“Some cobot manufacturers specialize in more speed and lower payloads, and some in higher payloads and lower speeds,” he continues. “But usually, you can’t have it all. No cobot or robot combines plug-and-play ease of use, safety, high speeds and high payloads. With so many automation-system manufacturers and numerous variables, something will fit a metal former’s needs.”

Consult With Automation Providers and Integrators

Makers of cobots and industrial robots continue developing their products to meet market demands, Hulgard reports, with industrial-robot manufacturers delivering more ease-of-use software than in the past. In addition, cobots and robots can play nicely with other press-line equipment to provide a synchronized production operation. 

“Within 10 or 20 yr.,” he offers, “cobots and robots may not differ in capabilities and likely will become the same products.”

In the meantime, Hulgard recommends consulting with automation suppliers and integrators—it’s often free of charge—on the best solution for an application.

“Invite them out to the facility and ask for help in identifying certain processes where such automation can help,” he says. “Ask them, ‘Hey, I only have $75,000 to spend, so can we look for simple processes to start with?’ It’s best to take this route instead of self-assessing—correct assessments require expertise and experience. Why not use the available expertise?”

Electric EOAT a Good Bet?

EOAT provides an ideal means to enhance the value and productivity surrounding cobot and robot press-line applications, according to Hulgard, who discusses trends in this technology.

“We see a move from highly customized one-off-designed EOAT toward more-standardized electric, one-size-fits-all tooling,” he says. “Traditionally, a manufacturer would purchase a pneumatic gripper that could grip one part, one shape and one size, and it did that very well. However, what if a metal former wants to use the robot or cobot to move different sizes and shapes of materials. An electric gripper, via a software setting for finger reach and manipulation, easily can grip differently sized and shaped parts.”

In addition, the flexibility of electric EOAT allows redeployment of cobots for other tasks and enables productivity gains and cost savings when picking differing parts in high-mix, low-volume production, according to Hulgard.

Hulgard’s two cents: “Electric and software-driven EOAT is the way to go, and represents the future of tooling.”

Data gathering and analysis offers another plus of such technology, according to Hulgard. “Electric tooling allows users to monitor and measure productivity and performance of the EOAT as a whole and of the grippers. Did I grip the part correctly? Do I have a grip now? Together with the monitoring software, a metal former can determine if the automation is running correctly. Traditionally, that hasn’t been possible with pneumatic EOAT.”

Don’t Wait

Workforce realities also drive the use of robots and robots in press end-of-line and other shop-floor operations, concludes Hulgard.

“Even if a metal former can’t make a case for it now, cobot and robot end-of-line automation will pay off at some point when employees no longer want to take on dull, repetitive and potentially dangerous part-handling tasks,” he says. “The metal former then will have to slow production to address that instead of being proactive and adding that automation now. Thankfully, there’s a trend toward small and medium-sized companies employing such automation, but a huge amount still haven’t automated. Now is the time for metal formers to invest in end-of-line automation.” MF

See also: OnRobot US, Inc.

Technologies: Pressroom Automation

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