The future in robotics Comau

THE FUTURE IN ROBOTICS

Comau SpA is an abbreviation of Consorzio Macchine Utensili (Tool Machine Consortium). Today, thanks to its 40 year experience in industrial automation, Comau is a recognised global leader in sustainable automation and maintenance service solutions. Barbara Rossi speaks to Mauro Giaccone, Italy Sales Director for Comau Robotics.

“Our success is built on our consolidated experience in the automotive sector, our excellence centres, and our skills and know-how. All of these elements allow us to be always at the cutting-edge, with a wide range of solutions for a spectrum of industries and applications. Today Comau can really claim to have a global presence (with facilities in 23 countries) thanks to which we can offer customised localised solutions in numerous fields” Mr Giaccone explains.

Comau SpA, wholly owned by the Fiat Group, is a multinational with 13,300 employees worldwide and a €1.5 billion 2012 turnover. The company, which has 15 works and 23 branches across the world, is organised into a number of business units: Body Welding, Powertrain Systems, Robotics, Adaptive Solutions. The company’s solutions range from machining and assembly modules to body welding systems and integrated robotics. Comau is an all-round player taking care of the whole production process: from the initial idea and design to the finished product and also providing full service training and maintenance. Its strategic services include asset management, project management and eComau (which offers a fully comprehensive approach to environmentally friendly industrial processes).

New entries

Comau Robotics is the only Italian manufacturer of anthropomorphic robots and has recently presented innovative products, featuring improvements with regard to performance and design, together with new application packages. The most important new entries are the new Racer robot, the new programming terminal TP5 and the new compact version of the C5G control unit, as well as new robot models.

The new Racer, with a 7kg payload and a maximum horizontal reach of 1400mm, is the fastest robot in its category in the world, delivering better and more precise performances thanks to the most modern technology together with innovative design. Similar improvements have been implemented with regard to the TP5 terminal, which is increasingly more ergonomic and intuitive. Overall improvement, from design and performance to user interface and new software, is at the basis of all of Comau innovation processes.

The new 3D simulator (RoboSim Pro) is an example of it: this is a useful tool for both system integrators and universities. The RoboSim Pro is able to carry out 3D simulations of robotised cells in an even more precise manner, as well as truly new

off-line programming. The new (E-motion) software optimises the robot’s movements and makes them smoother, so as to make it faster and improve its performance.

Furthermore, with the new Smart5 NJ 130 Shelf robot, which delivers incredible performances with a wide operational area, Comau has strongly re-entered the Interpresse field.

“We are building a new production site for our robotics unit in Kunshan, China. This facility will include new commercial offices, a showroom and a training hall for clients. Here we will manufacture products for the Far East market, while production for other countries will remain in Turin.”

“Similarly to Comau SpA in general, also in the robotics unit applications for the automotive sector are very important, with a share of turnover of about 70%, but over the years we have widened the spectrum of sectors that we serve. It now includes research centres, universities and schools, as well as various industries. Applications in the food & beverage and packaging (palletisation in particular) sectors have become of particular significance in the last two to three years and are going to further grow in the future. Obviously, as we belong to the Fiat group, the automotive industry is very important for us and Fiat-Chrysler is our main automotive client.”

“Today Italy and Europe are still our most important markets, however non European markets will become increasingly more important, partly because of the strong link that we have with Fiat- Chrysler (we follow their geographical expansion pattern). Non European markets are already very significant for us, starting with China, Thailand, India and Indonesia, followed by Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and the US. Suffice to say that Comau is generating almost one third of its turnover in APAC countries, mainly due to the rapid expansion of the Chinese market, where our company has an important presence. We are going to focus on these markets, which offer us the potential for a two figure growth in the future. There will definitely be a shift from the share of turnover generated in Europe to that in countries such as China and Brazil.”

“Sales of anthropomorphic robots will increase everywhere, but particularly so in so called emerging markets. Our strategy in Europe will be that of conquering a larger share of the market. We already have a very high market share in the European automotive sector, so in Europe market potential is to be found in other fields, for instance palletisation.”

“We will carry on expanding our offer, first of all by continuously widening our range of robot models (in terms of payload, maximum horizontal reach, etc.). This will probably lead us to entering new application fields.”

“Our suppliers are important insofar as they try to keep pace with our technology. Our TP5 robot has been developed in partnership with one of our suppliers, Keba. Another important supplier is B & R, from which we purchase all our electronic components, such as drives, etc. For us it is a real strategic partner in our endeavour to acquire new markets.”

“I think that our future growth will be achieved through an expansion of volume rather than by means of acquisitions. We expect to double the volume of robots sold in the next three years (we currently sell about 2000 a year), focusing on the markets previously mentioned. In order to achieve these results we are going to offer increasingly innovative and competitive products and assert a stronger presence in countries with growing markets, alongside supplying more client services and most of all operating in partnership with the main system integrators. Our future projects include the opening of strategic sites in fast growing markets such as Thailand and Indonesia.” n