Industrial robotics may have previously been the preserve of large scale manufacturing, but Covid-19 has seen a rise in demand for smaller, nimbler collaborative robots or ‘cobots’, that are easy to programme and install.
Dundee-based SP Automation and Robotics moved into the cobot sector last year and says there has been a ‘huge upsurge’ in general automation in the domestic and foreign markets.
Director, Roy Henderson, said customers want something that is adaptable and quickly deployed.
The machines are being used in a growing number of sectors beyond manufacturing, including healthcare, food and education.
He said: “At the start of the pandemic, enquiries for cobot equipment stalled, but as firms have begun to reopen, there has been a substantial number of enquiries and orders, so we have a strong order book.
“Cobots replace those jobs that are dull, dirty and dangerous – they free up employees, allowing them to focus on more interesting work.
“We are now seeing cobots used in medical test labs, where they can deal with infected samples for example, carrying out tests where repetitive procedures are involved and increase productivity.
“They are also being brought into educational facilities, where students who will be using cobots in industry start to learn about them, while the machines are also used in university laboratories.
“There is growth across the board for cobots and more opportunities are on the way.”
Mr Henderson said the equipment is no longer just for welding car parts.
SMEs are adopting the technology, while larger firms are factoring in their use as they streamline their processes in a Covid-19 environment.
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SP Automation & Robotics
Operating at the cutting edge of design, SP Technology is an end to end solution provider. We design and manufacture bespoke automated systems that meet the demands of modern production, manufacturing, engineering and process environments. We have provided systems for a wide range of industries including food & drink, plastics, munitions, medical device manufacturing, pharmaceutical and cleanroom automation, and packaging.
D.C. Thomson & Co. Ltd.
DC Thomson & Co Ltd is a private company and is one of the leading media organisations in the United Kingdom. The company publishes newspapers, magazines, comics and books. More recently, DC Thomson has expanded into the internet and digital developments including a major focus on genealogy.
