Agile, robust, sustainable – the Mitsubishi Electric robot turns 25 in the production of Durable
//Eine Erfolgsgeschichte
For over 50 years, office products manufacturer Durable has been producing display panels – pockets with frames that serve as an information medium.
At the end of the 1990s, the assembly was automated with a MELFA industrial robot from Mitsubishi Electric that celebrates its 25th anniversary next year.
There is still no reason for the senior robot to retire, but when the time comes, the successor generation of the MELFA FR series industrial robots will seamlessly take over.
Challenges in the automation of the manufacturing processes of Durable
Little space for robots
For the full automation, the complete feeding and handling process of the display panels from Durable had to be accommodated within the production cell. So there was little space for the robot.
Ultimately, the Mitsubishi Electric robot was compact and manoeuvrable enough to be able to perform all the necessary movements within the limited space.
Severe mechanical stress on the robots
Another major challenge was the high mechanical stress on the robots during application.
The robot grips and handles parts weighing just a few grams, but its own mass leads to loads on the gearbox and brakes due to short cycle times, high dynamics and large lever forces.
To prevent breakdowns, Durable therefore operates a tight maintenance programme and comprehensive spare parts inventory.
Solution: Mitsubishi Electric articulated robot passes the endurance test
Endurance test passed: the demanding application with constant reversing makes full use of the speed and range of the six-axis kinematics of the articulated arm robot.
In this process, the robust technology from Mitsubishi Electric has proven to be long-lasting and has more than proved itself in continuous operation.
The robot's operating data is used for condition-based maintenance to further ensure its availability.
The robot application is a complete success.
The result: production could hardly be more sustainable
Thanks to automation, Durable is still able to produce its display panels cost-effectively with the Mitsubishi Electric robot.
The Durable application is a good example of how a quality-conscious and far-sighted investment policy - in this case, full automation using Mitsubishi Electric robots - can future-proof production equipment and thus also conserve resources.
... and what happens next? Easy conversion to new robot series possible
Conversion to the FR series of vertical articulated robots from Mitsubishi Electric
No one is thinking of retiring the veteran just yet, but the new FR series of vertical articulated arm robots will follow, so that Durable can benefit from the technical advances of recent decades.
The production manager is relaxed about the day of the changeover. Based on the experience of the users in the Durable production, the change is quite simple except for the programming environment. A cell has already been converted to an industrial robot from the current series.
Highlights of the FR series of MELFA industrial robots from Mitsubishi Electric
Modernisation to the new MELFA FR robot series with internal cable routing, improved technical data and more possibilities for optimisation is easy.
User-friendly teaching boxes ensure ease of use during commissioning, while the modern operating instructions are provided in the form of easy-to-understand videos and online tutorials.
Find out more about the highly dynamic FR series:
Next-generation intelligent features using AI
MELFA SmartPlus offers higher accuracy and faster start-up times, which simplifies installation and enables advanced tasks such as temperature compensation, a force-torque sensor, calibration support, etc.
Enhanced security features for safe, collaborative work applications
Comprehensive safety features, including position and speed monitoring, enable collaboration with humans at work.
Seamless integration into the IT environment
The MELSEC iQ-R compatible robot control system and the integrated e-F@ctory FA solution offer seamless integration of robots and IT systems.
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