A strong partner for the industry’s digital transformation, KUKA will be presenting products and solutions at automatica 2022 that are as powerful as they are easy to use. From new robots to digital twin, KUKA can finally again be experienced live on site and in person.

Two years of pandemic have greatly accelerated the changes in everyday working life and production processes. Automation and digitization are helping the industry to master this change in the long term. KUKA wants to prove this on its return to the Munich trade fair stage.

“This year, automatica is the driving force for industrial production after the crisis,” says Wilfried Eberhardt, Chief Marketing Officer at KUKA. “Automation, robotics and digitization are the growth drivers of our time, and KUKA is the ideal partner for their implementation.”

Home Turf

automatica in Munich is traditionally a home game for KUKA. There, the company will be setting off a product firework, indicating it has the right technology for every industry. From June 21 to 24, the focus in Munich will be on “automation for everyone.” This ranges from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to food companies, from cleanrooms to microchip production.

Introduction of iiQKA Operating System

The audience at automatica will get exclusive insights into the new operating system iiQKA.OS and the digital iiQKA Ecosystem. The new operating system is the future way to work with KUKA robots, that is, intuitive, fast, and powerful.

The Cobot LBR iisy is the first of its kind to run on the basis of the new operating system. It can be configured and programmed within minutes. The LBR iisy family is growing, and KUKA is showing the collaborative robot (cobot) in additional versions for the first time. Additionally, the automation specialist is also expanding its portfolio in the field of lightweight robotics.

With the complete system of hardware and software, KUKA is lowering the entry threshold for robotics, especially for SMEs. Thus, it is opening up great automation potential, even for beginners.

Broad Range of Portfolio

Intelligent connected production is essential for fast-growing markets. KUKA meets the enormous demand for automation with suitable products and its own portfolios for sectors, like the electronics and consumer goods industries, as well as automation solutions for electromobility.

At automatica, interested visitors can get to know the new small robot series, such as the ultra-compact KR SCARA and the hygienic robot KR DELTA. This in turn will be presented in a cell by the first KUKA system partner Koch Robotersysteme.

From the high payload class, the KR QUANTEC can be found. This robot consumes around 45 percent less energy than previous robot generations. Another highlight is the Hygienic Oil portfolio for the food industry. All its robot axes, including the energy supply systems, are equipped with certified H1 lubricants to prevent possible contamination.

Partner for Digital Transformation

KUKA places a special focus on digital transformation, paving the way to the “Digital Factory.” Visitors will get to experience this in presentations during the trade fair and at the trade fair booth itself. Visitors will learn which solutions KUKA offers for today’s production requirements. This already starts with the planning of new systems.

The simulation software KUKA.Sim, for example, makes it possible to program robotic applications offline, commission them virtually, save time and work more efficiently. For this purpose, KUKA.Sim creates a digital twin – an image of the subsequent production process – for maximum planning reliability.

The digital twin maps the production process and ensures planning reliability before commissioning.

Smart Software for Factory of the Future

In addition to hardware, software is also becoming increasingly important. This includes the artificial intelligence-based KUKA AIVI master controller. It is revolutionizing intralogistics, where it ensures the optimal flow of materials to the production line and the perfect utilization of automated guided vehicle systems.