Could you tell us about SCHUNK’s path in the field of collaborative robotics and automation?
SCHUNK was one of the first players in the field of industrial automation, when in 1983, it was so forward-thinking to introduce the first robot gripper to the market. Since then, SCHUNK has become the reference point in the global market for industrial gripping systems. Thanks to its pioneering spirit and continuous technological research, which the company constantly strives for, SCHUNK identifies new trends and develops specific effective and efficient solutions. Just as in the early eighties, when the company understood the potential of industrial robotics, so in recent years, it has promptly responded to the trend of collaborative robotics: SCHUNK was indeed the first supplier to make flexible, safe and user-friendly grippers, which could perfectly be matched with the new cobots.
Talking about your robotic application centres, CoLabs: how were they created and with what functionality?
Our CoLabs, SCHUNK’s robotics and automation application centres arose from a concrete market need, to support the customer in the delicate phase of validation of an automated application. This is a crucial activity that unfortunately requires efforts from a customer, in terms of time, resources and money. SCHUNK wants to take on this phase and offer a free test consultation service to guide and advise users closely and with practical help. The first CoLab was built at the company headquarters in Brackenheim-Hausen, in Germany, followed by other CoLabs in China, the United States, Mexico, Italy. Now, we have a CoLab almost in every international branch, proving that automation has now become an indispensable discipline in industrial production.
Your company will take part in 34.BI-MU, the trade fair that will host the second edition of RobotHeart. What convinced you to confirm your participation?
The next edition of BI-MU is a unique opportunity for us to present new products and solutions to a selected and qualified audience. Indeed, we have always been satisfied with the profile of the visitors we met in the past. Moreover, with the RobotHeart area, the exhibition offers us the opportunity – for the Gripping Technology and Automation division – in particular, to show the market not only the applications related to machine tools, i.e. the main and traditional focus of BI-MU, but also those regarding other sectors that are equally interesting and in full swing on the automation front, such as e-mobility and Life-Science.
| “… the new RobotHeart area has been the most successful attempt to give visitors a comprehensive representation of the robotics world in Italy …” |
Focusing on RobotHeart, what are your observations regarding the last edition and your expectations for 2024?
The new RobotHeart area has been the most successful attempt to give visitors a comprehensive representation of the robotics world in Italy. It has been possible to see the key players of the robotics sector together at one single trade show hosting manufacturers, suppliers of components, like Shunk, and system integrators. The expectations for next year are thus very high and we hope we will be able to repeat the outcome achieved in the previous edition.
What are your most innovative and particularly interesting target sectors at present?
Historically and logistically, SHUNK is linked to the Automotive world. The transition of production processes suitable for manufacturing new electrical vehicles can only be of particular interest for us. An in-house team of experts dedicated to e-mobility has been created to provide effective and complete solutions. As already mentioned before, other equally interesting areas of application today are those related to the world of machine tools – in particular to machine tending – and to Life Science.
What trends are most influencing the market and your production?
The trend that is most influencing our production for gripping technology and automation today is certainly that of “mechatronics”, both due the need of the market to replace pneumatics for sustainability reasons and to have higher flexibility and control. In addition, robotics is experimenting with new solution types, such as collaborative robotics and mobile robotics, conceived for different fields of application ranging from assembly to logistics. For SCHUNK, now as always, it is time to invest in innovation to propose technologies that can meet the needs of these new fields of application.
Interview released in November 2023.
