AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
A Duerr robot with seven axes reaches every spot in the car body . This can eliminate the need for a linear displacement rail .
Automotive industry density
Within five years , the country has doubled its number of industrial robots in operation . Following Japan and China , the country ranked third in 2019 ,” said the IFR .
The new European Framework Program Horizon Europe has been launched on research and innovation over 2021 to 2027 . The robotics-related work programme is embedded in Cluster 4 : Digital , Industry and Space . Robotics-related R & D & I projects will focus on the digital transition of the manufacturing and construction sectors , autonomous solutions to support workers , enhanced cognition and human-robot collaboration . The robotics-related work programme 2021-2022 in Cluster 4 will provide total funding of US $ 240 million ( 198.7 million EUR ).
Germany ´ s High-Tech Strategy 2025 is the fourth edition of the German R & D and innovation programme . The goal is for good ideas to be translated quickly into innovative products and services . Most of the framework of the High-Tech Strategy promotes partnership between companies , universities and research institutions to bring together institutional research and entrepreneurial expertise . It has been set the target of 3.5 percent of GDP per annum investment in R & D by 2025 .
In several programme lines of the ‘ Shape Technology for the People ’ mission , the robotics-related ‘ Together Through Innovation ’ programme was launched in 2020 . With this research programme line , the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research ( BMBF ) will provide around US $ 84 million ( 70 million EUR ) annually until 2026 .
The National Robotics Initiative ( NRI ) in the USA was launched for fundamental robotics R & D supported by the U . S . Government . With NRI-2.0 , collaboration between academic ,
industry , non-profit and other organisations is encouraged . The largest investor in unmanned systems technologies remains the United States Department of Defense with US $ 7.3- billion budget projected in 2020 and 2021 .
“ According to our ‘ World Robotics statistical yearbook , robot density in the U . S . manufacturing industry had been growing by 7 % CAGR since 2014 to 2019 with 228 robots per 10,000 employees – ranking ninth worldwide . Regarding annual installations of industrial robots , the country takes third position ,” commented the IFR .
According to the IFR , robot density in the U . S . automotive industry hit a new record of 1,287 installed units per 10,000 employees . The United States ranks seventh worldwide . The density is similar to Germany ( 1,311 units ) and Japan ( 1,248 units ). China is in twelfth place with 938 units .
“ Automation is the key not only to postpandemic recovery , but to post-pandemic growth and progress ,” said Milton Guerry , President of the International Federation of Robotics . “ In the upswing after the 2008 financial crisis , companies like General Motors , Ford , Fiat-Chrysler and Tesla invested extensively in robotics and automation . As a result , thousands of new jobs were created within the automotive industry . So many years and technological advancements later , we have the opportunity to learn from this success story and emerge even stronger than before .”
Robot density in the general industry is still comparatively low with only 139 units per 10,000 employees . Overall in all surveyed countries worldwide , the potential for robot installations in the general industry is tremendous . In the United States for example , yearly orders of robots from non-automotive sectors surpassed automotive robot orders for the first time . Sales of robotic units in the U . S . increased 7 % in 2020 from 2019 .
Robotics policies and strategies are important to help workforces make the transition to a more automated economy , said Milton Guerry , IFR President . This will be crucial , and defining , for the global manufacturing sector . n
EcoPaintJet is an innovative system for automated , highly defined paint application on a Duerr robot without any overspray .
24 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR October 2021