Collaborative robots (cobots)

A cobot is designed to work safely alongside people. It has built-in safety functions and force sensors, and it stops or slows down when it feels resistance. An industrial robot lacks these functions and therefore always works in a fully guarded zone.

Industrial robots are faster and can handle heavier loads. Cobots are used for tasks a person could also do by hand, but which are highly repetitive, heavy or physically demanding.

We model your production line in Visual Components, 3D simulation software for robotics and automation. That way we calculate the cycle time, determine the footprint of your end-of-line or assembly line and check whether the cobot can reach every position. You see in advance what the installation looks like and how it works, before anything is built. That makes the investment decision easier and avoids surprises at start-up. Curious about your line? Request a simulation.

Not always. The cobot itself is designed to work safely with people, but we always look at the complete application: what the cobot is holding, how fast it moves, the shape of the gripper and how often operators come near it.

That is why we carry out a risk assessment at the start of every project. Safety scanners that slow the cobot down as soon as someone approaches are often enough. In a busy environment we sometimes combine scanners with fencing, so the cobot can keep working at full speed.

A cobot’s movement speed typically ranges from 100 mm/s to 1000 mm/s. In collaborative mode, a cobot moves at a maximum of 250 mm/s (depending on factors such as the gripper design and the product the gripper is holding …). At this speed, injuries are avoided in the event of a collision. Safety scanners allow that speed to be increased. As soon as an operator enters the scanner’s safety field, the cobot automatically switches back to the safe speed. To determine the maximum movement speed, we carry out a safety analysis for every cobot installation.

No. With the free drive function you move the cobot arm by hand to the desired position, and with the teach pendant you teach it simple pick & place movements, without a single line of code.

For more complex applications we develop custom software, such as our PalCobot software that lets operators create stacking patterns themselves.

Cobots automate a wide range of tasks, including palletising, packaging, machine tending and pick-and-place operations. They can also perform assembly, screwdriving, welding, sanding and spraying. Combined with a vision system, cobots can even identify and pick up randomly positioned products, making automation more flexible and versatile.

Thanks to its small footprint, a cobot usually stands on a pedestal or a custom frame that is easy to move. A cobot can also be mounted on an AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot), so it drives to different workstations on its own.

In some cases it does, but a cobot was originally developed to work together with operators. Cobots take over difficult, dirty, heavy or repetitive work, so operators are free for tasks that require more insight and craftsmanship. This also helps improve ergonomics on the shop floor.

For every cobot installation, we compile a CE file in accordance with the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230. On delivery, you receive a valid CE certificate for the complete installation.