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At its annual press convention final week, igus GmbH previewed quite a few new merchandise upfront of the Hannover Messe commerce present. The Cologne, Germany-based firm introduced 247 new merchandise, together with lubrication-free drives utilizing movement plastics and new robots for instructional, service, and industrial functions.
“We’re providing a cellular manipulator for small firms,” mentioned Alexander Mühlens, head of automation expertise and robotics at igus. He touted the corporate’s low-cost automation method.
“ReBeL on Wheels” combines a collaborative robotic arm with an autonomous cellular robotic for €17,999 ($19,202 U.S.). An academic model is obtainable for €14,699 ($15,682). igus mentioned that’s 10x extra reasonably priced than different fashions, and it’s beginning to supply the methods within the German market.
The corporate, whose U.S. headquarters are in Rumford, R.I., received a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for a finger gripper to go together with the ReBeL cobot. igus will probably be exhibiting at subsequent week’s Robotics Summit & Expo at Sales space 414 in Corridor C within the Boston Conference and Exhibition Heart.
As well as, Mühlens will current a session at 2:45 p.m. EDT in Room 50 on Wednesday, Might 1, on “Automate Your Manufacturing facility for $2,799.” Registration is now open for the occasion.
Study from Agility Robotics, Amazon, Disney, Teradyne and lots of extra.
Instruments make robots simpler for SMEs to configure
Customers can simply add sensors, the igus Robotic Management programming software program, and a sound bar to ReBeL on Wheels, mentioned Mühlens. The cellular manipulator contains gearboxes utilizing the corporate’s patented movement plastics.
To assist folks “attempt before you purchase,” igus permits without cost distant testing. “You may scan a QR code into your cell phone for to check the robotic butler,” Mühlens famous.
As well as, the “Envisioner” in igus Robotic Management can assist robotics builders and integrators, he mentioned. The Configurator within the RBTX on-line market exhibits the middle of gravity for each half in a delta robotic cell, permitting the system to simply decide and place them.
“It routinely is aware of the middle of gravity, and you’ll simply purchase the webcam for underneath €100 [$106.67],” mentioned Mühlens. “We’ll be selecting RBTX sweets at Hannover Messe.”
“Everyone seems to be searching for options for screwing and gluing within the furnishings business, for example,” he mentioned. “Now with RBTX and our 3D machine planner, you’ll be able to mix robots with grippers and conveyors into cells for one fastened worth.”
In reality, igus makes use of AI in order that if a person uploads a photograph, it may give a 3D suggestion.
“With the Configurator, a buyer can take a number of steps and get a reside worth,” Mühlens defined. “For instance, you may select ReBeL and a gripper for a cell, get measurements throughout the program, obtain information, and take a look at all of the elements and costs. You may also select an set up and buildup service or do it your self.”
igus mentioned its new machine planner provides small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) the power to outline cobot workspaces, construct round its robots, and select robotic housings.
Movement-plastic elements get four-year assure
Machine failures on account of inadequate lubrication value $750 billion yearly, and greater than 24 million tons of lubricant seep into water and soil yearly, in response to igus. The corporate mentioned its self-lubricating, high-performance polymers, in addition to the usage of synthetic intelligence and digital actuality in design, can cut back such pricey waste.
This yr, igus is extending its four-year product assure to all of its dry-tech merchandise. It additionally provides free alternative of bearings, drives, 3D-printed elements, and linear actuators.
These strikes reveal the corporate’s confidence of their lengthy service life and consciousness of the significance of sustainability in Trade 4.0, mentioned Stefan Niermann, vp and head of the drylin division, and Rainer Rössel, vp and head of the chainflex division at igus.
“The efficiency of movement plastics is commonly underestimated,” added Lars Butenschön, enterprise unit supervisor for iglidur bearings at igus. He cited their utility in development and agriculture. The corporate can be providing new high-load bearings for heavy equipment in its “Zero Lubrication” vary.
As well as, lubrication-free bearings are appropriate for meals and packaging functions, mentioned Michael Offner, vp and head of business administration on the family-owned firm.
“An unlimited vary of functions may use them,” famous Tobias Vogel, igus’ CEO of bearings and linear expertise. With the igusGO app, machine builders can use voice controls and AI chat to configure excavators with such elements, he mentioned.
As electrification garners extra curiosity worldwide, significantly in e-mobility, battery manufacturing, and shore energy, movement plastics may be an enabling expertise, asserted Martin Tiling, head of igus’ shore energy enterprise unit.
igus studies €1.13B turnover, launches bike model
After producing €1.15 billion ($1.23 billion) in 2022, igus reported €1.13 billion ($1.21 billion) for 2023. Whereas the worldwide financial slowdown affected the corporate, it’s nonetheless approaching its objective of 1 million industrial clients per yr, said Michael Blass, managing director of e-chain methods.
“We’re due to this fact happy that we now have a minimum of come a bit nearer to this objective in a troublesome yr,” he mentioned. “Now we have invested €433 million [$464.6 million] on this plan over the past three years, €210 million [$224.8 million] of which on the Cologne web site.”
igus has invested in expanded manufacturing in Germany and the U.S., accelerating success of orders to inside a number of days, and persevering with analysis and improvement, in response to Blass. It’s also planning development in China, Taiwan, India, Italy, Spain, Poland, Mexico, and Turkey.
To reveal its movement plastics at human relatively than industrial scale, the corporate has developed the igus:bike from recycled supplies. The bicycle, which received’t rust and may be recycled itself, is now going into serial manufacturing underneath the brand new model title RCYL. It is going to go in the marketplace in Germany for €1,200 ($1,284) this yr.