Industrial Robots vs. Collaborative Robots | A Clear Winner?
Choosing Between Industrial and Collaborative Robots
Overview of Robot Adoption in Manufacturing
- The International Federation of Robotics predicts nearly 2 million new robots will be installed in industrial settings by the end of 2022, indicating a rapid increase in automation.
- The speaker, Ashley Elsasser, aims to clarify the differences between traditional industrial robots and collaborative robots (cobots), focusing on installation requirements, applications, and implementation options.
Traditional Industrial Robots
- Traditional industrial robots have been a staple in factory automation for decades, excelling at performing menial, dangerous, or difficult tasks that are unsuitable for human workers.
- Common applications include assembly, packaging, palletizing, painting, and welding; they are particularly suited for heavy-duty tasks like automotive manufacturing with high payload requirements.
- Installation of industrial robots requires significant space and safety measures such as fencing. This often necessitates a higher investment from companies and can lead to longer return on investment timelines.
Collaborative Robots (Cobots)
- Cobots emerged about ten years ago and have gained popularity due to their design for direct interaction with humans within defined workspaces.
- They are increasingly used for low-skilled tasks such as machine tending, pick-and-place operations, quality inspection, and end-of-line palletizing where payload requirements are lighter.
- Cobots feature built-in safety mechanisms allowing them to operate without extensive guarding. They require minimal programming knowledge—often no coding is necessary—and can be easily redeployed across different areas of a facility.
Decision-Making Support
- Companies do not need to make the decision alone; Neff represents both Kawasaki industrial robots and Universal Robots cobots. Both brands are recognized as top-tier options in their respective categories.