Robotics is no longer the preserve of big companies. Today, small and medium-sized businesses are establishing strategies to make huge savings and ease operations through automation.
In the past, the shape and size of industrial robots restricted small and medium-sized businesses from using them. Not only were they noisy, but they were also big and robust, and required safety cages to prevent accidents.
Over the past years, there have been massive changes in industrial automation while this has caused a technological shift, a section of experts say it’s also contributed to the rapidly changing economy; which is dependent on fast shipping, small runs, and skillful operations.
A new robotic generation demonstrates that these modifications have made robots; task oriented, easy to deploy, and smaller compared to the ancient robots. What’s more, they can collaborate with humans in the workspace without endangering them.
Today, many big companies have embraced manufacturing robots to enhance operations and improve logistics. These machines, according to experts have triggered an industrial automation shift.
However, the shift on skillful operations has resulted in the major development of numerous mobile and tabletop robotic platforms which can be more ideal and efficient to both small and medium-sized businesses.
There are clear indications that collaborative robots are taking the world by storm especially because they can work with humans in the same work area conveniently. Universal Robots, one of the leading collaborative robot manufacturers and distributors says that a big percentage of robotic customers have five robots on average compared to years ago when numerous task-specific robots were needed to complete a task and generate a finished product.
Novice robotic customers or those deliberating on incorporating robotics in their operations will benefit from this illustration.
Limitations to Robotic Adoption
Many small and medium-sized business entrepreneurs have been skeptical about deploying robotics in their operations, sighting time constraints in regard to programming and configuration, and high costs. In the past, robotic automation configuration took weeks and even months.
A team of experienced and professional engineers and programmers would be hired to execute the task. However, advancements in the industry have eliminated these limitations. Today, you can easily deploy manufacturing robots in your production line whether you have prior experience or not.
You don’t need to alter or slow down your operations. Still, your in-house employees can easily configure the robots with minimal struggle. You and your team will be able to work in collaboration with the robots in a bid to help the gadget master your operations. Universal Robots experts opine that patented technology allows robot operators to configure the machine regardless of their skill level.
The company has been on the forefront to transform the configuration of collaborative robots which has gone way in reducing robotic deployment timelines from months or weeks to hours. Universal Robots says that many customers have reported an average configuration time of half a day which is a major improvement compared to ancient manufacturing robots.
The company ships its collaborative robots complete with portable programming gadgets and teaching pendants to make configuration easy for novice customers.
Small and Medium Sized Businesses Can Afford Automation
One of the most popular collaborative robots which are also ideal for small and medium businesses is the UR5 from Universal Robots. Novice entrepreneurs can leverage on this reasonably priced machine to automate and optimize their operations.
The machine comes with a 5kg payload and offers 6-degree freedom. It is specially designed to allow users to fit multiple end effectors and can be utilized for a different task such as manufacturing of objects, bench work in laboratories, pick and place applications, and agile assembly shops.
Finally
Safety is critical when it comes to using robotics whether collaborative or not. While collaborative robots are said to be safer than their ancient industrial counterparts, safety measures should be upheld during collaboration and manipulation with robots in the workspace. This will not only enhance employee safety, but it will prolong the lifespan of your machine.
