AI and Automation: SMEs should not miss the boat

Automation is developing rapidly, including in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The industry sector is constantly coming up with new ideas for even smarter and more efficient factories. But traditional SMEs risk being left behind if they don't take action. With Low Cost Automation, companies can take their first steps into the world of AI and Automation in a low-threshold, very low-risk way.

AI and digitization are important trends for the future of robotics. In particular, AI has great potential for robotics. Its main goal is to better manage variability and unpredictability, both in real time and offline. AI in software can improve production processes, for example by optimizing processes, through predictive maintenance or vision-based gripping.

Taking advantage of opportunities

But the industry is not yet taking advantage of all opportunities. That's according to, among other things, a study conducted by management consulting firm McKinsey last June on the occasion of the Automatica trade show in Munich. The report's authors see a small number of manufacturers setting standards in the current manufacturing landscape, from AI and digital twins to self-learning robots. The rapid pace of development heralds a new automation era. However, the study also indicates that most companies are still far from the levels of digitization and automation possible today. They thus run the risk of falling behind in a time of rapid change.

From operating machines in a factory and packaging doughnuts to precise dosing, the RBTX online marketplace offers more than 400 cost-effective, immediately usable robotic solutions that are revolutionizing the field.

Low Cost Automation

How can not only large but also smaller players participate in the future of AI automation? The key to this is low-cost automation. These are plug-and-play automation solutions that are affordable and approachable. Providers of these have been making increasing inroads in recent years. They offer robots at a fraction of the price of regular industrial robots, using online configurators that allow companies to generate configurations quickly and easily, without the involvement of expensive system integrators. Thanks to open-source no-code technology, robots can be controlled as easily as a computer game.

Affordable robotic components

igus is one of the providers of low-cost automation. The company established a separate business unit for this purpose: LCA, which stands for Low Cost Automation. Robots are built and offered here at affordable prices. An example is the ReBeL cobot series with 4, 5 or 6 axes, made almost entirely of high-quality plastic. The cobot is suitable for performing monotonous repetitive operations such as placing parts in machines, positioning cameras, etc., among other things. A large part of igus' own applications in the factory have now also been automated with low cost robotics from igus.

Online robotics marketplace

To help interested parties find the right solution for their application and budget, igus launched RBTX.com. Mark van de Waal, Marketing Manager at igus explains: "This is an online robotics marketplace that brings together manufacturers and users of low-cost robotics. More than 100 partners now offer their products here. An online tool enables the combination of robots, machine frames, grippers and conveyors. Even testing movements via the drag-and-drop principle in a 3D model is among the possibilities."

Low investment cost

"Several thousand SMEs worldwide have already implemented automation solutions through RBTX.com," Van de Waal says. "In 95% of the 400 applications available, the investments are less than 12,000 euros. Since the launch of the platform, we have seen increasing interest." But not every task can be automated with low-cost robotics, he cautions. "Especially when very heavy workloads need to be moved or extreme accuracy is required, this is difficult. Nevertheless, a wide range of work processes can be cost-effectively automated. The great advantage of RBTX is that users get affordable robotic components from different manufacturers delivered from a single source, including a price and compatibility guarantee."