Four new energy-saving ABBrobots in 22 variants

ABB Robotics is expanding its large robot range with four new models and 22 variants, offering more choice, increased coverage and greater performance. The next-generation models include the IRB 6710, IRB 6720, IRB 6730 and IRB 6740, suitable for payloads ranging from 150 to 310kg, with a reach from 2.5 to 3.2m.

“Sustainable production is a major priority of automotive manufacturers, with 78% of companies identifying it as important to their business and a further 77% identifying it as a priority for their customers,” says Marc Segura, president of ABB’s Robotics Division. “ABB’s four new robots offer 22 variants and energy savings of up to 20%, responding to our customers’ needs; offering greater choice and flexibility for more sustainable production. These new robots will help our customers build resilience across a range of industries including automotive, general manufacturing and foundries.”

ABB’s OmniCore controller and lighter robot design lead to energy savings of up to 20%. Featuring ABB’s TrueMove and QuickMove motion control technology, ABB says the robots can achieve class-leading repeatability with a minimum of 0.03mm deviation. These capabilities make the new series of robots suitable for complex tasks such as spot welding, laser welding, screwdriving and riveting.

“Our new robot range meets the needs of the rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) industry,” says Joerg Reger, managing director of ABB Robotics Automotive Business Line.“As manufacturers ramp up the production of EVs and batteries, they can choose from a wide range of ABB robots to ensure they have the right variant to handle batteries of different sizes, from individual cells and modules to complete packages.”
For further information www.abb.com

Double milestone for Guhring

Cutting tool manufacturer Guhring is celebrating twice in 2023, as the company sees in its 125th anniversary andreaches half a century since inaugurating its UK subsidiary in Birmingham.To mark the occasion, Guhring is paying tribute to Prime Accountants Group, a long-term supporter and advisor to the German firm since its arrival on UK shores in 1973. Guhring’s Birmingham team uses the accountancy services of Prime, also based in the Midlands, for several key functions, including its year-end audit and reporting financial results back to its headquarters in Germany.
For further information www.guhring.co.uk www.primeaccountants.co.uk

Robotic solution for complex aerospace parts

Q5D Technologies is delivering a £1.7m project in collaboration with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to accelerate automation within the aerospace industry by using a novel robotic solution to add embedded wiring into complex aircraft components.

Project LiveWire, led by Bristol-based Q5D, aims to automate the manufacture of airline seating components and control systems by embedding wiring into the structures that make up these parts, helping reduce costs and build lighter, higher-quality components.

Wiring in aircraft currently takes place by hand, making it an expensive and laborious process that is prone to errors and can cause failures and sometimes even fires. As part of the project, Q5D created a five-axis robotic tool that can add wiring to a complex shaped component in a new, improved way.

For its part, the AMRChad to devise a proof-of-concept solution to calculate the position and rotation of a workpiece that would enable the robot to automate the process of embedding wiring. In addition, the AMRC had to create integrated validation processes for quality inspection.

The benefits of automating the robot path using a vision system will provide Q5D’s robotic technology with greater flexibility to adapt to dynamic environments. Making automatic adjustments to the robotic path on the fly will also increase productivity as it will decrease the manual programming required.

Even though the project looked at a pathway for use in the aerospace sector, the concept is transferable to any robotics automation system.
For further information www.bit.ly/3QM6svA

300 new JLR jobs in Midlands

JLR is recruiting 300 new technicians and test engineers in the West Midlands. The roles will support the continued growth of Range Rover production and development of next-generation electric vehicles (EVs).Of the 300 roles, the UK-based car manufacturer is recruiting around 100 maintenance technicians for its Solihull plant to operate and maintain automated production facilities in a new body shop costing around £130m.

In addition, JLR is recruiting around 200 technicians and test engineers for its Gaydon Engineering Centre and Whitley Powertrain facility, where they will support with testing and development of JLR’s next-generation EVs as part of a global family that exceeds 38,000 colleagues. The company will upskill all technicians and test engineers with electrification training as part of JLR’s ‘Future Skills Programme’, to ensure they are equipped with vital skills for the production and maintenance of EVs.
For further information www.jaguarlandrover.com

Clearly visible light signals with Leuze TL 305

Leuze is introducing new tower lights for machine tools in a robust aluminium housing.Thecompany says that its TL 305 series impresses with bright and homogeneous illumination as well as an optional IO-Link interface.

Tower lights are indispensable in machine tools construction, making status, faults and ongoing processes clearly visible from a distance.The new Leuze tower lights of the TL 305 series can do all of this extremely reliably, reports Leuze,lighting up brightly, uniformly and fully. This capability enables optimum signalling, whether at the machine, on the conveyor belt or for access control. The compact towers are available preconfigured with three, four, or five segments.

Leuze’s new range of tower lights includes TL 305 models with a predefined colour assignment, as well as TL 305-IOL models with an IO-Link interface. The IO-Link variants allow different operating modes and provide an extensive selection of colours. On request, the tower lights are also available with an additional acoustic signaller.

System operators benefit from the immediate usability of the tower lights. The M30 thread and M12 connectors make them easy to install, while matching accessories simplify installation. A robust design characterises all models of the series, where the aluminium housing allows use of the tower lights even in demanding industrial environments.

The IO-Link version TL 305-IOL, with its different operating modes, offers maximum flexibility. It is possible to actuate segments such as colour, intensity and lighting sequences individually via IO-Link using ‘Segment’ mode. Users can also deploy ‘Level’ mode to visualise fill levels. If fast commissioning is required, users can actuate eight predetermined or user-defined configurations via the three external trigger inputs, even without an IO-Link connection.
For further information www.leuze.com