1st Contact-Sensitive Joint Grinding Station for Intelligent Manufacturing - Asia forges ahead

FERROBOTICS, KUKA and 3M have joined hands to innovate intelligent all-in-one grinding solutions.

The revolution of intelligent robotics grinding stations just has started in Shanghai, where the three pioneers FERROBOTICS, KUKA and 3M have joined hands to innovate intelligent all-in-one grinding solutions. Their 1st Contact-Sensitive Asian Joint Grinding Station for intelligent manufacturing is dedicated to the vision of promoting industrial technology innovation and developing robotics grinding stations with leading industrial technology. Michael Roman, COO and EVP of 3M, Stephen Shafer, VP of 3M GCA, Mathias Wikl und, Senior VP of KUKA, Dr. Ronald Naderer, CEO of FerRobotics and Timo Boll, Former table tennis world champion attend the ceremony.

China is the fastest growing automation market globally. The demand for automatic grinding, polishing and finishing, is specifically high. The innovative all-in-one concept is a forward looking vision for vital developments of the grinding industry. It will make the related 3D jobs (Dirty, Dusty, Dangerous) less of a headache. As the pin-pointed solution for one of the most challenging market niches, the APAC region will be the first to benefit from intelligent ready-to-use grinding automation.

The contact-sensitive Active Compliant Technology (ACT) from FerRobotics propels this revolutionary foresight since it gives robots the one special ingredient – tactile sense. Adding contact-intelligence to robot solutions allows automation totally new approaches. So far machines stick out for highest precision based on meticulous programming, now ACT based systems are able to use their “tactile sense” for checking the actual contact situation in real time and to adjust their performance accordingly. This is a break-through for intelligent manufacturing, as robots act naturally physically compliant. Thus creating enormous benefits on quality, profitability and process safety 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

However, the sustainable automation of sanding, grinding, deburring and finishing has been a crucial issue for robotics so far. This is why automotive, aerospace and general industry worldwide are absorbing the intelligent Active Compliant Technology from FERROBOTICS already all over the globe. Now the unique combination of robot, contact-sensitive end-of-arm tool and consumables again simplifies even more the automated grinding process for both integrators and manufacturers.

Finally, grinding has found a compelling and future-orientated industry standard. For the first time complete automation processing cells are offered as standardized ready-to-use solutions, tailored by the leading experts in sensitive automation, robotics and abrasives. This ensures that the processing stations offer high-level equipment options to meet the individual requirements. The global market potential is enormous since sanding, grinding, deburring, finishing are key processes across all industries worldwide. As automated high-tech solutions relieve work force from the harsh environments in 3D jobs, contact-sensitive automation provides a mutual benefit.

The 1st Contact-Sensitive Asian Joint Grinding Station for Intelligent Manufacturing is opening the door of modern automation for the global surface treating industry. Starting from Shanghai the global course of success is utterly unstoppable.