Australia Manufacturing Week (AMW) kicks off from 9 to 12 May 2023 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Amongst the line-up of companies exhibiting at the show is leading collaborative automation giant, Universal Robots.
Universal Robots will use this platform to showcase its solutions for some of the country’s most in-demand applications.
Universal Robots Oceania Country Manager, Masayuki Mase, said “AMW is all about the local manufacturing sector. When deciding what to exhibit, we looked at the most in-demand applications in the local market and those with the most untapped potential. Naturally, the list of applications for collaborative robots (cobots) is endless, but we have honed in on two key applications, namely welding and palletising.
“Welding is undoubtedly a key focus for us right now with many companies looking to automate this task due to health, safety and quality concerns.”
Automated welding is a gamechanger
Welding is essential to the global economy. Every day, businesses make use of welding applications to create safe, durable, and high-quality products.
Muse said, “From cars to electronics, we all interact with the results of these efforts as part of our personal and professional lives. This makes automated welding a solution that could have huge implications on the ability of companies to compete in their local and global markets, as well as overcome ingrained challenges such as the ongoing shortage of skilled labour.”
In the wider context of skills shortages such as continuing supply chain challenges and the need to reduce costs, automated welding offers businesses a way to increase productivity while maintaining quality.
“Workers are struggling to perform the same repetitive tasks over a long period of time, and this is where welding cobots come in. Cobots can easily and efficiently carry out tasks – improving safety and boosting productivity. Automated welding is a game changer for local manufacturers both big and small,” Muse said.
Accomodating manufacturers of all sizes and all volumes
Cobots can also accommodate small batch or low volume welding applications with many different variations on offer.
“We go as far as to add welding cells that are easy to set up and provide flexibility thanks to a mix of parts and options for various welding processes and power sources,” Muse said.
A good example of this is an application carried out by Universal Robots at MT Solar – a company responsible for the design and manufacture of mounting structures for solar modules.
“A DIY Vectis Cobot Welding Tool powered by a UR10e collaborative robot now handles a wide range of welds, enabling quick change-overs and optimised production. MT Solar overcame labour shortages and freed current staff from repetitive welding tasks while successfully handling a 300 per cent surge in demand.”
Unpacking the clear benefits
There are a few clear ways in which cobots can be brought into a welding environment to help your business grow, cut costs, and increase efficiencies. Masa breaks these down as follows:
1) A safer working environment
“Welding takes place at very high, dangerous temperatures,” Muse said. “Subject to a thorough risk assessment, a cobot welding application usually doesn’t require any safety cages and can work alongside workers.”
Cobots help make welding processes safer by removing human workers from potentially dangerous tasks altogether.
2) Increased job satisfaction
One of the most interesting aspects of the wave of digital transformation and automation currently washing over manufacturing, is the fundamental change it represents.
“Traditionally, the sector has been defined by long hours spent performing the same physically demanding tasks over and over. Simply put, utilising collaborative robot welding removes this need and allows your existing workforce to focus on higher-value work, reskilling, or redeployment to other parts of the business.”
And, if any of your workforce have an interest in learning about automation and robotics, your new cobot provides an excellent tool to help them build their skills.
3) Higher efficiencies
Welding is a highly skilled role, but even the most experienced human welder is bound to make mistakes.
“With a human holding the torch, some degree of variance in weld quality and waste is an unavoidable reality.”
When set up properly, a cobot-based automated welding application will perform the same task with a very high level of accuracy and repeatability for hours on end.
“This is one of the reasons why cobots tend to achieve ROI in months rather than years – in fact, one of our customers reached that milestone in less than four months while also seeing a 40 per cent increase in efficiency. Without the need to pay a human worker to do the manual, repetitive and dull welding tasks, production costs should fall over time too.”
4) Increased productivity
With a cobot working for as long as you need it to, without the need for breaks, companies can be confident that welding tasks are being completed at a faster rate and with less waste than before.
“This requires the right set up and process design to ensure there is no deviation, which can lead to inconsistencies, during welding” Muse explained.
“We invite visitors to AMW to come explore the benefits of a welding cobot for themselves. We are keen to help them explore the possibilities of cobot automation in their production.”
Keen to find out more? Visit Universal Robots at AMW from 09 – 12 May 2023 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre – booth RA79.
