FANUC Robotics

  The 'strongest' robot currently avaliable on the market has been released. FANUC's M-2000iA/1700L plans to challenge gravity and automation as we know it. With its 1,700kg payload capacity and 6.2m stroke it truly provides maximum flexibility on operations involving large and heavy objects.

FANUC UK has been presented with a prestigious award by training business Midland Group Training Services Limited. Supported by the Skills Funding Agency, a partner organisation of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, MGTS presents the award annually to businesses that have illustrated a sustained commitment and loyalty to the apprentice programme.

Four robots used for packaging at Greenvale, the UK’s largest supplier of fresh potatoes, have proved to be highly flexible over their ten years of operation. Undergoing three major system upgrades over the ten years, to meet customer packaging and volume demands, the four FANUC Robotics robots continue to provide a strong return on investment.

Ecotile, a manufacturer and distributor of interlocking floor tiles, has fully automated its manufacturing process using a single FANUC Robotics robot working between two Sumitomo (SHI) DEMAG injection moulding presses. Using advanced gripper design from systems integrator Hi-Tech Automation has allowed Ecotile to overcome handling issues associated with flexible PVC. Two years ago Ecotile made the decision to begin manufacturing tiles which it had previously imported since 1995. High Euro exchange rates, lack of flexibility in design and colour options together with a desire to have greater control over quality and margins were all drivers to begin manufacturing in the UK.

Continuing its drive for more compact and faster solutions for automated processes, FANUC Robotics has launched a new ‘lower energy consumption’ 100Kg robot. The FANUC Robotics R-1000iA/100F is designed for high speed handling and in particular for spot welding. The weight saving design of the R-1000iA/100F consumes lower energy levels than conventional spot welding robots. Its slim arm moves 100Kg robots into a more compact class, reducing cell size significantly.

A thriving Yorkshire bakery has invested in its first robot system loading and unloading baked products to an oven. Fosters Bakery has increased capacity of a reel oven by 80% and is saving 50% energy costs in the process.

A furniture component manufacturer has successfully integrated two robots onto an existing processing system at its busy Huddersfield facility. Using compact articulated design robots has saved over 50% of the space that would be taken up by conventional wood industry gantry or portal type handling systems.

A thriving North East manufacturer of quality washroom cubicle hardware has been able to competitively diversify into subcontract engineering with the help of robotic automation. ALM Products, based in Newton Aycliffe, has installed a FANUC Robotics robot for loading and unloading components to a machine tool.

A robot that can be mounted in a variety of orientations without modification and with an unobtrusive smooth exterior is the latest offering from FANUC Robotics. The M-10iA/10S is a 6 axes, 10 Kg payload robot with a hollow arm to completely remove tooling cabling from the work area.

A leading packing operation of fresh vegetable produce, has reduced labour requirements by 50% and increased safety for its operators by implementing robotic systems into its facility. With LEAN principles firmly in place, G’s Fresh Vegetables Limited has successfully integrated six ABAR robot packing systems into its Cambridgeshire based facility.

A recently commissioned manufacturing facility for the machining of 105mm artillery shells has made an early impact on the aims of the MASS contractual partnership between BAE Systems and the UK MoD. MASS (Munitions Acquisition – the Supply Solution) –aims to deliver increased supplies of ammunition to front line troops by modernising and ensuring sustainability of the UK munitions industry.

Robots control forge variables and double capacity Fully automated forging of gas turbine compressor aerofoils, from billet to finished forging, is now being undertaken by Rolls-Royce Inchinnan. Two fully integrated systems, each with six FANUC Robotics robots, have doubled capacity and removed the inherent variables of the forging process.

Investing in six axes robots for its moulding operation has helped Timloc Building Products to reduce its cost base significantly. Five FANUC Robotics robots are removing components from moulding presses and packing them ready for delivery.

A Grimsby fish processor has successfully implemented robots into its facility to remove the heavy and repetitive load and unloading tasks. Producing dried fish, JHS Fish Products Limited has two FANUC Robotics robots handling palletised fish at both the raw and the dry stages of the process.

Wienerberger UK has successfully engineered an automated system for handling special brick variants in partnership with FANUC Robotics UK. Breaking away from its traditional OEM supply route has allowed Wienerberger UK to directly tap into industry robotics know-how and capitalise from a high efficiency system.

No newcomer to robots, Marley Eternit Ltd, has recently completed installation of two new robot systems at its Burton-on-Trent tile manufacturing plant. Comprising six FANUC robots in total, the systems were needed to replace older dedicated machinery and to accommodate additional capacity transferred from another facility.

Visitors to this year’s EuroBlech sheet metal working exhibition, in Hannover 21st – 25th October, will see the world’s largest and strongest industrial robot capable of handling a 1,200Kg payload. The new FANUC Robotics M-2000iA heavy-duty robot sets new levels for all round capability in the heavy-duty six axes robot sector.

A new high-speed robot, designed for the Pharmaceutical industry, has been introduced by FANUC Robotics. Suitable for packing and picking operations the arm has been designed for hygienic process areas where intensive cleaning is routinely carried out.

Marshall Vehicle Engineering has illustrated just how effective welding robots can be with its first implementation of robots in a production environment. Two robots mounted on a 24 metre overhead gantry are welding complex truck loading platforms in three and a half hours – a reduction in 17 hours over manual welding times.

No newcomer to robots, Marley Eternit Ltd, has recently completed installation of two new robot systems at its Burton-on-Trent tile manufacturing plant. Comprising six FANUC robots in total, the systems were needed to replace older dedicated machinery and to accommodate additional capacity transferred from another facility.