Robots serve many industries
ABB Robotics Technology Days highlight broad range of automation technologies.
With more than 40 live robotic demonstrations and 39 seminars on robotic subjects, ABB Robotics hosted a Technology Days event on May 15, 2013, for current and potential customers at its North American headquarters and training center in Auburn Hills, Mich. The event featured a large exhibition floor. General and application specific information was provided to benefit those considering an initial foray into robotic automation, and those looking to upgrade or expand existing robotic lines. ABB experts in virtually all industrial applications were on hand to answer questions as attendees toured the 55,000-sq-ft facility.
From 4-7 p.m., ABB had an open house and dinner for families, youth organizations, and students.
Robotic exhibits and demos included:
- General applications, including new technologies in integrated vision, robotic safety, machine tending, and simulated programming.
- Welding and cutting, featuring fully equipped cells for those looking to set up an initial robotic welding operation, advanced laser welding and cutting technology, and a 10-axis robot system consisting of a smaller 6-axis robot attached to the arm of a larger 4-axis robot for long reach applications.
- Packaging, highlighting a three robot palletizing cell with new software for far easier programming, three demos with the high-speed FlexPicker including the new 8 kg model, and two demos with the IRB 120, ABB’s smallest 6-axis robot.
- Painting, including three separate demos ranging from basic to highly sophisticated, displaying systems for paint operations of all sizes. Each provided consistent paint coverage with significant paint savings.
- Service and training, featuring ABB’s full training portfolio, robotic cells dedicated to training, live remote service demonstrations, and the robot reconditioning program.
- Powertrain, covering the complete capabilities of robotic automotive powertrain systems, with escorted tours of selected demonstrations.
- The lighter side, a 70-in. flat-screen was attached to the arm of a robot, creating a unique viewer experience by bringing virtually unlimited, 6-axis motion to the video media. ABB RoboScreens first gained prominence in 2010 when a group of large model RoboScreens travelled the globe as main stage props for the Bon Jovi Circle Tour.
ABB Robotics supplies industrial robots, robot software, peripheral equipment, modular manufacturing cells, and service for welding, handling, assembly, painting and finishing, picking, packing, palletizing, and machine tending. Markets include automotive, plastics, metal fabrication, foundry, electronics, machine tools, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries.
– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager, CFE Media, Control Engineering and Plant Engineering, mhoske@cfemedia.com.
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