What are the roles of industrial robots?

From the outside looking in, the world of industrial robotics can appear overwhelming. There are numerous robots and options on the market, but how do you go about selecting a robot that’s fit for your specific purpose?

The first step is to get in touch with the experts. At Yaskawa, we don’t just sell out-of-the-box robotic solutions; we become strategic partners who supply custom turnkey solutions. Regardless of where you are on your automation journey, we’re here to impart knowledge and advice every step of the way. This means analysing your design thinking and ensuring that you’ve covered all the necessary bases – including areas you might not have considered beforehand. From there, we identify where we can add real value to your operations.

In layman’s terms, industrial robots are generally used for:

Handling and assembly

These types of robots are more commonly known as material handling robots. They’re used to move, feed or disassemble parts to or from a specific location, or to transfer parts. Businesses around the globe integrate these robots into their operations because of their precision, speed, consistency, and cost-effectiveness.

From the assembly of smartphones to the construction of bulkier items like cars, these robots make it possible to achieve high-quality output in a reliable and efficient manner. For example, 18 MOTOMAN robots ensure that IKEA is able to produce a completed flat-packed bookcase kit every six seconds, resulting in 40,000 units being manufactured per week. This wouldn’t be possible without its fleet of material handling robots.

Find out more about the role of a pick-and-place robot here.

Packaging and palletising

Considering the laborious and repetitive effort required for packaging and palletising functions, robots are making everyone’s lives simpler and easier. Not only have palletising and packaging robots replaced the manual effort required, but they’ve also introduced efficiency, safety and increased productivity to numerous production facilities around the globe.

For example, Yaskawa MOTOMAN’s systems have revolutionised Bavaria Brewery’s operations. Beer cans are handled individually and as plastic-wrapped packs by robots throughout the canning process. Due to the work and cooperation of 10 robots, Bavaria Brewery is now able to palletise 100,000 beer cans per hour.

Find out more about how to choose the right robotic palletiser for your needs here.

Painting and coating

Painting or coating tasks are just what robots were designed for. In the automotive industry, robots have been the norm for the longest time – specifically for painting and spraying functions. This is because the systems are extremely fast, consistent, precise and well-coordinated – ensuring reduced time and wastage of materials.

If you’re a manufacturing plant producing new cars, you’ll understand that every cent and second counts in the production line. At the same time, you cannot sacrifice quality. Thankfully, in an automated cell, it’s easier to maintain a consistent temperature and humidity, resulting in reproducible quality.

Welding and cutting

Every industrial manufacturer will understand the importance of welding and cutting to its processes. If you desire throughput, consistency and quality, automated welding is the logical solution. Plus, it’s particularly helpful for spot welding where the power pack weighs over 100 kg.

Boasting increased productivity and consistent quality, these robots are capable of achieving feats that would be dangerous or impossible for any human worker. More importantly, their precision and speed ensure that the job is done correctly the first time around – saving both time and money in the long run.

Find out more about the different types of robotic welding applications here.

Get in touch with Yaskawa

Through years of technical progress and unmatched experience, Yaskawa has become a key player and world-class leader in the field of industrial robotics and automation. We understand industries and their specific challenges, allowing us to design flexible robotic solutions that can be customised to align with your business needs. In addition, we provide the necessary training, upskilling and support for the robot’s entire life cycle, empowering you with the knowledge and skills to get maximum value out of your solution.

If you’d like to discuss how we can add real value to your business through the use of robotics, please contact us for more info.