The age of new tech is here for manufacturing thanks to increased value and efficiency provided by robotics, drones and automation.

Automation at a Machining Factory

In the case of Attl A Spol, a company producing stainless steel tubes for a Volkswagen supplier, automated robots allowed the firm to perform monotonous manual labor with heightened precision for 20 hours a day and six days a week without any required downtime or service outages.

By improving the efficiency of its manufacturing line and supply chain, the addition of robotic arms freed up time for three workers to be assigned to other areas and retrained. As automation costs continue to drop, a wealth of options are becoming available for manufacturers that did not exist even a few years ago.

Cobots at Nissan Motors

Employing robotics can help connect the big picture for teams on the way to increased value. In Nissan’s case, it identified bottlenecks in its production line and invested in the addition of cobots — collaborative robots working beside their human counterparts on the assembly line.

Instead of replacing current employees, these complement and heighten productivity for greater efficiencies. By performing precise twisting movements for bolt assembly, cobots minimized a monotonous task for the workers and improved the production of the line.

Furthermore, with visual dashboards and app development, engineers can deliver key indicators and recommendations for sustained peak performance by cobots.

Quality Control at Ferd. Wagner

At Ferd. Wagner, two robots working in sequential collaboration now perform precise welding tasks with quality control in the code. The first robot selects the parts to be welded, inserts them into a machine to soak the parts in fluid. Then, the second robot takes the piece to another station to be fused with the next piece.

After that — this is the really cool part — the robotic arm holds the finished work up to a camera and an app automatically checks the precision quality of the weld and solder.

Another area of robotics that is taking flight includes aerial drones. For everything from transporting raw materials and even finished parts and deliverables from one area to the next, they can also monitor production lines, assess quality, count inventory and more. This frees up human workers for more machine tasks throughout the facility.

Sensors at Glidewell Laboratories

Today’s robots aren’t necessarily designed for a singular purpose. Thanks to advances in technology, like the addition of IIoT and cloud connectivity, new tech can communicate with legacy machines, both inside the facility and outside, to add new functionalities, eliminate downtime and identify preventive maintenance.

Sensors at Glidewell Laboratories use vision cameras, with robots switching tasks automatically when dispensers run out, slashing production times from 27 to 18 hours and freeing up the time of two machine operators.

Customization with Apps

Companies like Autodesk are already using smartphones and next-gen devices to integrate the latest industrial software and robotics for potential cross-device support.

While full-scale implementation of robotics is often limited by budget, today manufacturers can benefit from robotics with a 12-month ROI. Modular units accomplish the need for expansion, such as highly advanced turnkey factories, making robotics the ideal solution for a future of customized automation.

Cost Savings at L'Oréal

Now, more than ever, industries are seeking simple integrations to lower the costs of goods by harnessing the power of robotics and IIoT. L'Oréal — one of the world’s largest cosmetics companies — was facing issues at its plant with end-of-line tasks creating severe ergonomic risks for workers.

By easily programming robotic arms to perform routine operations, the company frees up worker time to tackle more value-adding activities. Apart from speeding up production time, the ability of robotics to gather data through sensors is a formidable boost to cost savings and timely adjustments.

Boost for Palletizing Operation

With the falling prices of robotics technology, Gustav Hensel GmbH integrated cobots for palletizing packed boxes. The medium-sized company optimized the capacity of its facilities and freed employees from significant physical strain.

Final Thoughts

As more legacy machines and new devices are connected, there will be more opportunities for engineers to assist with the integration and use of robotics, automation, and dashboards across industries.