Robots have assumed a very crucial role in the present-day industrial processes. Industrial automation is playing a key role in helping manufacturers achieve the desired level of precision and productivity. However, the growing demand for intelligent and flexible automation solutions drives modern machine builders to build robots or automated machines that can meet the ever-changing industrial needs. Technological advancements and innovation have made automation within the reach of small businesses.

Robots can be programmed to perform dangerous and repetitive tasks with great precision and speed. This is why the number of industrial applications of robots is rising with every passing year. We can classify industrial robot tasks into following categories:

• Displacement and processing (continuous welding, cutting, parts assembly etc.)
• Quality control and inspection
• Loading/unloading objects

A simple programmable automated device can perform a great number of tasks, from material handling and welding to vehicle assembly. Following are some of the industrial applications of robots.

Food processing

The food industry is increasingly adopting robots for food handling and packaging. Manual food processing consumes a great deal of time and the probability of errors is high. On the other hand, automation can make food processing highly efficient and fast. Following are some of the advantages of streamlining food processing with robots:

• Robots can handle food products with great speed and precision
• Quality can be ensured throughout the production process
• Automation reduces production costs
• Automation helps minimize process interruption

Metal fabrication

Robotic metal fabrication devices are used to enhance quality, consistency, speed, and efficiency of fabrication processes such as cutting, milling, cladding, and hardfacing. Robotic welding, for instance, is employed to perform high-quality welds without wasting too much time and inputs. Here are some of the benefits of robotic metal fabrication:

• Manufacturing flexibility
• Reduction in capital and operating costs
• Repetitive and consistent welds
• Reduced post-weld distortion and gas consumption
• Improved workplace safety

Material handling

Robotic material handling can streamline some of the most tedious, mundane, and dangerous work in a production line. The material handling processes include loading, unloading, packing, palletizing, and part selection. Automation offers benefits to industries that move heavy parts at a large scale. Some of the benefits of automating material handling are:

• Reduced loading and unloading time
• Material handling bots are reliable
• Minimal changeover time
• Automation reduce injury risks

Assembly

When it comes to putting parts together, automation technology can perform way better than humans. Assembly line bots lower production costs while improving quality and production efficiencies. Robots are flexible and can easily be reconfigured depending on the nature of work. They can handle tiny parts that are too small to be handled by humans. This is why most of the products are designed for automatic assembly machines. The automotive industry is probably the biggest consumer of assembly robots.

The use of robotic automation has increased significantly over the past few years, mainly due to highly flexible, cost competitive, and user-friendly interfaces. Automation technology has completely revolutionized the manufacturing processes and become imperative to industries that are struggling to remain competitive and profitable.