September 2021

n NEWS September 2021 www.drivesncontrols.com 6 A SURVEYOF 250 large and SME manufacturers in the UK has revealed that almost all of them (90.8%) believe that the Covid-19 pandemic has been “game-changing”for their businesses, and that 81.2% are thinking of investing in robots because of the recent events. The survey, conducted by ABB Robotics as part of as part of the launch of its GoFa and Swifti collaborative robots, finds a growing interest among UK manufacturers in the potential of robots to help address the impact of Covid and to protect against future worker shortages. Almost half (45.6%) of the manufacturers report that their businesses have had to make some adjustments because of Covid, and a similar number (45.2%) say that their business and industry sector has been“completely impacted”. Half of those surveyed (50.4%) believe that robots could help them to comply with social distancing requirements and avoid cross-contamination, while 40.4% say that robots could help them to meet health and safety rules, and 32.8% see the potential for using robots to help compensate for staff shortages and illness. Of the 142 manufacturers surveyed who are already using robots, 57% report that the robots have helped them to cut their running costs, 42.3% say that the robots have improved their product quality and consistency, and 37.3% believe that the machines have improved the quality of work and job satisfaction for employees. Almost a third (32.4%) say that their robots have boosted output, with 31.7% adding that they have improved workplace health and safety, 23.9% that staff turnover has dropped, and 23.2% reporting that their use of space has improved. Almost a third (32%) of the companies surveyed report that robots have helped them to boost their manufacturing flexibility, and 25% say they using robots has helped them to develop new business models and revenue streams. According to ABB, the survey suggest that robots are increasingly being seen as a way of addressing a lack of contingency planning among UK manufacturers, with 48.8% of respondents saying that they are likely to invest in robotic automation within the next five years. “The huge impact that Covid-19 has had on the economy will be felt long after the virus has gone and will permanently influence the way businesses conduct themselves moving forward,”says Nigel Platt, general manager of ABB Robotics and Automation in the UK and Ireland.“The inherent flexibility and high performance of today’s robots, coupled with the expanding range of options on offer, from small cobots through to heavy-duty industrial robots, enables manufacturers to better prepare themselves against future uncertainties caused by impending pandemics or economic instabilities.” Covid has been ‘game-changing’ for most UK manufacturers p The global market for industrial automation and control systems will be worth $289bn by 2028 – representing a CAGR of 8.9% from 2021 to 2028 – according to a new report from Grand View Research . It says that the proliferation of digitised systems is paving the way for the growth, and there is a “tremendous surge”in the adoption of industrial robots, which it predicts will achieve a CAGR of more than 11% from 2021-2028. www.grandviewresearch.com p The University of Huddersfield’s Centre for Precision Technologies will receive £3mof funding over the coming five years to lead research programmes designed to advance machinery design and performance. The Centre is part of the 10-member Greater Manchester based Advanced Machinery and Productivity Initiative (Ampi) – one of five regional schemes to benefit fromgovernment investment of more than £100m through its Strength in Places Fund. p Bradford-based Kendrion (UK) is closing its UK operation on 30 September and transferring its business to its German parent, Kendrion (Villingen) . Kendrion (UK) – formerly Binder Magnete (UK) – has been serving the UK for more than 50 years. Its brake business will now be handled by Kendrion Industrial Brakes in Germany, while the actuators and controls business (including solenoids, magnets and controls) will be handled by the Andover-based distributor, Impulse Automation . p The global market for industrial 5G technologies was worth $12.47bn in 2020, and will expand to more than $140bn by 2030 – a CAGR of 27.5% – according to Allied Market Research . It says that the growth is being driven by factors including: an increasing demand for high- and low-latency networks; a rise inmachine-to-machine connections; and a demand for next- generation network services. www.alliedmarketresearch.com p Only 20% of UK engineers get more than one quote when developing robot systems, andmost ask just one local supplier, according to research by HowToRobot.com , “the world’s first digital robot hub”., which connects users withmore than 15,000 robot and automation suppliers globally. The company, founded in Denmark in 2020, says that UKmachine-builders are missing out because they don’t check global prices when buying, servicing or upgrading robots. NEWS BRIEFS ABB’s survey suggests that manufacturers see robots as a way to address a lack of contingency planning THE MOBILE ROBOTICS pioneer Boston Dynamics has joined forces with Fluke Process Instruments to add acoustic imaging capabilities to its four-legged Spot robot, allowing it to walk around industrial facilities to detect changes in mechanical sound signatures in equipment, or to visualise air and gas leaks, in real time, before they become costly problems. Mounting Fluke’s new SV600 acoustic imager on Spot will allow engineers to safely perform inspection tasks in locations where other robots or humans cannot go. The four-legged robot can traverse unstructured terrains to automate inspections, or to monitor remote or hazardous environments. It can be used to identify mechanical sounds, or to detect leaks. Herman Warnshuis, president of Fluke Process Instruments, says that the automated acoustic imaging technology will allow maintenance teams to visualise leaks or changes in sound signatures in factory equipment, thus avoiding unscheduled maintenance and possible costly downtime, while improving factory safety by minimising operator intervention. http://www.flukeprocessinstruments.com/ SV600Spot Robot dog carries acoustic imager to inspect industrial plants safely