ABB Robotics to preview SCARA at the PPMA Total Show 2016

Milton Keynes, Sep 19, 2016: Fast, compact and cost-effective, ABB’s SCARA is suitable for food packing and drug manufacturing operations

ABB will exhibit the first in its family of Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arms (SCARA) at the PPMA Total Show (http:/bit.ly/ABBPPMA). From 27^th to 29^th September 2016, ABB’s stand (E130) will feature its new SCARA robot together with other robotic solutions for food processing, packaging and pharmaceutical processes.

The IRB 910SC SCARA robot incorporates the same high performance and design concepts as ABB’s other small robots, including superior path control and accuracy in a small footprint. Designed for a variety of general-purpose applications, it is ideal for processes requiring fast, repeatable and articulate point-to-point movements such as small parts assembly, machine tending and pick and place.

Other major attractions at the stand will include two working demonstration cells. The FlexPicker cell will feature two FlexPicker IRB 360s with integrated vision technology. With the FlexPicker capable of handling 120 pieces per minute, the cell will demonstrate how the speed, precision and flexibility of the IRB360 makes it ideal for picking and placing applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

The second demonstration cell will show how ABB’s robots can be integrated with other equipment from its extensive portfolio of automation products. The Discrete Automation and Motion cell will show the ABB IRB 120 multipurpose industrial robot working with a mini-servo controlled conveyor belt and safety products that include a light curtain and emergency stop. The whole cell is controlled by ABB’s AC500 PLC. The demonstration will include ABB’s new Automation Builder software platform which helps machine builders and system integrators to significantly reduce the time and costs associated with operating and maintaining automated systems.

Fully integrated with ABB’s Automation Builder will be zenon Factory Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). Also to be featured on ABB’s stand, zenon securely delivers supervision, control, data acquisition, scheduling and performance to customer production assets, scaling from single robots to unified multi-site factory solutions. As a key part of ABB’s Internet of Things, Services and People, zenon will demonstrate audit trail, batch and production scheduling capabilities for the food and beverage industries.

Joining SCARA, the FlexPicker cell, the Discrete Automation and Motion cell and zenon will be ABB’s dual-armed collaborative robot YuMi®. The winner of the ‘Invention and Entrepreneurship in Robotics and Automation’ (IERA) award at the Automatica trade show earlier this year, YuMi incorporates extensive safety features that enable it to work safely alongside human workers without the need for caging or barriers. With integrated hands comprised of 2-finger grippers and embedded cameras, YuMi opens up new opportunities for the use of robots in small parts assembly applications.

“The expanding capabilities of robots can help manufacturing companies to find new ways to improve their productivity and competitiveness through higher quality production, reduced production costs and faster, more flexible order turnaround,” says Mike Wilson, General Industry Sales and Marketing Manager for ABB Robotics in the UK and Ireland. “Our stand will give visitors an insight into just some of the exciting possibilities on offer with the latest generation of robotic technology.” 

To find out more about ABB’s stand at PPMA, visit http://bit.ly/ABBPPMA.