Universal Robots To Boost Industrial Uptake Through Newly Launched Application Showroom

Universal Robots (UR), a global developer and manufacturer of flexible and user-friendly industrial robots is embarking on a project involving their Singapore-based distributor, Skymech Automation & Engineering (SKYMECH) to develop industrial robot applications that will showcase the ways in which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can benefit from automation in the form of these robotic solutions.
With the support of two Singapore government agencies, UR is actively spearheading the expansion of the current range of robot applications with SKYMECH. The first two applications that are being developed include “vision pick & place” as well as “machine tending”, which are commonly used in the Precision Engineering (PE) sector. The development of these applications increases the accessibility of SMEs to robotic technology and closes the gap between system integrators and UR’s customers.

The Singapore government recognises the importance of driving the growth of its local robotic industry to keep up with the industrial automation trend that is gaining traction worldwide. Being an export-dependent country, Singapore is constantly looking ahead for ways to keep its production and goods competitive. To encourage local SMEs and start-ups to adopt automated solutions, various government agencies are supporting SME system integrators by opening up funding channels and offering them incentives to design new industrial robotics applications that are affordable, scalable and usable across industries.

Shermine Gotfredsen, General Manager, APAC, Universal Robots, said, “Local government support is very important in driving the uptake of technology such as industrial robots among companies across many sectors. In this case, Singapore’s government agencies have enabled us to widen the current pool of robot applications as well as encourage enterprises to enhance their processes using robotic automation. As a result, we hope to see more businesses adopting industrial robots in the future.”

With the demand for automation in Malaysia projected to rise in the next few years, the growth of robotic solutions in the country has become increasingly important. Currently, Malaysia’s existing manufacturing infrastructure is relatively advanced, enabling easier integration of automation solutions relative to its neighbouring countries. The electronics and healthcare industries, for example, have already been identified as two of the 12 National Key Economic Areas with high uptake potential of automation solutions. To meet the needs of a wide range of industries, the development of more robotic applications is imperative.

In addition to robotic applications, UR is also building a knowledge-sharing platform to encourage the facilitation of information such as technical knowledge among its distributors and customers with the opening of its Singapore-based UR Application Showroom, two years starting from January 2016. Interested parties will be able to view the robot applications at the showroom, where five applications are set to roll out after each cycle of 12 months.

This project will also see the launch of a series of technical workshops and seminars that will be publicly open to those interested in learning more about new technologies and how to apply them into their everyday work environment. Regional distributors and customers are encouraged to make full use of their day trip to view the UR Application Showroom and attend one of the seminars and workshops. Engineers and business executives that wish to learn more about robotic technologies are also welcome to sign up.

Parties interested in viewing the UR Application Showroom or attending the Seminars or Workshops are invited to contact their local distributor for further details. For the list of distributors and their contact information, please visit:
http://www.universal-robots.com/distributors/
About Universal Robots
Universal Robots is a result of many years of intensive research in robotics. The product portfolio includes the collaborative UR3, UR5 and UR10 robot arms named after their payloads in kilos. Since the first UR robot entered the market in December 2008, the company has seen substantial growth with the user-friendly robots now being sold in more than 50 countries worldwide. Average payback period for UR robots is the fastest in the industry with only 195 days. The company is headquartered in Odense, Denmark, where all development and production is carried out. In January 2015, UR opened its Singapore-based APAC headquarters to tap on the increase in demand for collaborative robots across the region. Universal Robots’ global sales target is a doubling of revenue every year from 2014 to 2017. For more information on Universal Robots, please visit www.universal-robots.com