HIRE EQUIPMENT & FINANCE
AFFORDABLE AUTOMATION: LEASING COBOTS AND MOBILE ROBOTS FOR FLEXIBILITY ON THE FACTORY FLOOR
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n line with the move to Industry 4.0, an increasing number of manufacturers are turning to automation as a way of streamlining processes and boosting productivity. A key aspect of this is the use of robots, often working alongside people in the factory. However, many companies might be reluctant to invest in additional automation, particularly following the economic difficulties presented by Covid-19. For manufacturers looking for an affordable solution, cost structures with leasing options are being implemented as an option to allow adaptability on the factory floor. Countries such as the UK and Germany are likely to experience serious labour shortages over the coming decade, especially in relation to technical specialists. In the UK alone, 63 per
cent of organisations are currently experiencing a skills shortage, while 68 per cent of employers found that they were unable to find candidates who were suitable for vacant roles. At the same time, product life cycles are becoming shorter. The corona pandemic has posed further challenges to companies of all sizes across all industries, with companies facing significantly reduced consumption as well as disrupted supply chains. Robots and collaborative robots (cobots) are easy to set up and offer a quick solution. They can increase the flexibility, quality and speed of production and enable companies to respond rapidly to changing market conditions. Robert Brooks, Omron Europe’s industry manager food and beverage, comments: “The pandemic has led
to developments such as social distancing and tighter safety regulations that companies need to adhere to. Automation can help in overcoming this challenge while also improving security and efficiency in the longer term. A simple example is a cobot or mobile robot solution that can relieve employees from challenging and repetitive tasks so they can focus on more value-added and fulfilling roles.”
COBOTS FOR SHORTER LIFE CYCLES
Traditional production lines are designed for manufacturing large numbers of products. However, product life cycles are getting shorter. In the 1970s, the average product lifecycle of
40 NOVEMBER 2020 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
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