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Foundry Corporate News Topic Automation

KUKA at Hannover Messe 2018

How mechatronics and digitization merge in the Smart Factory

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KUKA showcased intelligent automation concepts for the production of tomorrow at the Hannover Messe, which took place from April 23rd - 27th, 2018, under the motto “industrial intelligence 4.0_beyond automation”.

Ease of use, quick commissioning and networking: these are the topics that are increasingly shaping the mechanical engineering sector. KUKA addressed these requirements at Hannover Messe by presenting the developed Smart Factory, which combines mechatronic components and digital solutions.

As an innovation leader and driver of Industrie 4.0, KUKA also has the right robots for the intelligent automation concept: With the KUKA LBR iisy, which celebrated its world premiere at the Hannover Messe, KUKA is expanding its product portfolio with a sensitive robot for human-robot collaboration without any safety fence.

Smart Factory enables networked production
KUKA customers manufacture products that reach consumers faster and even more individualized. They demand solutions that correspond to the following scenario: User-friendly robot applications and cobots assisting people with production and quality assurance. Autonomous, mobile robots supply the production robots with components, thereby ensuring their continuous workload.

Modular software platforms for warehouse management control the effective use of the mobile assistants that communicate with each other. KUKA is simulated such scenarios at its booth: The KUKA Connect software integrates all the mechatronic components and the various application-specific digital platforms. With KUKA Connect, it is also possible to access all machine information and the status of production at any time. The Smart Factory produces – of course – a robot even though only in model format, but with special engraving as automation specialist KUKA is celebrating its birthday this year: in its 120th anniversary year, visitors received an individually engraved anniversary robot.

Everything easy with LBR iisy
KUKA was the world’s first robot manufacturer to bring sensitive lightweight robots into production halls. At Hannover Messe 2018, KUKA showcased the prototype of the LBR iisy and extends its portfolio of human-robot-collaboration (HRC) to include the low payload range. As a result, KUKA becomes the first manufacturer to cover the entire range from cobots to mobile robotics, intuitive operation and industrial heavy duty robots. The LBR iisy can be quickly adapted to new requirements and is suitable for many new applications. The focus of this innovation is on ease of use – which is also reflected in the name. The LBR iisy is intended for users who have process knowledge, but do not necessarily have programming skills.

A Robot for the Living Room
KUKA is working on universal solutions in the field of consumer robotics. The company’s own robotics and automation expertise is being supplemented with the know-how of partners and service providers. With the “i-do” concept study KUKA presented the first consumer robotics prototype in its history. The concept behind “i-do” is a mobile, modular system that end customers can compile according to their own requirements. KUKA supplies the platform and the framework and the customer determines which KUKA feature or partner feature he wants to purchase. Five possible varieties will be presented at Hannover Messe 2018.

Augmented Reality and Products for the IIoT Market
The KUKA subsidiary connyun is one of the first companies to introduce two standard products for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) market. With the I4_suite, connyun promises standard products under the aspects "Integrated - Intelligence - Industrial - IoT", which production operators can use quickly and offer them significant advantages regarding availability of machines and stations. For the first time, Device Insight will be showcasing application possibilities of augmented reality using smart glasses and tablets. The new service will connect technicians on site with remote specialists and combines system data from the IoT platform and local live recordings.

Company Info

KUKA AG

Zugspitzstraße 140
86165 Augsburg
Germany

Telephone: +49 821 45330

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