By Bruce Geiselman
Universal Robots at Automate 2022 showcased applications from third-party vendors that recently have been added to the UR ecosystem, which means they are certified to work with UR collaborative robots.
Universal Robots describes its UR ecosystem as an applications store for UR cobots.
Robatech, a company specializing in industrial adhesive applications, demonstrated its 360° Gluing UR+ Integration Kit that connects a UR cobot with a Robatech adhesive application system. The integration kit includes a holder for the application head and attachments for the heating hose on the cobot arm. Settings for the heating hose, the application head and the melter can be adjusted using the cobot touch pad.
“It’s basically a plug-and-play solution,” said Paul Noonan, Robatech service and sales manager. “It addresses all the things one would need to set up a robot for an automated gluing process with all the software and mechanical requirements.”
The software package and bracket that hold the glue gun on the robot arm are new and designed specifically for UR robots, Noonan said.
Kolinahr Systems Inc., a manufacturer of material handling and automation equipment, showcased its new Robot Label Applicator, which was paired with a UR10e collaborative robot. The demonstration involved the application of a label to the inside of a roll core. The Kolinahr kit, paired with a UR cobot, automates the labeling of difficult locations and surfaces, particularly curved surfaces. The dexterity of the six-axis UR cobot allows for the placement of labels into places challenging for human workers, according to the companies.
“Instead of employees standing around and waiting just to label a product or pallet load, companies can now repurpose their employees to somewhere more valuable within their organization,” said Andy Stone, vice president of business development at Kolinahr. “The UR robot has taken applying labels to an automated, simplistic and easy-to-use level.”
Contact:
Kolinahr Systems Inc., Cincinnati, 513-745-9401, www.kolinahrsystems.com
Robatech USA Inc., Alpharetta, Ga., 770-663-8380, www.robatech.com
Universal Robots USA Inc., Boston, 844-462-6268, www.universal-robots.com
Bruce Geiselman | Senior Staff Reporter
Senior Staff Reporter Bruce Geiselman covers extrusion, blow molding, additive manufacturing, automation and end markets including automotive and packaging. He also writes features, including In Other Words and Problem Solved, for Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. He has extensive experience in daily and magazine journalism.
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