Universal Robots debuts new UR+ certified grippers from SMC Corporation and Robotiq at North America’s largest automation show. The grippers are developed and certified to work seamlessly with Universal Robots cobots, joining a rapidly expanding UR+ product portfolio.
SMC Corporation of America, a leading global pneumatics and industrial automation components manufacturer, has joined Universal Robots’ UR+ program, launching the new UR+ certified MHM Series Magnetic Gripper. The gripper is bundled into an easy plug and play kit that integrates to a unique solution for picking, transferring, and placing ferromagnetic workpieces of uneven surfaces, porous, or that are susceptible to damage when traditional methods of vacuum systems or mechanical grippers are not viable.
A working demonstration of the MHM Magnetic Gripper kit installed on the arm of a Universal Robot can be seen at SMC’s booth 8139 and UR’s booth 7154 at the Automate Show in Chicago’s McCormick Place from April 8-11.
“The UR+ platform is an incredible opportunity for SMC to provide a plug and play solution for UR cobots that helps lower the barriers to automation for customers of all sizes,” said Amanda Wease, Product Manager at SMC Corporation of America. “We reached out to Universal Robots to become a UR+ developer as it felt like a natural fit to join the global leader in collaborative robots. This is just the starting point of our relationship. We look forward to expand with the UR+ program, developing certified offerings from our vast catalog of over ten thousand standard products.”
Stuart Shepherd, Universal Robots’ Regional Sales Director for Americas, welcomes SMC to the UR+ family. “SMC is a strong global partner featuring a very impressive product portfolio with significant UR+ potential. We cannot wait to see more of their products certified for our cobots.”
The UR+ program debuted in 2016 and has since grown rapidly to include more than 140 certified UR+ products with more than 400 companies joining the UR+ developer program. A charter partner with the UR+ program is Robotiq, the company is now adding a new chapter to its long relationship with Universal Robots by launching three new UR+ certified products at Automate 2019; AirPick and EPick, Robotiq’s new vacuum grippers, and the Finishing Kits.
Both vacuum grippers operate without the need for external air supply. The AirPick features a built-in venturi vacuum generator, while the EPick includes a built-in electrical vacuum pump. Robotiq vacuum grippers can handle a wide range of applications and are ideal for picking up even and uneven workpieces made of different materials, such as cardboard, glass, sheet metal (dry) and plastic.
The Robotiq Sanding Kit is the only hardware and software all-in-one sanding solution for cobots. The kit includes the powerful Finishing Copilot software, which generates a complete sanding trajectory with a handful of waypoints, a pneumatic orbital tool connected to a bracket designed for Universal Robots, and all connection accessories.
“Having been the first pioneering company to launch a solution for the UR+ platform, we’re happy to continue to partner with UR, offering manufacturers end-of-arm-tooling products to help automate UR cobot powered applications faster and easier,” said Samuel Bouchard, Robotiq’s co-founder and CEO.
Stuart Shepherd sees Robotiq’s new UR+ product offerings as well aligned with the growth in new cobot applications. “Processing tasks such as sanding and polishing are not what cobots have been traditionally known for. But by being able to easily add new advanced capabilities such as a UR+ certified sanding kit, this helps open up a whole new frontier for us. These new products will both surprise and delight Automate attendees,” he said.
Robotiq’s new UR+ offerings will be on display at UR's Automate booth 7165.
We believe that collaborative robotic technology can be used to benefit all aspects of task-based businesses – no matter what their size.
We believe that the latest collaborative robot technology should be available to all businesses. The nominal investment cost is quickly recovered as our robotic arms have an average payback period of just six months.