PACKAGING
New Omron solution brings
innovation to manufacturing Omron has launched the world’s first robotic integrated controller.1 The new NJ501-R is based on the company’s industry leading NJ series of machine controllers for industrial automation.
M
ANY INDUSTRIES ARE facing labour
KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS
shortage issues and, due to new
By integrating the PLC, motion and robot control
global health concerns, the world is
in a single controller, complex manual work,
experiencing a major turning point with how
which could only be conducted by humans, can
society conducts business. As a result, the
now be completed by robots. The programming language for the PLC
demand for more advanced automation with robots has increased, along with a growing
and robot is unified in the generic IEC language,
demand for digitalisation.
which gives engineers who typically manage PLCs the ability to also manage robots.
Traditionally, automation equipment for
With Omron’s simulation technology,
production facilities has been controlled by several factors that create a major challenge
you can verify equipment performance
to setup and coordinate the speed and timing
at the early stage of equipment design,
between various devices. It is very difficult to
allowing mechanical designers and electrical
verify a process design in advance with a high
designers to work in parallel. As a result,
level of accuracy prior to the construction of
equipment commissioning can be completed
a machine or larger production line. After the
in a shorter time frame, higher production
equipment is commissioned, adjustments need to
capacity can be achieved, and mistakes and
be made onsite and backtracking and specification
setbacks during equipment commissioning
changes are common, resulting in a huge number
can be avoided.
of man-hours. As a manufacturer of motion sensors,
performance and achieving the world’s highest level of throughput.²
robotics and safety equipment for fully
Omron has also unified the programming
automated production lines, Omron has
languages for robot and machine control, making
now addressed these issues by seamlessly
it easy to simulate a production line with single
integrating the control equipment.
programming software. The system visualises the process, reducing man-hours for process
INTEGRATION IN FOCUS
design and operational verification by up to
The robotic integrated controller automates
50%.³ Furthermore, all of this can be conducted
inserting and assembling processes that require
remotely. Through Sysmac Studio’s user interface,
delicate and skilful processing. The robots and
users can design, programme, troubleshoot,
equipment are controlled and fully synchronised in
operate and maintain future automation systems
real-time by a single controller, improving device
remotely from anywhere in the world.
To run the simulation, the user can use the emulation function in Sysmac Studio. The system does not require a connection to the actual machine for operation verification. Also, the production capacity of the robot equipment can be monitored digitally. • Reference:s 1. November 2019, according to the Omron research 2. November 2019, according to the Omron research 3. July 2020, according to the Omron research
Omron – www.omronindustrial.co.za
Superior image sensing speed and precision FH Series
• High-precision object detection • Ultra-high-speed searching • Flexible functionalities to provide high compatibility with manufacturing machines
Would you like to know more? +27 (0)11 579 2600 info_sa@omron.com industrial.omron.co.za fh_series_177x65_ad_enza_02_d01.indd 1
30
QUARTER 1 2021 // P&C AFRICA
09-06-20 10:22
