ABB Flexible Automation triumphs at Weldex 99

Citation

(2000), "ABB Flexible Automation triumphs at Weldex 99", Industrial Robot, Vol. 27 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2000.04927bad.004

ABB Flexible Automation triumphs at Weldex 99

ABB Flexible Automation triumphs at Weldex 99

Keywords: ABB, Automation

ABB Flexible Automation occupied a prime position at the recent Weldex exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham. Positioned for maximum impact at the entrance to the show, ABB welcomed a steady stream of visitors every day.

New business solutions

ABB launched two new business solutions at the show - the FlexArc Solo robot welding cell and RobotStudio-S4 Lite.

The FlexArc Solo

The new FlexArc Solo welding cells are set to revolutionise the use of robotic welding for general engineering applications (see Plate 4). Centred on the IRB1400 robot, the cells are designed for fast, reliable work-cycles, excellent operator safety and low maintenance - at an unbeatable price - starting from £39,000.

Plate 4ABB FlexArc Solo robot welding cell

There are three configurations available: the FlexArc Solo ST which is the "entry level" robot welding cell with a single welding table, the twin tabled TT and the top-of-the-range MT with a two-position manual rotary indexing table.

All of the FlexArc Solo robot welding cells provide flawless weld quality, outstanding accuracy and consistency with low lifetime costs. The price and ease of installation of these new systems will make robotic welding a possibility for a far wider range of manufacturers than ever before. Robotic arc welding is now even more affordable. To find out more please contact David Marshall, Business Development Manager.

RobotStudio-S4 Lite

The demonstration of RobotStudio-S4 Lite, the newly announced virtual robot PC system, attracted a great deal of interest during the show and won an award.

Designed to run on a PC, RobotStudio-S4 Lite, a groundbreaking new concept in robot management, is no mere simulation tool but a complete virtual robot. This new package allows the user to view the robot cell, robot and its workpath clearly, in colour and in full 3D, with interactive zoom and rotation. On-screen visualisation enables "at a glance" checking of cell layouts, clearances, orientation and collision detection.

Cycle times can be predicted with confidence as the calculations are carried out using a copy of the actual robot controller software.

RobotStudio-S4 Lite offers major benefits to our customers in three critical areas:

1. 1.

   maximised robot uptime;

2. 2.

   increased programming efficiency;

3. 3.

   more accurate, lower cost feasibility studies.

The RobotStudio-S4 Lite demonstration also attracted the attention of the exhibition judges. At the opening night, gala dinner, Peter Mitchell and Mark Oxlade were delighted to receive the award for "best use of IT", on behalf of ABB Flexible Automation.

Total solutions for robotic welding

Weldex 99 provided an arena for many of the major players in robotic welding from around the world. In this fiercely competitive forum the ABB Flexible Automation outshone the competition with their display of ABB's products' speed, power and flexibility.

These strengths were well illustrated by the agile IRB2400 tool changing system in the specially created Process area. The IRB2400 demonstrated twin wire welding, plasma welding and plasma cutting.

A separate robot cell housed the larger IRB2400L with Arcitec and the new Orbit 250K HPP. This robot, appropriate for automotive sub-contract work and metal fabrication, was demonstrating the positions, speed and features of the robot as well as a demonstration of aluminium welding using our new aluminium welding package.

The basis of future sales success

Peter Mitchell, General Sales Manager for ABB Flexible Automation, commented: "Weldex 99 has proved to be an outstanding success for ABB Flexible Automation. We have been able to successfully announce and demonstrate two solutions that make robot welding cost-effective in completely new areas of manufacturing and substantially increase our potential market. In addition, many excellent sales leads were generated which we are currently following up.

"Weldex provided a good opportunity for us to strengthen our relationships with existing customers and confirm that ABB Flexible Automation is a major supplier of robotic welding equipment and expertise."

For further information please contact: Jane Attwood, ABB Flexible Automation, Auriga House, Precedent Drive, Rooksley, Milton Keynes MK13 8PQ, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1908 350300; Fax: +44 (0) 1908 350301.