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THIS ARTICLE NIGEL SMITH, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SHIBAURA MACHINE DISTRIBUTOR, TM ROBOTICS, EXPLAINS HOW, AND WHY, UK PLASTICS MANUFACTURERS SHOULD INVEST IN FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS.
Could automation transform the plastics sector?
A2020 survey by Deloitte found that 62 per cent of manufacturers are forging ahead with smart manufacturing investments — despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. But what does this look like for the plastics and injection moulding industry? Industrial robots have been used to great eff ect in the plastics industry for some time, primarily for unloading parts from moulding machines. Today, developments in automated technology mean plastics manufacturers can deploy robotics along their entire production line. Just like many industries, businesses in the rubber and plastics sector are looking for ways to reduce costs and increase productivity. Automating production processes is the obvious choice to achieve the output gains to take a business to the next level. Off ering improved effi ciency, accuracy and consistency, industrial robots can work eff ectively in the tough and varied conditions of the plastics sector and — increasingly important following the pandemic — take on tasks that are diffi cult or dangerous for human workers. Despite the advantages, upfront costs for robots can be intimidating, especially for the small-tomedium sized manufacturers who stand to gain the most growth. Therefore, any robot purchase should be carefully considered to make sure you get the best return on your investment.
FLEXIBILITY IS KEY
Flexible automation is essential for plastics manufacturers to embrace the technology. A robot that can automate several production stages at once means they can really maximise the benefi ts of automation — it’s important to balance improvements across the production line, otherwise any output gained by automating one process will be limited by less effi cient ones further down the line. Combining this with easy reprogramming means, should products, processes, or needs change, the investment will continue to prove its worth whatever the next few years bring. The TVM series by Shibaura Machine, formerly Toshiba Machine, is a range of 6-axis robots ideal for use in the plastics industry. This reliable robot demonstrates high productivity in transfer and assembly tasks. Importantly, its improved reach and payload mean it can work with large mould machines, up to 650 tonnes. Historically, Cartesian X-Y gantry-style robots have been used to unload moulding machines. However, 6-axis robots have improved greatly in speed over the last few years. Now, 6-axis machines can match, or even improve on, the pace of Cartesian robots. Another benefi t of installing a 6-axis robot in the production line is because these fl exible robots are capable of multiple tasks. For example, as well as taking parts out of a machine, a 6-axis robot can handle or assemble products, or even carry out inspection tasks, if integrated with machine vision.
A JOINED-UP APPROACH
Whether a manufacturer is looking to invest in a single robot or upgrade a whole system, it’s important to consider how diff erent assets will integrate with each other. Shibaura Machine is a leader in manufacturing electric injection moulding machines, and by choosing a Shibaura Machine robot to unload parts from the moulding machines, manufacturers can take advantage of a total solution that integrates perfectly. While purchasing robots that are simple to integrate is helpful, so too is future-proofi ng your investment with a longer-term plan for development, so that it’s easy to grow your production capacity with your business. TM Robotics off ers free online consultations to help businesses in the plastic sector plan their automation journey. Whatever challenges the plastics industry faces, the need to increase production and effi ciency will continue to drive investment in smart manufacturing, including industrial automation. Plastics manufacturers can achieve greater speed, accuracy, and quality control through automating their production processes, benefi ts which are all key to growing profi ts and business.
