Adept, Parker Hannifin deliver competitive edge needed to keep manufacturing close to home

Citation

(2006), "Adept, Parker Hannifin deliver competitive edge needed to keep manufacturing close to home", Assembly Automation, Vol. 26 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2006.03326bab.004

Adept, Parker Hannifin deliver competitive edge needed to keep manufacturing close to home

Adept, Parker Hannifin deliver competitive edge needed to keep manufacturing close to home

Keywords: Automation, Robotics

Adept Technology, Inc. a leading provider of intelligent vision-guided robotics and global robotics services, has announced a strategic supplier agreement with Parker Hannifin Corporation, a leading manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems. By combining Adept’s expertise in robotics control and vision-guided systems with Parker Hannifin’s expertise in manufacturing linear positioning systems, the companies establish a new standard for Cartesian robot speeds at higher payloads, while dramatically reducing the delivery time for the customized robots from an industry average of more than four months to approximately 4 weeks.

The new Adept Python (TM) linear modules are used for a variety of manufacturing tasks – including small parts assembly, material handling, and dispensing – in general industrial manufacturing and in industries such as automotive, consumer electronics, consumer goods, food, industrial tooling, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. The flexible, vision-enabled robots allow manufacturers to quickly and cost-effectively adapt their production lines to meet consumer demand for more variety – which is difficult to do when outsourcing manufacturing overseas.

“In teaming with Parker Hannifin, we intended to raise the bar, combining the industry-leading capabilities of two of the best automation companies in the world to create a superior product and dramatically reduce the time it takes to specify, order, and receive a robot,” said Robert Bucher, chairman and chief executive officer of Adept Technology, Inc.

A breakthrough in robot design and delivery

To achieve dramatically shorter delivery times, Adept has developed the industry’s first web-based configuration tool that lets integrators specify the exact robot they need via Adept’s online portal. The robot can be customized based on the number of axes, length of each axis, configuration style, mounting method, orientation of the motor mounts, ball screw type, controller requirements, and other design details. Once the robot is specified, the customer can click to submit the design for a quote, and download complete CAD drawings in their format of choice.

“Our relationship with Adept is based on our common vision of providing customers with high-quality, custom solutions as quickly as possible,” said Ken Sweet, a general manager at Parker Hannifin Corporation. “From the start, we have taken a truly collaborative approach to meeting customer demand, and the result is unprecedented levels of quality and customization with a turnaround time that simply can’t be matched in the industry.”

For further information, please visit the web sites: www.parker.com and www.adept.com