Doekle Terpstra, chairman of UNETO-VNI since 1 February, on 8 June, together with Edish mayor Cees van der Knaap, initiated the first collaboration between 3 collaborative robots (co-robots) by pressing a button. He did so at ABB, which is using the world's very first collaboration between the three robots in its new production and mechanisation line for the assembly of a new hollow wall box.
YuMi robots
With its two arms and human dimensions, the YuMi is a remarkable sight. Since the 2015 Hannover Messe, where it was first shown to the public, a new era has begun in which humans and robots work collegially side by side. Robotisation is playing an increasingly important role in the factory. Whereas previously robots were often tucked away in a cage or behind a fence or restricted in their movements, collaborative robots, where man and robot truly work side by side, are the new norm.
A YuMi (stands for you and me) is basically safe. Due to its low weight, it is easy to move and has no cabling or other protrusions on the outside. It is completely smooth and sealed. This means there are no gaps at the axles or joints, so no risk of pinching sheets either. And YuMi stops immediately if it feels more resistance than usual. After all, that is the basic premise of a co-bot: not to pose a danger to the people it works alongside or among. And where robots used to be often executed in the alarm colour orange, the new co-bots, which are aware of their surroundings, are executed in a neutral colour scheme.
Flexibility is of course very important, and so much attention has been paid to rapid deployment. After all, anyone who wants to be flexible should not have to spend hours programming first. Indeed, programming should be avoided as much as possible. YuMi can learn new tasks quickly with the help of human 'peers', without the need for programming.
Robotisation
Terpstra's first experience with ABB dates back to the 1980s in his then role at the CNV trade union. At the time, there was considerable suspicion about automation and there is still a fear that increasing robotisation will automatically mean job losses. Former minister Lodewijk Asscher's report recently fed into that as well.
Terpstra does not share this gloom. 'Developments are going at a furious pace. How adaptive are we, do we dare to step forward?' He continues 'Bring the future to you. Robotisation is not a threat, but a beckoning prospect with new jobs.' Moreover, with automation, we are making our country competitive as a manufacturing location. We are already seeing a huge labour shortage in many places, so robots are just desperately needed.
ABB
ABB itself already gave a great example, as ABB is not only active in robotics, but also in low- and medium-voltage products, power grids, industrial automation and drives. And in one of ABB's production sites, its own YuMis are now being deployed. The collaborating robots do their work in at ABB Electrification Products on the new production and mechanisation line where the hollow wall box HW52-F is assembled. This innovation guarantees production in Ede, also in the long term. In addition, ABB says the switch saves some 6,000 truck kilometres per year. ABB Electrification Products Ede produces plastic products, including installation boxes and enclosures for the electrical engineering market. One of the Ede-based company's spearheads is 'Local for local' which means working with local partners via short lines as much as possible. That too sounds good to us.
Left: Cees van der Knaap Mayor of Ede, Right: Doekle Terpstra chairman of UNETO-VNI.
By Walter Kooren
