer-vision, information technology and engineering can enable manufacturers to deliver real- time information a nd guidance at th e point of use. Real-ti keep operators of th


e factory floor up to me insights help to


date at all times, ensuring the


appropriate action can be taken should a risk be identified.


However, ultimately, continuous improvement, investment and


development into robotics will deliver greater efficiency, profitability and performance. The key to the success of this cobotics movement is educating the workforce on the benefits to improv e understanding around their importance in the food industry to drive long-term performance.


Schneider Electric


https://www.schneider-electric.ie/en T: 1800 805 800


https://www.schneider-electric.ie/en / HSIRI IRISHMANUF MANUFACTURING FACTURING VAL O F COBO TIC S


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