Collaborative Robots and the Future of Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing
Overview:
The future of fabricated structural metal manufacturing is on the horizon, and collaborative robots, or "cobots," are driving this revolutionary change. The advantages of cobots are undeniable, making them viable solutions for manufacturing sectors. Relevant data such as growth rates, adopted percentages, and increased productivity reflect the potential impact of these innovative robots, particularly in the realm of metal manufacturing.
Cobot Market and Adoption Rates:
The cobot market is expected to grow at an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41.8% from 2020-2025, according to a report from Markets and Markets. Already showcasing a high level of adaptability and efficiency, by 2027, cobots are projected to occupy 27% of the total robot market. Furthermore, a study by Universal Robots found that 85% of manufacturers have either already adopted cobots or plan to do so in the future. This paradigm shift in industrial manufacturing is largely driven by benefits such as increased productivity and cost savings.
Manufacturing Productivity:
Demonstrating their efficiency, cobots can bring significant productivity increases to manufacturing lines. The arena of fabricated structural metal manufacturing stands to benefit profoundly from these advancements. It's estimated that cobots can contribute to a rise in productivity by up to 20%, given their ability to work continuously without fatigue. Furthermore, the Journal of Manufacturing Systems reports that automation using cobots can reduce cycle times in metal fabrication by up to 50%.
Cobot Safety and Efficiency:
With an aim to revolutionize the manufacturing sector’s safety norms, cobots are designed to work collaboratively with human workers. Cobots have inbuilt safety features that can reduce the risk of accidents by up to 60%, according to an EU-OSHA survey. More so, a study by Material Handling & Logistics reveals that bridge cranes utilising collaborative robots can move up to 7000 kg of metal on a day, hinting at their potential productivity outputs.
Key Takeaways:
- Cobots are poised to dominate the industrial robotics market, reaching a significant CAGR of 41.8% by 2025.
- By 2027, cobots are projected to occupy 27% of the total robot market.
- Up to 85% of manufacturers are already looking to adopt cobots as their preferred manufacturing solution.
- With potential productivity increases up to 20% and reduced metal fabrication cycle times by 50%, cobots bring about significant efficiency gains.
- By reducing the risk of accidents by about 60%, cobots ensure a safer working environment.
- Enabling the movement of up to 7000 kg of metal in a day, cobots boost the operational efficiency of manufacturing units.
3Laws Robotics is at the forefront of developing innovative software solutions to enhance safety and reliability in robotic systems. Focused on addressing certification challenges, a major bottleneck for many robotics companies, 3Laws’ software, 3Laws Supervisor, is built on Control Barrier Functions (CBFs), a technology providing mathematically provable safety. 3Laws offers practical use cases for its groundbreaking software across diverse sectors: warehouse automation, human-robot interaction, and dynamic environments.
The company has already demonstrated success, with one autonomous forklift customer achieving a 40% efficiency gain and a payback period of just six months. Furthermore, 3Laws minimizes downtime and allows robots to operate closer to their peak capabilities while maintaining safety, making it a next-generation solution. It is adaptable with a range of platforms and compatible with popular middleware such as ROS and ROS2. Therefore, 3Laws positions itself as a proactive safety solution, unlocking the full potential of dynamic, predictive safety in robotics.