Comau and Rockwell Automation Inc. launched their collaboration in 2021. Since then, they have been jointly working to leverage the power of robotic solutions to help businesses increase the speed of innovation and maximize their manufacturing efficiencies.

Now, Comau will join Rockwell Automation at the 31st annual Automation Fair® from Nov. 16 to 17 in Chicago, Illinois. They will showcase the benefits of the full integration of Comau’s articulated robots with the unified robot control platform by Rockwell Automation.

“The first concrete results of Comau’s ongoing collaboration with Rockwell Automation are allowing us to simplify the design, programming and management of high-performance robotic applications,” explained Nicole Clement, Chief Marketing Officer at Comau, “This enables us to offer the market an easier and more productive approach to automation. It also creates added value for general industry customers who will benefit from the process optimization and agility that a fully integrated robotic solution provides.”

Promotes Automation Efficiency

Integrating Rockwell Automation components and Comau’s robots, using one PLC for controlling both, eliminates the need for additional robot programming skills required by other robot manufacturers. By better synchronizing robots, processes, workflows and peripherals, companies can operate robot systems that reduce time to market. Additionally, it improves manufacturing uptime, accelerate deployment times and shorten recovery speeds (MTTR) if needed.

Also, the use of one programming language, the seamless integration of components and the use of one environment for a continuously enhanced robot applications library provide customers with a modular and scalable future-proof solution, reducing total cost of operations and improving work efficiency.

Companies of all sizes can control one or more robots via their existing PLC environment. This process eliminates the need for a dedicated controller for every robot. In turn, this helps drive greater sustainability as fewer components are needed, resulting in the better use of expensive manufacturing floor space.

Offer Unified Robotic Solution

Offering one unified solution simplifies the supply chain complexity and serviceability. Apparently, full integration allows sourcing of most components and services by one trusted source. Also, the integration of Comau’s robot technology with Rockwell Automation’s software goes hand-in-hand with the company’s commitment to simplify automation. It also represents a key enabler in accelerating the creation of long-term value for its customers.

Moreover, the joint solution helps drive increased adoption and better cost-effectiveness for general industry sectors. Additionally, it helps mitigate potential risks associated with the global issues of limited microchip availability as companies look to initiate or expand robotic automation strategies.

Use Case Application: DCC Automation

At the show, DCC Automation: Dairy Conveyor Corp., a manufacturer and system integrator of material handling systems and equipment for the food industry, will display an innovative high-speed palletizing and depalletizing solution featuring Comau’s NJ-60 and PAL-180 articulated robots. At its core is a GuardLogix® 5580 controller that orchestrates the operation of the entire system and its safety. The NJ-60 robot automatically breaks down the pallet and feeds boxes to the high-payload palletizing robot.

“The integration of Comau’s robots with such a widely used unified PLC environment has allowed us to develop a powerful palletizing and depalletizing solution for the food industry. It can be easily deployed at our customer sites, helping improve their productivity while reducing infrastructure costs,” explained Horia Saulean, DCC Automation.

Similarly, Aagard Group system integrator will showcase a flexible packaging application that uses the integrated Comau-Rockwell Automation solution. It can customize the content of an individual package per customer specifications thanks to HMI inputs. By integrating Comau’s Racer 5-0.63 robot and an iTRAK® Intelligent Conveyance System from Rockwell Automation, the robot will automatically pick and pack various sports items, including golf balls, hockey pucks and more.

“We are excited to partner with an industry-leading robotic company such as Comau to help address our customers’ most pressing business challenges,” said Mike Hermann, Vice President of Industrial Sales at Van Meter, a distribution partner. “Comau’s robot technology leverages the unified robotics solution from Rockwell Automation to allow our machine builder customers to better support their end-user customers. The integration gives them the ability to program their entire machine in one programming environment and address their customers’ challenges in a simplified way.”

“Manufacturers are being called on to act faster and be more flexible than ever. The unified robot control partnership with Comau represents a leap in making this possible.” Said Bill Kegley, Director, Business Management Motion. “With one control system that handles the automation of the entire machine, including robot and independent cart technologies, we can make them easier to program, operate and support. Additionally, it is now easier than ever to amplify the productivity of systems using Comau robots by testing and virtual commissioning using Emulate3D™ software.”