KUKA now offers a mobile platform that is particularly suitable for confined production environments: the KMP 600P. As one of the world's leading specialists for automation solutions, KUKA is expanding its portfolio in the field of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) with an attractive option for payloads of up to 600 kilograms.

Continuing a global relationship that spans more than 20 years, eight-year KUKA Strategic Partner ENGEL, a leader in plastic injection molding machines, technologies, and turnkey solutions, has become a KUKA Robotics System Partner. In its new relationship with KUKA, ENGEL will not only continue to incorporate KUKA robots as standard components in its injection molding solutions but also integrate and retrofit KUKA robotic products into existing plastic injection molding machines and systems.

During the ATX West 2023 show, KUKA Robotics will showcase several new technologies geared specifically for safely automating those manufacturing processes where humans interact with robots on a regular basis. Among those technologies are the new LBR iisy cobot, the new KUKA KMP 600-S diffDrive automated mobile platform and the company’s LBR iiwa robot incorporated into an automated mobile robotic material-handling system.

To address the ongoing challenge of attracting talented employees to the manufacturing workforce, KUKA Robotics will bring its leading educational and software simulation technologies to the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) CareerTech VISION 2022 conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center Nov. 30 through Dec. 3. Visitors to booth 327, will experience KUKA’s ready2_educate mobile training cell – which provides an entrée into the world of robotics for schools, universities and other training facilities – and the company’s KUKA.Sim smart simulation software for efficient offline robot programming.

Training and employee development can seem daunting to manufacturers still playing catch-up post-COVID and trying to move product out the door. Management wants to implement new IIoT and smart manufacturing strategies to increase manufacturing productivity, but a lack of time, money and available resources can complicate these goals.

As part of a $2 million National Science Foundation Grant, robots from Kuka Robotics are helping the University of Michigan (U of M) advance research that could result in robots working side-by-side with humans on building construction sites. The research involves three KUKA KR Quantec robots along with the company’s robot sensor interface (RSI) software, all of which will allow human workers to use interactive task learning technology to teach the robots to perform construction tasks. 

At Automate 2022, attendees will have the opportunity to experience how complete, end-to-end automation solutions from KUKA Robotics can help them exceed their production goals.

At Ford’s Advanced Manufacturing Center, Javier is tasked with operating the 3D printers completely on his own. He is always on time, very precise in his movements, and he works most of the day – taking only a short break to charge up. This innovative robot on wheels from supplier KUKA, called Javier by Ford’s additive manufacturing operators, is integral to the company’s development of an industry-first process to operate 3D Carbon printers with an autonomous mobile robot rather than a fixed, stationary unit.