In carbody manufacturing, the largest share of manual activities is caused by parts handling and therefore represents the largest cost block with potential for optimization. According to our estimates, 100,000 euros can be saved in a typical production cell by automating manual processes. We assume that 70 vehicles are produced, for each of which 400 parts have to be assembled in four different configurations. On the other hand, the investment costs for equipping the robots with the necessary computer vision capabilities and providing the production planners with the virtual planning and control environment are feasible. Only 20% of the costs are attributable to the additional hardware required, 75% are pure software licenses and a further 5% are needed for service and consulting. With solutions available on the market such as Siemens Tecnomatix and proprietary add-on solutions for setting up the computer vision system, e.g. from sensor specialist Sick, the entire picking process in production can be digitally safeguarded during planning, i.e. the right combination of robot, effector, sensor system and component can be selected. Selecting the right combination is necessary to ensure that it can replace the skills of human labor.

inpro operates at the interface between innovative software development and its implementation in industry. We are active along the entire innovation life cycle and create synergies for the members of our Collaborative Incubation Program that bring technologies into industrial practice faster and in a more targeted manner. If you are interested in bringing robotics & automation solutions to market or using them in your production as part of an exclusive partner program, please contact us for an introductory meeting.