Henrik A. Schunk, Managing Partner of SCHUNK GmbH & Co KG in Lauffen, Germany
SCHUNK presents more robot applications than ever at the AUTOMATICA 2014. Is it chance or strategy?
As a leading full service components provider for robots, we want to show users, plant builders, and system integrators the possibilities of how the productivity potentials of modern robotics can be comprehensively developed. I don’t know any branch of industry, which currently offers so many complex opportunities as robotics. While the innovative automotive industry focuses on mobile and collaborative robots, the medium-sized companies are still at the beginning of using robot-based production automation. There is still plenty of space at the top. Particularly in the machine tool building, consumer goods, plastics, and electronics industry, as well as in the medical technology and optical industry, robotics has tremendous uncovered productivity potentials, which are still waiting to be discovered. We will show the possible potentials at the AUTOMATICA.
What are the focal points?
SCHUNK has three main focuses, the first being, “intelligent mechatronics.” This is the answer to the demands of greater flexibility in the smart factory, and is the basis for safe gripping. The second is “high speed,” for meeting the productivity demands in assembly automation, and last but not least the “networked systems,” which allow new production processes. In a few years, intuitive control units, and communication via web technology will be standard in modern automation, such as an interruption-free cooperation between human and robot. In this connection, the world’s first certified safety gripping system, which will be presented by SCHUNK at the AUTOMATICA, is surely a milestone.
Does this transfer aspects of service robotics to industrial robotics?
The certified SCHUNK safety gripping system is the key for ensuring safe, industrial handling processes within the human environment – no matter if a conventional industrial robot is used, or a lightweight robot for the service robotics is concerned. This creates completely new options in process design, and offers the potential in increasing the possibilities of the development dynamics in both areas.
When will service robotics be a real economic factor?
Soon! Amazon, Google, Bosch, all of the great automotive and robot manufacturers have service robotics on their agenda, and are making huge investments to establish new solutions and to develop the market. Here at the AUTOMATICA, you will notice the dynamics: More and more companies recognize the potential, and the number of market-oriented solutions and potential applications are rapidly increasing.
Which industry has the strongest growth in service robotics?
In the agriculture, defense technology, medical technology, road transport, and also in industry there are considerable potential. Particularly industrial applications will gain in importance in the coming years, where humans and robots mutually support each other. There is the stationary application of service robots in assembly and inspection applications, but also new mobile robotics applications will arise, e.g. during the flexible connection of assembly and manufacturing stations, or in lab automation. We will showcase at the AUTOMATICA how service robotics have already taken over the wafer transport in semi-conductor factories, or component transport between machine tools or assembly stations.
What are the next challenges which have to be solved?
The greatest challenge and at the same time the biggest opportunity is the system integration. Numerous standardized components are available – grippers, lightweight arms, drives, sensors, mobile platforms, mapping systems, system software – which are waiting for being combined to market-oriented systems. Here, more entrepreneurial thinking people are needed, who will recognize that the stage has been set, and who are prepared to establish such new solutions. This also includes the development of new business models, such as leasing of service robots. From the user’s view it is important that the operation of service robots will be as easy and intuitive as a smart phone in the future.
Courtesy: SCHUNK GmbH & Co. KG
