Future of robots: super-efficient and connected

Friedrichshafen, Germany — Sepro Group officials have painted a future of robots running super-efficiently, complete with integration and smartphone apps.

At Fakuma 2017, Sepro also announced it is building robots for Chinese injection press maker Haitian International Holdings Ltd., covering Haitian presses sold in Europe. Jean-Michel Renaudeau, Sepro's managing director, said the three-axis and five-axis robots will be labeled "Haitian by Sepro."

Renaudeau said Sepro now supplies robots for nine injection molding machinery manufacturers. Haitian is the robot maker's first Asian partner, he said.

"The door is wide open at Sepro. We have been growing for these last years," Renaudeau said at the French company's Oct. 18 news conference at the Friedrichshafen event.

Renaudeau was discussing business growth, saying this year Sepro will deliver more than 3,000 robots to customers around the world and generate about 125 million euros of sales, an increase of 20 percent from 2016.

But of course, in today's plastics machinery business, "open" means more than money. Industry 4.0 programs are everywhere at Fakuma. At Sepro's exhibit, the robot maker had an "Open 4.0" booth.

Renaudeau said Sepro develops its own software giving it a big advantage in the new world of connected technology.

Caroline Chamard, Sepro's marketing and communication project manager, said 3D simulation and learning by doing are how people figure things out today, not by reading a long list ​ of directions. "People expect to have user-friendliness and services," she said.

Renaudeau said Sepro is working with Carnegie Mellon University's robotics program in Pittsburgh, near its U.S. operation, Sepro America LLC in Warrendale, Pa. The company also works with the Audiencia Business School in France and groups that promote innovation and automation in western France.

"Sepro alone could not go that quickly, so we need more support from university and research groups," he said.

The result is the first Sepro app, called OptiCycle, which cuts the robot cycle time by optimizing the robot's movements. Renaudeau said a key Sepro account has been using OptiCycle, which can increase efficiency by 5 percent on small- and mid-sized molding machines, and 10 percent on larger machines.

At Fakuma, Sepro previewed another app called Live Support, expected to come out commercially in 2018. The app will let you use a smartphone or tablet to scan a QR code on the robot controller. The operator can send up to five photos, showing robot issues, and engage in a help video on the phone.

Renaudeau said Sepro believes Industry 4.0 is more than just connectivity between systems.

"To us, Industry 4.0 demands that people, machines and companies 'connect' in much more significant and powerful ways, ways that allow them all to perform to their highest potential," he said.