The Worlds Top OEMs in Industrial Robots
Published on : Friday 09-04-2021
A look at some of the top companies that are the leading players in the industrial robotics segment.
As digitalisation is lending a fresh impetus to industrial automation, robots have emerged as game changers in the field. End-users that were reluctant to adopt automation in their facilities have realised the long-term benefits associated with industrial robots. The Covid-19 pandemic has also acted as a catalyst in this emerging trend, with the lockdown exposing many chinks in the automation armour.
As industrial robots are gaining in popularity, here is a look at some of the top companies that are the leading players in this segment.
ABB
ABB Ltd, formerly ASEA Brown Boveri, is a Swedish-Swiss multinational corporation headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland. The company is a leading supplier of industrial robots and robot software, equipment and complete applications solutions.
ABB pioneered the world’s first electrically powered industrial robot and the world’s first industrial paint robot. Today, there are more than 400,000 ABB robots in operation – perhaps the largest installed base in the world, where robotics solutions have achieved huge increases in output and product quality and similarly huge reductions in downtime, operating costs and manpower. Today, the company is a leader in industrial digitisation and a forerunner in Industry 4.0.
The Yaskawa Electric Corporation
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Yaskawa has led the world’s industrial robot market since the first release of the all-electric ‘Motoman’ industrial robot in Japan in 1977. Since then, the company has successively commercialised and marketed optimum robots for various uses. Motoman robots are heavy duty industrial robots used in arc and spot welding, packaging, palletizing, assembly, coating, material removal and cutting, dispensing, material handling and general automation.
The Yaskawa product line includes more than 150 distinct industrial arm, delta and SCARA robot models, plus a full-line of pre-engineered ‘World’ solutions that are complete application-specific robotic systems that include robot, process and safety equipment.
Midea Group (KUKA)
KUKA Robotics is a German manufacturer of industrial robots and solutions for factory automation. It has been owned by the Chinese company Midea Group since 2016. KUKA offers a broad range of highly modular robots, covering all common payload categories, from 3 kg to 1000 kg.
With over 60 years of history in the automation industry, KUKA Robotics brings together the proficiency of time-tested experience with the famous ingenuity and excellence of German engineering. As the first to bring several new automation technologies to market, KUKA is known worldwide not only as a leading manufacturer of high-quality robots but as an innovator in the robotics space.
The Fanuc Corporation
FANUC, a leading player in robotics, offers more than 100 robot models, the widest range of industrial robots for any application or industry. FANUC’s robots come in various sizes with different payload; a few examples are: Collaborative Robot, Mini Robot, SCARA Robot, Delta Robot, Arc Welding Robot, Small/Medium Size Robot, Large Size Robot, Palletizing Robot, and Paint Robots. The company also provides application software, integrated iRVision®, and tracking features.
FANUC robots are easy to operate and provide complete flexibility thanks to a range of application-specific options, straightforward integration, and payloads up to 2.3 t and maximum reaches up to 4.7 m.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
In 1969 Kawasaki Heavy Industries created the first industrial robot in Japan, marking the beginning of the commercial production of industrial robots. Since then, the company has stood as the leading robot manufacturer and worked to develop the industry worldwide.
Using state-of-the-art technology, it continues to develop high quality, top-notch industrial robots, and provide engineering and services with added high-value, catering to customers' needs for automation and labour-saving measures while helping them to improve productivity, quality, and the work environment. The company provides robotic solutions for aerospace, life sciences, automotive, machinery, electronics, metal manufacturing, food & beverage, plastics & rubber, foundry, and semiconductor industries.
EPSON Robots
EPSON Robots is the robotics design and manufacturing department of Japanese corporation Seiko Epson. Epson is the leading SCARA Robot manufacturer in the world. With more than 300 models, the company offers industrial robots from SCARA and SCARA+ robots to 6-axis robots. Epson offers four different lines of SCARA robots including the T-Series, G-Series, RS-Series, and LS-Series.
EPSON has a 30-year heritage and there are more than 30,000 EPSON robots installed in manufacturing industries around the world. EPSON uses a standardised PC-based controller for 6-axis robots, SCARA, and Linear Module needs. A move that simplifies support and reduces learning time.
Stäubli
Stäubli Robotics, a leading international player in industrial automation, offers various products from SCARA to 6-axis robotic arms and collaborative robots. Stäubli's high-precision robotic solutions are available for various industries and a variety of applications. The company operates in 4 major business segments under robotics, viz., Robotic Arms, Mobile Robots System, Software and Controllers.
As a leading player in robotics, Stäubli provides efficient, reliable engineering solutions and related services to its clients around the world. The design quality of its line of industrial robots, Power cobots, mobile robot systems, AGVs and software, make it an unbeatable partner for industrial robots.
Nachi Fujikoshi Corporation
Nachi-Fujikoshi is a global leader in the field of industrial robotics. Nachi offers a wide range of robots and successful turnkey solutions for many applications, including spot welding, arc welding, sealing, collaborative, material handling, machine tending, material removal, foundry, forging, packaging/palletising and assembly.
Nachi robots can handle load capacities from 7kg to 700kg. Nachi, certified to ISO 9001: 2008 and ISO14001: 2004, is a full-service supplier providing: robotic application and engineering support, design and plant installation, programming and start-up. Nachi also offers user training (on-site and in-house), field service, preventative maintenance, and design/build of work cells through complete lines.
Comau
Comau is an Italian multinational company based in Turin, and a subsidiary of automaker Stellantis. Comau had developed the first laser robot for GM in the second half of the 80s. Comau robots are available in more than 40 different industrial applications and payloads of 3 to 650 kg.
Through the continuous development of products and services, Comau is able to lead the automation industry in every phase of a project: from design, implementation and installation, to production start-up and maintenance services. It has a complete family of robots with extensive range and payload configurations, autonomous logistics, and asset optimisation services with real-time monitoring and control capabilities.
Omron Adept Technology Inc
Adept Technology, founded in 1983, is a pioneer in the field of autonomous mobile robots. Adept also offers Adept Python linear-module robots with one to four axes in various configurations, and six-axis Adept Viper articulated robots. Acquired by Omron in October 2015, Adept is now known as Omron Adept Technology, Inc.
From applications that need to produce a high volume and/or a high variety mix of products to those with short product life cycles that require rapid production line changes, Omron's innovative industrial, collaborative and mobile robotics offerings help manufacturers meet today's production demands as well as tomorrow's and beyond.
