Experts in industrial automation systems

TMA AUTOMATION: Cartesian robot

Tools Factory: The company Tools Factory produces machinery for processing plastics. We differentiate two main types of machinery, which we produce: machines for thermoforming, that is, Vacuum Thermoformers SMARTLINE, as well as cutting plotters CNC MASTER CUT, widely used in the production of 3D forms and processing of mouldings, they are modern and well-equipped, constructed in accordance with the requirements of the end user.

OMRON Industrial Automation is an international manufacturer of advanced industrial automation systems. OMRON Electronics Polska, a company from Warsaw, is OMRON Industrial Automation’s sales representative in Poland. Dariusz Balcerzyk reports.

Applications in the food industry: fruit and vegetable sorting machine. Producer: Sorter Company.

Since its establishment in 1933 in Osaka, Japan, as Tateisi Electric Manufacturing Co., OMRON has provided innovative solutions and advanced technologies. Today the company has more than 37,000 employees in 36 countries working to provide products and services to customers in a variety of fields, including industrial automation, electronic components industries and healthcare. OMRON’s consolidated net sales in 2014 were estimated at Yen 847.3 billion, whereas its net income in 2014 was Yen 87.4 billion. The Industrial Automation Business accounts for the largest part of the group’s net sales (39 per cent).

The company has its head offices in Japan (Kyoto), Asia Pacific (Singapore), China (Hong Kong), Europe (Amsterdam) and the US (Chicago). The European organisation has its own development and manufacturing facilities, and provides local customer support in all European countries.

In Europe, OMRON is represented by three main companies: Industrial Automation, Electronic Components and Healthcare. For over 30 years OMRON Europe has been consistently meeting the requirements and demands of the European market, and has achieved an average annual growth of more than 11 per cent over the last 10 years. Hi-tech solutions

As part of the global OMRON Corporation, OMRON Industrial Automation is a worldwide company and leading manufacturer of technologically advanced industrial automation products and application expertise. From its European headquarters near Amsterdam, the company operates locally in every European country and is dedicated to providing automation products and customised solutions for any industry. Since its European logistics centre is located in Amsterdam, 97 per cent of its deliveries can be fulfilled in 24 hours.

“We are a provider of complete control systems for industrial automation. OMRON has been present in Poland since 1997, although its products have been well known in the country since the 1980s,” says Mr Michal Jedrzejczak, the OMRON Electronics Polska country sales manager. “The company’s product portfolio includes: PLC drivers, industrial computers, HMI panels, industrial networks, motion control devices, inverters, sensors, vision systems, safety systems, servo drivers, temperature controllers, relays, timers, counters, monitoring systems and many other industrial components. Packaging and material handling are the two main groups of advanced industrial automation products we sell in

Applications in the plastics industry: vaccu, thermoformer. Producer: Tools Factory.

Poland. They are primarily offered to machine producers and end-users from such industries as automotive, pharmaceuticals and food. Machine producers have a large share, which can reach up to 40 per cent of our total sales. OEP’s annual sales in 2014 are estimated at PLN 51 million (more than €12.4 million). In 2015 we expect further sales growth.”

Where material handling is concerned, OEP offers four kinds of robots. The Delta Robot Series can handle up to 200 picking operations per minute and can be synchronised with multiple conveyors to perform on-the-fly Pick & Place operations. The NJ controller offers a response time of two ms when controlling eight Delta robots or one ms when controlling four robots. The Scara solutions are especially effective for heavy part handling in combination with high speed cycles. The wide reach and payload ranges from 120mm to 1200mm and from 1kg to 50kg, allowing for precise adjustment of the robot to the application. Cartesian robots are a popular solution for carrying a variety of materials on production lines. They are used primarily in packaging, sorting and scanning. OEP also offers modern six-axis robots.

In order to increase its foothold in the intelligent robots market, in September this year (2015) OMRON entered into an agreement to acquire US-based Adept Technology Inc., a global leading provider of intelligent robots, autonomous mobile robot solutions and services. By adding Adept’s technology to its current offering, OMRON will be well positioned to provide manufacturers in the automotive, digital devices, food and beverage, packaging and other industries with solutions to the challenges facing them.

Sysmac Automation Platform is another kind of product aimed at machine producers. “Sysmac is the latest machine automation platform from OMRON with integration throughout: from controller to software,” explains Mr Jedrzejczak. “The guiding principles behind the Sysmac automation platform are: one control for the entire machine or production cell; harmony between machine and people; and open communication and programming standards. The result is a powerful and robust automation platform with a new Machine Automation Controller, that integrates motion, sequencing, safety, networking and vision inspection, a new software (Sysmac Studio), that includes configuration, programming, simulation and monitoring and a fast machine network (EtherCAT) to control motion, safety, vision, sensors and actuators.”

Customer support

OMRON Electronics Poland’s activity is not limited to the sale of industrial automation products. “A no less important part of our business activity is technical support, which the company provides to its customers,” asserts Mr Jedrzejczak. “We can help our clients to implement our products into their machines and to start up the production. Furthermore, we do not leave them alone after they purchase our products. They can count on the help of our specialists at any time and we support them in solving any problems concerning industrial automation. I dare say that the technical support we offer our customers is probably our most important advantage over the competition.” n