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Universal Robots

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Universal Robots
Company typeApS
IndustryAutomation
Founded2005
FounderEsben Østergaard
Kasper Støy
Kristian Kassow Edit this on Wikidata
HeadquartersOdense, Denmark
Key people
Enrico Krog Iversen (CEO), Thomas Visti (Vice President and CCO), Esben H. Østergaard (CTO & founder)
ProductsIndustrial robots,
Revenue€6.5 million (2011)[1]
Number of employees
70
Websitewww.universal-robots.com

Universal Robots is a manufacturer of smaller size flexible industrial robot arms, based in Odense, Denmark. The 2011 business volume was about 6,5 million Euro. For 2012 a volume of 14 millione Euro was forecasted.[1] Universal Robots has 70 employees and distributes its robots in Europe, Asia and the USA. The company has a global network with over 80 distributors in more than 40 countries. The robot arms are used in productions of companies such as Lear Corporation, Franke (company), Oticon, Johnson & Johnson,[2] Clamcleats, Kunshan Dongwei und Thiele. The company received the IERA award [3] (2012) that honors innovative achievements in the field of robotics.

History

The company Universal Robots was founded in 2005 by the engineers Esben Østergaard, Kasper Støy, and Kristian Kassow. During joint research at the Syddansk Universitet Odense, they came to the conclusion that the robotics market was dominated by heavy, expensive, and unwieldy robots. As a consequence they developed the idea to make robot technology accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises.[4] In 2009 the first UR5 robots were available on the Danish and German market. Since 2010 the company expands its activities steadily. Meanwhile, the robots are distributed throughout Europe, in Asia[5] and in the USA. In 2012 the second robot, UR10 was launched.[6]

Products

The two main products are the flexible robot arm UR5,[7] and its bigger brother, the UR 10.[8] Both are six-jointed robot arms with a very low weight of respectively 18 kilos and 28 kilos. The UR5 has a lifting ability of 5 kilos and has a working radius of 85 cm, and the UR10 has a lifting ability of 10 kilos with a reach of 130 cm. Each of the robots have joints can rotate through +/- 360° and up to 180 degrees per second. The accuracy of the robots’ repetitions is +/- 0.1 mm. Universal Robots are "Collaborative Robots" which means they can work right alongside personnel with no safety guarding. The Danish company now has over 1,600 collaborative robots deployed in 43 countries worldwide. 80% of these work directly alongside employees with no safety guarding. In a collision, the robot delivers less force than the 150 Newton (33.72 lb) regulatory limit [EN ISO 13850]. Of course, end-effectors and other environmental conditions could create a hazard, and a risk assessment should be done with any industrial motion control application.[9] The Advanced Force Control feature makes it possible to adjust the force of the robot to any application. Humans and robots can thus work together safely, even in production sites where space is limited.[10] [11]

Due to its own low weight and its size, as the comparably low initial outlay, both robot arms are mainly used within medium-sized enterprises[12] such as packaging, automotive, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, metal working, and manufacturing.

IERA-Award

In 2012, Universal Robots received the IERA Award. This Award honoring innovative achievements in the field of robotics was presented during the trade fair Automatica in Munich, Germany. Initiators of the price are the international robot organisations; the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) and IEEE Robotics and Automation Society. They especially appreciated the innovative creation and development and successful commercialization of the six-jointed robot UR5.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Einfach zu bedienende Leichtbauroboter sorgen bei Universal Robots für Wachstum". Maschinenmarkt. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Palletizing Solution – Universal Robot system in Athens Plant". robotics.youngester.com. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Two winners: Robocoaster and Universal Robots". ifr.org. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Danish Firm Develops Light-Weight Robotic Arm". roboticstrends.com. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  5. ^ "Robotics in a Competitive Environment". BFM 89.9 The Business Station. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Robotic Solutions for Small and Medium-Sized Applications". automationworld.com. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Technical specifications UR5" (PDF). Universal Robots. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  8. ^ "Technical specifications UR10" (PDF). Universal Robots. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  9. ^ http://www.controleng.com/single-article/universal-robots-collaborate-outside-enclosures/83cc537080cf25e043eb9b770fd1d62f.html
  10. ^ "IMTS 2012 -- Universal Robots Introduces Cage-Free Industrial Robots". industryweek.com. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  11. ^ "Universal Robots has reinvented industrial robotics". Universal Robots. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  12. ^ "Cheaper robots can help SMEs become more flexible". emtworld.com. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
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