Industrial manipulators have been used, in one form or another, for many years. However, they are increasingly redefining the landscape of modern industry.
These versatile pneumatic machines are changing how companies work, but not in the way some people expect. The systems aren’t replacing employees, as some understandably fear. Instead, they extend the capabilities of the human workforce. Companies that implement industrial manipulators find that there is a synergistic effect, with the machines and the humans who use them each contributing to the success of the organization’s operations in unique ways.
Let’s consider why businesses should consider augmenting their capabilities with industrial manipulators and how these systems improve safety, increase productivity, and give companies a competitive edge.
What’s Driving the Move to Industrial Manipulators?
Owners and decision-makers at companies that aren’t using lift-assist devices, material handlers, and other industrial manipulators but that are nevertheless successful might wonder whether it makes sense to implement these systems. After all, it’s hard to argue with the axiom, “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.”
The problem with sticking with the status quo is that business competition is fierce and seems to be continually increasing. The reality is that today’s “industry leader” can be tomorrow’s “runner-up” (or worse). Companies can quickly drift to the back of the pack if decision-makers aren’t proactive about maintaining that leadership role.
The story of Kodak’s downfall in the face of digital camera technology is frequently offered to illustrate that point. It’s a dramatic one from over a decade ago, but it stands as a stark reminder that even industry giants can fail. While your company may not face a threat of that magnitude, it’s still crucial to capitalize on every opportunity to enhance your operations.
Business owners also invest in industrial manipulator solutions to address changing market conditions. For example, manufacturers are experiencing a worsening labor shortage that threatens companies’ ability to deliver quality products on time and in the quantities needed to meet quotas.
Ultimately, there are many reasons to update your operations by using industrial manipulators to extend your workforce, and you might be surprised at how significant the improvements can be.
Industrial Manipulators: Changing How Companies Work in a Long List of Industries
If you’ve never researched industrial manipulators or haven’t in several years, prepare to be impressed! For many people, the image that comes to mind when discussing these solutions is of a device from decades ago completing a simple task in a somewhat clumsy manner. Modern industrial manipulators are lightyears beyond their ancestors. That’s not surprising when you stop to consider the current state of the technology behind them.
Systems created years ago to handle select tasks in a few niche industries have evolved dramatically. It would now be hard to find a manufacturing setting where industrial manipulators can’t have or aren’t having a significant impact on operations. From packaging and textiles to food and pharmaceuticals, the list of markets where these solutions are making work safer, faster, and more productive is long and growing.
Endless Customization Options Enable Powerful Human/Machine Collaborations
One of the most notable aspects of today’s industrial manipulators — and a reason they are so effective in extending the capabilities of the human workforce — is that there’s almost no limit to customization opportunities. These systems can be tailored across many characteristics, including:
- End-of-Arm Tooling. To be sure, the quintessential industrial manipulator made up of two gripping “fingers” was an impressive engineering feat. However, it’s just the tip of the iceberg today. So-called end-of-arm tooling has expanded to encompass a diverse range of attachments, including powerful suction cups, an endless array of clamping and gripping devices, and other attachments for grasping and moving even the most awkwardly shaped and heavy items with ease. There are also specialized instruments that enable precise assembly and manipulation actions.
- Payload capacity. Industrial manipulators come in a wide range of sizes and capacities. From compact models designed for delicate tasks to massive industrial machines capable of lifting and manipulating heavy objects, there’s a system to meet virtually any need. If it’s a component for or end product of a manufacturing operation, there’s likely a manipulator that can handle it.
- Range of movement. The reach and flexibility of industrial manipulators, measured in degrees of freedom, can be customized to perfectly match the specific workspace and application, including confined spaces and intricate movements or complex patterns.
This incredible flexibility means actions that previously weren’t possible are now feasible. Consequently, companies should take a fresh look at their operations from an “anything is possible” perspective.
When businesses fail to capitalize on the advantages of machine-assisted tasks, often the reason is that they researched lift-assist devices, material handlers, and other industrial manipulators many years ago, found them lacking the necessary functionality, and haven’t considered them since.
Modularity: Finding the Perfect Fit
A great thing about industrial manipulators is that while they can be designed to work together on complex processes, their modular nature means they can also be integrated separately into a manufacturing process precisely where they’ll have the most significant impact. It’s also helpful that companies can introduce them into a production line without major changes to their functionality or the design of the existing process.
What’s more, modular solutions can be implemented in stages. You can launch one or a few of them at critical points in a workflow and observe how they enhance it. Then, with that information in hand, you can implement additional devices to improve operations further. This approach enables insightful modifications with minimal business disruption.
The Ergonomic Advantages of Industrial Manipulators
Another way industrial manipulators extend the human workforce is by helping employees work in more ergonomically sound ways. With a system doing the literal heavy lifting, for example, a worker experiences less fatigue and can be more productive than without the assistance.
A material handler or lift-assist device also helps prevent injuries, such as painful back issues, that can sideline a worker and leave the company scrambling to find a replacement.
Industrial Manipulators in Dangerous Environments
Yet another common use of industrial manipulators is to minimize human workers’ exposure to dangerous environments. New sensor technology and remote operation capabilities make what was previously science fiction a real-life benefit of these devices.
Historically, businesses have invested significant time, effort, and capital in purchasing protective gear, devising tactics, and taking other steps to enable teams of employees to work in dangerous areas or with hazardous materials. With a customized industrial manipulator solution, a company can have a device that’s impervious to the threat complete the work while its human operator remains safely out of harm’s way.
Not only does this protect the worker, but it also increases productivity by enabling one employee to complete a task that, for safety reasons, previously involved multiple people. The reduced labor cost alone quickly begins to pay for the new technology, and that’s before considering the potential cost of worker injuries.
The Future of Industrial Manipulators Is Bright (But Don’t Wait!)
Technology is evolving faster than ever. What’s possible with industrial manipulators today may look simplistic a decade from now. Does that mean you should wait to extend the capabilities of your human workforce with these systems? Definitely not.
It’s to your advantage to leverage technology and improve your capabilities now. That way, you immediately enjoy the safety improvements and productivity increases available to your business. You’ll also likely save money through operational efficiency, which helps pay for today’s investment and subsequent implementations.
Plus, industrial manipulators can typically be upgraded and enhanced with new tools and functionality down the road. So, waiting to invest in these systems until some undetermined future date simply causes you to fall behind your competitors who are being more proactive.
Final Thoughts
A company’s people are its most valuable assets. That’s true today and will always be the case. However, industrial manipulators can help your business get more from your employees.
Dalmec is the leader in customized solutions that capitalize on the power, precision, and versatility of industrial manipulators. Whether you implement one system at a key point in your workflow or dozens throughout your plant, you will immediately notice the difference. Your customers may also detect an uptick in everything from the quality of your work to the timeliness of your deliveries. Even if you currently excel in those areas, there’s always room for improvement!
Not ready to make this type of investment? It’s still wise to learn about your options. That way, when the time is right, you can get moving quickly on implementing material handlers, lift-assist devices, or other industrial manipulators.
Contact us today, and let’s talk about your operations. Our friendly product experts can help you identify areas for streamlining your workflows and explain how customized solutions can meet your needs.
