From how manufacturers set up production cells to the future of cobots, these five predictions for automation speak volumes.
The adoption of automation technology in the North American manufacturing sector has been on the rise for the last few years and the trend is showing no signs of slowing down. Once reserved for only the largest manufacturers, advancements in size, speed weight and capabilities have combined to drive investment in automation further down the value chain, allowing smaller companies to reap the rewards of advanced manufacturing technology and principles.
While predictions can’t always be relied on, when a company like Universal Robots (UR) releases its predictions, it’s more an outline of how it will approach the market and what that market will look like. Anders Beck, Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at Universal Robots, released his five predictions for the coming year. Whether your company uses automation, or your customers do, Beck offers a glimpse of how automation is likely going to affect you in the next 12 months.
1. Turnkey solutions will make automation even more accessible
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), companies creating new applications and products around existing technologies, are able to drive innovation by combining technologies to deliver complete solutions for common applications, such as welding and palletizing. The result? Automation will become more sophisticated yet more straightforward to use than ever before. These out-of-the-box solutions make it easier for companies to integrate crucial technologies and there is no limit to the imaginative ways companies will find to bring robots alongside humans in the world of work.
2. Manufacturers will embrace modular production
Traditional industrial robots remain important in some parts of manufacturing, but cobots perform a similar range of activities but are smaller, lighter and much easier to deploy. Cobots are also more cost-effective for businesses looking to deploy automation. In 2023 we will see even larger companies turning to lightweight cobots to increase modularity in their production. Robot weight and versatility will be key specifications for those looking for new automation solutions and we will see more reconfigurable robotic work cells than ever before.
3. Cobots will have higher payloads and longer reach
Pretty straightforward here: the introduction of higher payload, longer reach cobots will continue to transform parts of the manufacturing industry. The extra flexibility will make cobots light enough to be unbolted and relocated or attached to a heavy base with wheels, creating new possibilities for applications that will drive innovation across the board.
4. Industrial robot installations will continue despite economic uncertainty
The International federation of Robotics reported in October 2022 that industrial robot installation reached an all-time high in 2021, increasing by 31 percent over the previous year. Growth in 2022 was slower, largely due to global uncertainties triggered by the pandemic and scarcity of electronic components.
Beck says he expects the upward trend to resume in 2023, fueled by labor and skills shortages and a continuing transition towards industry 5.0 where working alongside robots will create more human-centric, sustainable and resilient businesses.
5.Users/customers will be the heart of automation development
Customers understand their needs better than anyone else and, as the automation market has matured, are better placed than ever before to offer valuable input on their requirements. This means robotics companies will involve end-customers much more in product development. Beck says Universal Robots has even reorganized its product creation teams to focus on understanding the problems customers are facing before designing solutions.
Projects where robotics companies and customers work together in developing specific solutions are bound to increase in 2023 and beyond. Ultimately these allow customers to directly influence the product they are buying, while at the same time delivering valuable feedback allowing robotic companies to launch more intuitive products.
