Multi-functional robots for complicated tasks

The latest generation of robots presents the ideal solutions for manufacturers wanting to improve their production efficiency. Aside from their ability to perform heavy-duty and even complicated tasks, robots offer such benefits as considerable savings in raw materials, time and manpower.

The International Federation of Robotics estimated global sales of industrial robots at $6.2 billion in 2008, with world market for robot systems having reached $19 billion annually. While the global economic crisis brought robots sales down in 2008-2009, this will slowly recover starting this year.

Compact and flexibility are emerging trends

The plastics industry is now seeing a new range of automation systems that could define tomorrow抯 manufacturing trends and directions. Robots have contributed to increased productivity, better product quality, while reducing cycle time and unnecessary downtime to yield substantial savings. More compact, highly flexible versions are also being offered.

ABB Robotics?robots are designed for the entire spectrum of mould machines ?from small to heavy duty. A glance at the typical applications reveals true robot versatility: insertion of parts in the mould, extraction as well as a wide variety of post-process applications such as cutting, gluing, assembly and quality control. Maximum flexibility has been achieved as these machines can be floor-mounted, mounted on pedestals or shelf-mounted.

ABB抯 IRB 4600 is a fourth-generation multi-purpose robot that features twice the working range, half the weight and a 25% better cycle time than the IRB 4400 model that it succeeded. The development of the IRB 4600 responds to widespread market demand for an agile and flexible robot, with reduced weight, superior performance and improved cost efficiencies. The robot can be floor- or shelf-mounted, tilted and even inverted. At a weight of just above 880 lbs (400 kg) it is the lightest general- purpose robot ever offered on the market. The IRB 4600 is ideal for numerous manufacturing and material handling applications, including machine tending, arc welding, cutting, dispensing, assembly, palletising and packing, measuring, deburring and polishing. It is also designed to withstand harsh environments.



ABB抯 smallest ever multipurpose robot, the IRB 120, is a 6-axis robot that has all the functionality and advanced design features of the larger robots in an economical, lightweight model that will provide agility, accuracy and speed to a broad range of applications where a smaller footprint and profile are required. Weighing just 25kg (55 lbs), the IRB 120 has a standard payload of 3kg (6.6 lbs), a vertical wrist payload of 4kg (8.8 lbs), a reach of 580mm, a best-in-class stroke of 411mm and the ability to reach 112mm below its base. The IRB 120 is available with a new compact version of the industry-leading IRC5 controller, making it easy to program and control for a variety of tasks.

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