Basque Enterprise Europe Network

Title

Innovative technical solutions in the fields of flexible automation and vision systems

Reference

07 MT NRME 0IJQ

Last update

Thu, Nov, 05, 2009

Deadline

Fri, Aug, 07, 2009

Abstract

A Maltese SME is offering cost effective flexible automatic assembly and handling cells programmed to handle different products throughout their lifetime, effectively delaying obsolescence and increasing capacity utilisation. The company also developed vision technology solutions while offering technical assistance in the field of industrial vision. The company is looking for partners needing such technology in the form of a commercial agreement with technical assistance.

Description

Recent leaps in technology have led to a reduction in the cost of robots with a simultaneous increase in their positioning accuracy. This has opened up a well of opportunities for manufacturing concerns with varied pick and place operations as well as assembly requirements.
Traditionally, manufacturers purchased specific machines to assemble or transfer specific products. By integrating the latest robot and vision technologies, this Maltese company is able to cost effectively produce flexible automatic assembly and handling cells.
The advantage of these is that they can be programmed to handle different products throughout their lifetime. This delays obsolescence, increases capacity utilisation and enables the manufacturer to switch a machine operation from one batch to the other, maximizing the use of the investment.
Human vision has played a substantial role in the process of manufacturing products, doing what machines could not do: locating, positioning, tracking and inspecting parts for quality. In some cases today the requirements of many manufacturing processes have surpassed the expected performance limits of human eyesight either because they are produced too quickly or because the tolerances are too small to be analysed by the human eye.
Human vision is dependant on physical factors and how tired the operator might be. It cannot be considered to be 100 % effective 100 % of the time.
In response to this ”machine vision" emerged. Vision systems extract information from images and generate decisions about those images, such as where the object is, if it is of the right quality, if the lot number and expiry date matches with the preset and if its dimensions are correct.

Innovative Aspects:
Shift from hard automation (handling machinery built specifically for a product) to flexible automation (handling machinery can be re-programmed and re-configured) in a cost effective manner.

Advantages include:

•Flexible to suit different assembly operations via vision system integration
•Can be programmed to handle different products maximising investment
•Very high accuracy
•Inherent quality control & dimensional correctness
•Precision to very small tolerances

Technology Keywords

Automation, Robotics Control Systems;Design and Modelling / Prototypes

Keyword Codes:

001001001;002001

Current Stage of Development

Already on the market

Intellectual Property Rights

IPR Comments:

Exploitation of RTD Results

None

Organisation/Company Type

Organisation/Company Size

Organisation Comments

Detailed Market Application Codes (VEIC)

MA Keyword

Industrial Automation;Industrial measurement and sensing equipment;Process control equipment and systems;Robotics;Machine vision software and systems

MA Keyword Codes:

008002;008002002;008002003;008002004;008002005

Application Domain Description:

Collaboration Type

Assembly

Comments:

- Type of partner sought:Manufacturing Industry

- Specific area of activity of the partner:Manufacturing concerns requiring tailor-made solutions for particular pick & place and assembly operations.

- Task to be performed:The partner sought is to enter into a commercial agreement with technical assistance by absorbing the technology and know-how through the technological specifications and requirements supplied. The Maltese company will carry out the design work and provide tangible systems whilst applying its technology and expertise in the form of technical assistance.

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