Omron, a world leader in industrial automation, has announced a strategic alliance with Techman Robot, a Taiwanese manufacturer of integrated-vision collaborative robots (cobots).

Under the new agreement, Omron will market and sell Techman’s TM series of collaborative robots through its worldwide distribution network under a co-branded logo, starting in the second half of this year.

The two companies will also cooperate to develop a new generation of collaborative robots that will be easier to integrate with Omron’s other factory automation products.

As well as the TM series, Omron will also sell new “mobile-compatible” models which can be integrated with its LD family of mobile robots.

These robots, which move autonomously by avoiding people and obstacles, are already being used to automate material-handling operations around the world.

With a cobot mounted on top, they will not only be able to transport materials from one location to another, but will also be able to perform tasks such as the pick-and-place of parts onto trays, in each location.

“Since the acquisition of Adept Technology in 2015, Omron has been putting great resources in the development of the robotics technologies and market,” said Seigo Kinugawa, executive officer and senior general manager of Omron’s Robotics Business Development Project in its industrial automation business.

Collaboration between humans and robots

Adept Technology, which developed the LD series mobile robots, is a multi-national company focusing on industrial automation and robotics, including software and vision guidance.

“The alliance with Techman is aimed at advancing the collaboration between humans and robots in manufacturing environments,” Mr Kinugawa said.

“Omron’s entry into the collaborative arm robot market, in addition to the mobile robot market, will accelerate its goal of bringing innovation to factories through the collaboration of humans and machines.”

Techman Robot’s chairman, Ho Shi-Chi, says that the alliance with Omron will help to achieve his company’s aim of improving the lives of humans based on innovation.

“TM robots are smart, simple to use and safe,” he said.

The TM robots include two series: TM5 (with a payload of up to 6kg) and the new TM12/TM14 (with a payload up to 14kg). All TM robots have six degrees of freedom and a reach range of 700mm to 1300mm.

Companies must maintain flexibility

Omron President and CEO Yoshihito Yamada, who announced the new agreement, said

factories worldwide are facing major challenges in having to manufacture a high mix low volume of products to meet their customer demands and shorter product life cycles while dealing with labor shortage issues.

Manufacturing companies must maintain flexibility in quick changeovers and production line layout changes, he said.

Collaborative robots that can work safely in the same environment with people have an important role in enabling this kind of “flexible manufacturing.”

Omron has extensive lines of control components and equipment, ranging from image-processing sensors and other input devices to various controllers and output devices such as servo motors, as well as a range of safety devices and industrial robots.

By combining these devices via software, Omron has developed a variety of unique and highly effective automation solutions for manufacturers worldwide.

Industry applications

Based on its reservoir of advanced technologies and comprehensive range of devices, Omron devised a strategic concept called "Innovative-Automation" consisting of three innovations: Integrated (control evolution), Intelligent (development of intelligence by ICT), and Interactive (new harmonization between people and machines).

Omron is now committed to bringing innovation to manufacturing sites by materialising this concept.

The Omron-Techman cobots will be aimed at applications such as electronics assembly, product testing and inspection.

They will enable “flexible manufacturing” and increase the productivity and quality of production lines for customers in the automotive and electronic industries, as well as various material handling operations within a broad range of manufacturing industries.