Reduce operating costs
Using robots enables you to reduce both your direct and overhead costs, making a dramatic difference to your competitiveness. Take energy, for example. Robots offer a great opportunity to cut energy bills. Current estimates point to a potential saving of 8% for every 1°C reduction in heating levels, while savings of up to 20% can be achieved by turning off unnecessary lighting. Robots can also eliminate the costs associated with manual workers, not only in terms of wages, but also additional costs associated with training, health and safety and employee administration.
Improve product quality and consistency
With robots you can produce a consistently high quality finishing of materials, as the machine will not suffer from tiredness, distraction or the effects of repetitive and tedious tasks. Their inherent accuracy and repeatability also means that you can count on a high quality finish for every product produced.
Improve quality of work for employees
With robots you can improve working conditions for your staff. They will no longer have to work in dusty, hot or hazardous environments. In addition, by teaching them how to use robots they can learn valuable programming skills and do work that is more stimulating.
Increase production output rates
Robots can be left running overnight and during weekends with little supervision, so you can increase your output levels and meet your client’s order deadlines. A robotic solution will not need time away from production for breaks, sickness, distractions or lapses of concentration. Robots can now also be programmed to handle new products off-line, ensuring new products are introduced for faster production.
Increase product manufacturing flexibility
Robots can provide flexibility to your production line. Once the processes you require are programmed into the robot controller, you can easily switch from one to another.
Reduce material waste and increase yield
By using robots, you will have more products finished first time to the standard required by your customers, and reduce the amount of breakages and waste produced as a result of poor quality or inconsistent finishing.
Improve workplace health and safety
Robots can readily take over unpleasant, arduous or health-threatening tasks that may be currently undertaken by manual workers. By using robots, you can decrease the likelihood of accidents caused by contact with machine tools or other potentially hazardous production machinery or processes. They can also help to eliminate ailments associated with repetitive or intensive processes.
Reduce labour turnover
The high precision demanded by today’s industrial processes requires the highest levels of skill and training. With highly skilled manual workers becoming harder and more expensive to employ, robots can provide an ideal alternative. Once programmed for your process, they are ready to begin work with none of the costs associated with recruitment or ongoing training of people.
Reduce capital costs
With robots you can reduce the cost of consumables used and reduce wastage. By moving products faster in production, businesses can better predict the production rate and ensure a fast and efficient service is delivered.
Save space in high value manufacturing areas
Robots can be placed on shelf systems, on walls or even on ceilings. They can also be programmed to work in confined spaces so you do not lose valuable floor space.
For more information contact Lars Mandal, ABB, +27 (0)10 202 5464, [email protected], www.abb.co.za/robotics
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