June robotics seminar, open house

June appears to be a fertile month in the accelerating robotics sector. Happenings include "North America’s largest robotics conference" and a manufacturer’s technology open house.

By Control Engineering Staff May 27, 2004

June appears to be a fertile month in the accelerating robotics sector. Happenings include “North America’s largest robotics conference” and a manufacturer’s technology open house. More details follow about these events, along with links to each for contact and further information.

Billed as North America’s largest robotics conference by sponsor organization Robotics Industries Association (RIA), Robots 2004 —to be held June 9-10, 2004, at Ypsilanti, MI (a suburb of Detroit)—will combine timely technology sessions with tabletop exhibits from leading robotics companies. The exhibits will run on June 9, only. Conference sessions will range over wide topics, among them:

  • Cost justification for automating with robotics;

  • Advances in traditional robotic applications (material handling, welding, painting);

  • New applications;

  • Advanced technologies—multi-robot control, vision-guided robots, and robotic simulation; and

  • Robotic safety.

“One of our primary goals is to convince companies in every industry that using robots to become a stronger global competitor is a better choice than sending manufacturing jobs offshore,” says Donald A. Vincent, executive VP of RIA.

RPT’s router trimming process replaces labor-intensive, high-reject manual finishing of hot tubs and bath tubs with high-throughput, high repeatability robotic operations.

Robotic Production Technology (RPT), a leading supplier of flexible manufacturing systems using multi-axis robots, is set to host a technical open house called “Process Technologies to Compete in a Global Economy,” running June 22-24, at its Auburn Hills, MI, headquarters.
As the theme implies, this event also focuses on global competitive concerns. The three-day open house (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) will highlight RPT’s standard and special machines, demonstrating new technologies that can give North American companies the tools needed to counteract the cost performance of their overseas competitors.
“Today’s competitive global marketplace is forcing manufacturers to look for new and innovative ways to significantly reduce operating and capital costs while simultaneously improving productivity, reliability, quality and safety,” says Kevin McManus, president of RPT. Software has a special role in streamlining production. Chuck Russo, CEO of Robotic Production Technology, adds, “We will also demonstrate some exciting new software and related tools that can significantly increase a company’s return on its capital investment.”
Individuals or companies interested in attending the technical open house can register by contacting RPT at solutions@rpt.net or by calling 248-829-2800.
—Frank J. Bartos, executive editor, Control Engineering, fbartos@reedbusiness.com