They help to achieve maximum efficiency, safety, and competitive advantages in today's market space. In this article, we will analyze why industrial robots are one of the fastest-growing manufacturing automation solutions in the industry, their types, and their applications.

Today, the role of Industrial robots in manufacturing industries can not be understated. They help to achieve maximum efficiency, safety, and competitive advantages in today's market space.

In this article, we will analyze why industrial robots are one of the fastest-growing manufacturing automation solutions in the industry, their types, and their applications.

Types of industrial robots

Based  on the type of industry and the manufacturing or production needs, the types of industrial robots are:

Fixed

The machine or robot is designed and programmed to perform the same task without interruption.

Programmable

The machine or robot is designed in such a way that it is easy to reconfigure or reprogram it so that it can perform different tasks.

Flexible

Industrial robots work in an orchestrated or coordinated manner by a central system that controls them based on the information they provide.

Applications of Industrial robots in manufacturing industries

Industrial robots are already common in many factories, warehouses, and sectors around the world. Let us talk about the most common ones.

1. Assembly robots

The automotive industry was one of the first to adopt industrial robots for assembly. Today, assembly robots are found in applications far beyond the automotive industry. There is a growing need for high-speed robotic assembly of small parts.

The accuracy and speed of robotic assembly often mean greater throughput and precision than what can be achieved with human labor.

2. Adhesive dispensing robots

A dispensing robot applies adhesives and sealants in a variety of applications. These can include fastening parts together, placing parts in a sealant, and many more. Smaller jobs, like applying glue and epoxy resin, require a compact, high-speed robot.

3. Handling and picking

Robots that transport goods within a warehouse, or that pick items from a container and place them in a shipping container, are examples of pick-and-handle robots. With the rise of e-commerce, there is a great and growing demand for robots that can prepare and fulfill orders.

4. Robots for loading and feeding machines

Machine-feeding robots feed the parts into the machines and remove them once the operation is completed.

5. Milling robots

Cutting material from a "raw" part and shaping it into a finished part using a milling machine is one of the most common and essential industrial operations.

6. Laser cutting robots

For many applications, laser cutting can represent a superior solution to mechanical cutting. Laser cutting offers less chance of material deformation, and accuracy can be improved because the laser beam doing the cutting doesn't dull with use.

7. Packaging and palletizing

Packaging and palletizing are two operations common to manufacturing, warehouses, and distribution centers. As the trend towards smaller packages continues, the repetitive nature of packaging and palletizing operations is increasing. This can negatively affect the health and safety of workers.

Implementing robotics for these tasks increases productivity and helps protect operators from work-related injuries.

8. Inspection and quality control

Some quality control issues are life-threatening, as a faulty part, or an incorrectly installed part can lead to a life-threatening situation.

 Human inspection is typically 80% accurate. Robotic inspection can be 100% accurate.

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Automation and robotics are tools to achieve your goals, but they are not a strategy. Working with an experienced automation partner can help you set the right plan for automation.

We have rich experience in helping our customers improve their production lines with robots and automation solutions. Contact us here to improve your manufacturing automation.