AUTOMATION & ROBOTICS
WAREHOUSING, HANDLING & STORAGE
IS YOUR MAINTENANCE APPROACH AS ADVANCED AS YOUR ROBOT?
When using future-oriented automated technologies, such as robots, it is important to use equally advanced solutions to support their optimum operation and maximise their service life. Data-driven predictive and prescriptive maintenance tools help users optimise facilities, benefit from flawless performance and minimise the total cost of ownership (TCO) for robots.
R
obots are integral in helping companies grow in the market – and businesses across a multitude of industries are well aware of this, as the number of robot installations in factories around the world grew by a record 31% in 2021. This new figure brings the total units currently in use to 3.5 million, 24,445 of which are in the UK. Whilst industrial and collaborative robots are becoming increasingly popular on shop floors, it is still extremely important to look beyond the price tag. Companies should determine the payback period associated with the purchase of a robot and how to maximise their return on investment (ROI) before installing them. Key aspects to consider include equipment service life and maintenance requirements as well as potential costs arising with unexpected downtime, repairs and replacement parts.
In practice, the average service life of a robot is estimated to be around 15 years and its maintenance cost tends to be incremental. In the first few years, the expenses are typically
associated with preventative measures, such as lubrication and battery changes, but after long-term use, it is essential to replace worn components, such as drive belts. Towards the end of a robot’s lifecycle, more considerable, costly activities are to be expected. For example, up to 50% of the robot’s asset value may be spent on refurbishment projects.
ADVANCED SOLUTIONS TO SAVE MONEY
Well-designed planned, preventative and corrective maintenance strategies can help users reduce a robot’s TCO, increasing its expected service life whilst ensuring peak performance throughout. However, the use of cutting-edge, data-driven forecasting systems can deliver even greater benefits. These gather information on the status of the robot and its components, identify and evaluate the level of wear and other anomalies, predict when failure is likely to occur and offer a suitable maintenance schedule. Even more, these solutions can be coupled with prescriptive tools, which explore and present mitigation recommendations to address equipment wear and failure. This, in turn, can streamline troubleshooting, servicing, repair and replacement activities.
Accurate predictive and prescriptive methods often rely on large volumes of data and state- of-the-art artificial intelligence, elements that require high levels of technical expertise and time. As such, it may be challenging for end users to set up future-oriented, competitive strategies to extend the service and optimise the TCO of their robots.
LEVERAGING MAINTANENCE- ORIENTED ROBOTS
MELFA Smart Plus is characterised by highly accurate predictive models that check the status of key robotic components and identify abnormalities
The selection of a robotic system with built-in advanced maintenance features, e.g. condition- monitoring, predictive analytics and prescriptive technologies can add value to industrial automation applications. To help companies benefit from state-of-the-art automated machines with a long service life and limited
22 FEBRUARY 2023 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
Barry Weller Robotics Product Manager
Mitsubishi Electric
running costs, Mitsubishi Electric has developed the MELFA Smart Plus. This can be added to any of the company’s industrial, collaborative and cooperative robots, offering condition monitoring and predictive maintenance functions. MELFA Smart Plus is characterised by highly accurate predictive models that check the status of key robotic components and identify abnormalities. This is made possible by Mitsubishi Electric’s enormous library of data on robotic component wear, coupled with Maisart (Mitsubishi Electric’s AI creates the State-of- the-ART in technology). MELFA Smart Plus also enables prescriptive operations, as it is linked to the robot cloud maintenance solution, which suggests maintenance times and priorities for various parts. Thanks to these functions, companies can benefit from planned servicing, repairs, and replacements before equipment fails, optimising uptime and costs.
Mitsubishi Electric
gb.mitsubishielectric.com
39
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
