FANUC robotics takes processing to digital world

By 2018, it is estimated that 1.3 million industrial robots will be working in factories globally, at the same time getting smarter with advanced capabilities. The fall in price of next-generation robots means that the business case for implementing robotics across individual manufacturing lines has become stronger, according to Andrew Armstrong, FANUC’s UK sales and marketing manager.

Within the food industry, FANUC’s technology can be applied by produce processors for picking, packaging and palletizing.

The robotic density figure is a key performance indicator for gauging the current degree of automation within the international markets, according Armstrong. By 2019, more than 1.4 million new industrial robots will be installed in factories around the world — that’s the latest forecast from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

For example, the average global robotic density in producing industries lies at 66 robot units per 10,000 employees. While traditionally the preserve of the automotive sector, automation is now encroaching across many subsectors and, rather than feared as a potential job stealer, can help to increase profitability, speed up the manufacturing process and actually create employment, according to Armstrong.

For more information, visit www.fanucamerica.com.