What does it seem like when a single cobot workcell solves an actual drawback, earns full ROI in underneath a yr, and quietly grows right into a 27-station automation program? That is precisely what occurred at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) after they deployed Robotiq Cobot Components and the Screwdriving Workcell on their meeting line.
SEL designs, develops, and manufactures digital merchandise and techniques that defend, automate, and management essential infrastructure in over 170 international locations. With a mission to make electrical energy safer, extra dependable, and extra economical, high quality and repeatability are non-negotiable at SEL. When a recurring ergonomic drawback began placing operators out of motion, they turned to Robotiq to repair it and what began as one workcell grew to become one thing a lot greater.
A repetitive activity turns into an actual drawback
As SEL’s manufacturing volumes elevated, duties that have been as soon as manageable grew to become actual ergonomic challenges. One product particularly, the 700 sequence, required operators to drive 8 screws on the rear panel, repeatedly reaching as much as seize a instrument and tighten screws all day lengthy.
With lots of of models shifting by means of the road every day, operators have been manually driving 4,000 screws each day. The repetition would possibly sound routine on paper, however the bodily toll was something however. Inside two years, three operators suffered rotator cuff accidents, a transparent signal that the cumulative pressure was important and solely getting worse.
SEL wanted an answer, and it needed to test a number of packing containers directly. It needed to remove the repetitive ergonomic danger inflicting these accidents. It needed to combine rapidly, with out the lengthy deployment cycles typical of conventional automation initiatives. It needed to be simple sufficient for SEL’s personal engineers to function with out specialised robotics coaching. And critically, it could not be a one-off repair. SEL wanted one thing that might scale to different merchandise and purposes past this single use case.
Beginning small, pondering large
SEL acquired their first Robotiq Workcell, particularly constructing a Screwdriving Workcell built-in with a UR cobot. The convenience of implementation, notably because of the Robotiq URCap software program, meant a working program was working inside days.
For Tyler Marines, Improvement Lead Engineer at SEL, that early expertise caught with him:
“It was very, very cool to have the ability to get a robotic, get a screwdriver, and resolve an issue with out breaking the financial institution.”
That first success on the 700 sequence rear panels did not keep contained to at least one workcell. SEL’s automation program expanded rapidly with the addition of extra cobot elements. The Screwdriving Workcell, together with feeders for high-volume screw provide, is now used throughout a number of product traces. The group added Adaptive Grippers (2F-85 and 2F-140) for decide & place of circuit boards and elements. A tool changer from TripleA enabled multi-component cells, letting a single robotic change between duties.
What started as a single pilot cell grew to become a coordinated, multi-cell automation program, and the outcomes went past ergonomics. Since deploying the answer, SEL has recorded zero buyer suggestions or returns associated to screwdriving.
The outcomes by the numbers
1.4 million screws automated yearly. What as soon as required operators to hand-drive 4,000 screws throughout lots of of models every day is now absolutely automated. The one most bodily demanding guide activity on the road has been eliminated completely.
3 to 0 rotator cuff accidents. After 3 circumstances in two years, automating the repetitive guide meeting actions eradicated the ergonomic pressure that had been constructing as manufacturing volumes elevated. This was the issue SEL got down to resolve, and it has been solved.
27 lively stations throughout the power. From 1 pilot cell to 27 manufacturing stations, what began as a single Screwdriving Workcell has grown right into a multi-cell automation program with Robotiq merchandise starting from grippers to screwdrivers.
Why Robotiq and why it scaled
Just a few elements clarify why SEL’s relationship with Robotiq grew from a single Workcell right into a facility-wide program.
Fast time to worth. A working automation Workcell utilizing Robotiq cobot elements was working inside 3 months. The URCap integration with Common Robots made programming quick and accessible for SEL’s inner engineers.
Full ROI inside one yr. Factoring in {hardware} prices and the monetary influence of ergonomic accidents, SEL recouped their funding inside twelve months.
Low barrier to entry. The value of a Robotiq Workcell permits groups like SEL’s to amass one and begin experimenting internally, decreasing the barrier to proving ROI earlier than committing to a larger-scale deployment.
Simple operator coaching. New operators have been capable of be rapidly skilled on the usage of Robotiq cobot elements and Workcell. The convenience of use decreased coaching time and reliance on specialised information.
Might your line profit?
SEL’s story is not actually about screws. It is about what occurs when a producer takes a recurring ergonomic drawback critically and finds a instrument that is accessible sufficient to begin small, quick sufficient to indicate worth rapidly, and versatile sufficient to develop properly past its authentic use case.
In case your group is doing repetitive meeting, decide & place, or elements dealing with, Robotiq cobot elements are constructed to develop with you, from a single pilot cell to a full multi-cell automation resolution.
Past conventional automation: The Screwdriving Workcell and Bodily AI
The Screwdriving Workcell is not restricted to conventional automation purposes. As bodily AI continues to reshape manufacturing, structured and repeatable duties like screwdriving are among the many first to profit from AI-driven robotic intelligence, enabling cobots to adapt, be taught, and carry out with even larger precision and suppleness on the manufacturing facility ground.
When you’re exploring how bodily AI might be utilized to your meeting operations, the Screwdriving Workcell is a robust place to begin. Explore more about physical AI here.
