Advantages of Material Handling Robots

Material handling processes are crucial to the success of any manufacturing operation. Inefficient material handling can hinder productivity, increase costs, and compromise product quality. In the past material handling has largely been done manually but manual handling has become outdated especially as manufacturers look to gain a competitive edge in the increasing global marketplace. Manufacturers are automating their material handling processes with lifts, pallet positioners, and automatic conveyors. There is one piece of automated equipment that stands out from the others and that is the industrial robots. More and more manufacturers are automating material handling with the FANUC R-2000ib/165F and other articulated robots. The reason for the increased demand of material handling robots comes down to their many advantages.

• • Lower Costs - Material handling robots will lower labor, material, and utility costs saving manufacturers a considerable amount of money. The ABB 6640 can take on the workload equal to that of several workers meaning less personnel is needed. Factory robots mitigate errors reducing scrapped materials. They can also operate in dim lighting in hot or cold conditions, reducing utility costs of a factory.


• • Use Space More Efficiently - Industrial robotic arm can maximize floorspace. Their long reaches allow for higher stacking for greater product storage. Less personnel is needed on production floors as one FANUC M-20ia can replace several workers. Some six axis robots can even be overhead or wall mounted saving floorspace.


• • Reduce Safety Risks - Automating material handling will reduce the safety risks employees face. Material handling robot manipulators reduce the chance of accidents. Workers will no longer need to do heavy lifting themselves, preventing stress injuries. Factories become more ergonomic with handling industrial robot arms.


• • Increase Productivity - Productivity will increase by automating material handling with robots. Robots operate at fast speeds and can operate for long periods of time. Cycle times decrease while throughput increases. Higher productivity helps manufacturers keep up with customer demand.


• • Increased Customer Satisfaction - With faster cycle times and higher productivity, customer satisfaction will increase. Orders can be fulfilled faster and will be accurate. The cost savings of robotic material handling can be passed on to consumers with more competitive prices for your products.


• • Higher-Value Roles - Automating material handling with robots does not mean a loss of jobs for workers. Material handling robots actually create more higher-value roles for employees. Employees will be needed to operate robotic manipulators. They can also transition into more critical roles within a production. Automated material handling may even help with employee recruitment as employers can offer better paying and desirable positions.


• • Better Quality - With the programmability and accuracy of robots quality will improve as mistakes will be reduced. Six axis robots can also be used for quality control measures such as inspection ensuring all defects are caught.


• • Greater Flexibility - Material handling manufacturing robot arms can automate multiple applications. The Yaskawa Motoman MH12 can automate part transfer, pick and place, and packaging. This gives manufacturers greater flexibility in their operations as robots can be used for multiple projects as well as easily adapt to product changes.


• • Shorter Lead Times - Faster cycle times mean shorter lead times for consumers. Products can be quickly manufactured and shipped which is ideal for today’s fast-paced consumer.