Collaborative Robots and the Future of Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities
Overview
Collaborative robots, also known as cobots, are gradually revolutionizing the coating, engraving, heat treating, and related industries. By enhancing precision, improving site safety, and driving significant cost savings, these ingenious devices are paving the way for enhanced productivity and dynamic work environments. Their ability to work alongside humans, providing high calculation accuracy and a degree of resilience, has been critical in their integration in these fields. Notably, as of 2021, 37% of all industrial robots sold were cobots according to the International Federation of Robotics. Additionally, the global market for cobots in the coating and heat treating industry is projected to grow by 30.37% from 2021 to 2026. Significant advancements and investments from companies like 3Laws Robotics, who focus on developing safety and reliability software for robotics systems, are fueling this growth and transformation.
Collaborative Robots in Coating Industries
Robotic coating application has grown significantly over the past decade. According to Research and Markets, the robotic coating market was valued at $912 million in 2020 and is predicted to reach $1233 million by 2026. Cobots lend themselves particularly well to tasks such as spray coating, ensuring uniformity of application and precision. In heavily regulated industries where adherence to strict guidelines is key, cobots can uphold high safety standards while ensuring consistent quality.
Cobots in Engraving Activities
The engraving industry, which ranges from precious metals to industrial materials, is also welcoming cobots with open arms. Between 2020 and 2027, the market size for engraving machines is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.7%. By ensuring engraving accuracy down to the minute scale with zero human error, cobots are fast becoming an industry favorite. Improvement in craft precision and the capability to tackle complex designs have been major drivers for integrating cobots in the engraving market.
Heat Treating Activities and Cobots
In the realm of heat treatment activities, cobots are reshaping workflow dynamics and boosting productivity substantially. Research and Markets forecasts that the market size for heat treating will hit $122.34 billion by the end of 2025, up from $90.71 billion in 2020. Due to the hazardous nature of heat treating tasks, cobots have become an appropriate solution to ensure safety, precise control, and protocol adherence.
The Role of Cobots in Allied Activities
Collaborative robots play a pivotal role in varied allied activities such as welding, assembly, pick & place, and machine tending. According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the global collaborative robots market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 34.4% over the forecast period (2021 - 2026). In these applications, they operate alongside humans, in a shared workspace, maximizing productivity and safety.
Key Takeaways
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Collaborative robots are significantly penetrating the coating, engraving, and heat treating industries, with a 37% share of all industrial robots sold in 2021.
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These industries are forecasted to witness significant growth in the next five years, with the cobot market in coatings predicted to hit $1233 million by 2026.
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Cobots are becoming integral in the heat treating industry, projected to reach a market size of $122.34 billion by 2025, thanks to their precision and safety features.
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The global market for cobots is expected to grow at a CAGR of 34.4% between 2021 and 2026, driven by their applicability in diverse allied activities.
3Laws Robotics
Enabling this transformation is 3Laws Robotics, a company at the forefront of advancing cobot capabilities through innovative software. Their platform, 3Laws Supervisor, focuses on enhancing the safety and reliability of robotic systems and simplifying the often complex certification process. This software is built on Control Barrier Functions (CBFs), a technology developed at Caltech, offering mathematically provable safety.
3Laws Supervisor addresses diverse industry applications ranging from warehouse automation, where it achieved a 40% efficiency gain for an autonomous forklift customer, to enabling safe and uninterrupted operation of robots near humans. In dynamic environments, 3Laws' reactive collision avoidance capabilities allow robots to navigate effectively and safely.
By offering real-time guardrails for autonomy stacks, 3Laws helps robots operate closer to their peak capabilities while preventing downtime caused by unnecessary e-stops or collisions. With adaptability across platforms like mobile robots, cars, drones, and manipulators and compatibility with popular middleware such as ROS and ROS2, 3Laws positions itself as a next-generation safety solution. The company aspires to transcend traditional e-stop methods, unveiling a proactive approach to safety that can unlock the full potential of robotics and get safety certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262.