Eight good reasons to visit RA Rodriguez at PPMA 2015

Never before has R.A. Rodriguez been able to show so many of its products under one roof. This year the company has taken its largest ever stand to demonstrate how effective factory automation can boost efficiency, quality and profitability.

R.A. Rodriguez specialises in products and systems that have something different to offer, but that isn't the extent of its business. The company has also accumulated a wealth of applications experience. This knowledge bank is invaluable as it allows R.A. Rodriguez to work with its customers to engineer the best system for a given application.

# 2 - new website

To coincide with the show, R.A. Rodriguez is also launching its brand new website to reflect its growing status as a significant supplier of automation systems.

#3 - collaborative robots

The full range of Universal Robots will feature at this year's show. Unlike the majority of industrial robotic equipment currently on the market, a Universal Robot is easy to use, affordable, lightweight and versatile. These collaborative, six-axis robots can be programmed to perform an impressive range of tasks with a high degree of accuracy and 360 degree rotation on all wrist joints.

An important feature of the Universal Robot is its potential to offer collaborative working. This means it can operate without screening in unison with employees. The robots have many adjustable safety settings, one of which is the company's force sensing technology that enables the speed and forces to be reduced so that the robot stops on impact.

A further advantage is easy programming. Anyone can be taught to use it thanks to a simple-to-understand graphical user interface which allows programming without any specialist training. The robot can therefore be up and running within a few hours of being unpacked.

To see a Universal Robot in action, visitors to PPMA will not have to go far. There will several at the show across a number of stands, all supported by R.A. Rodriguez. As well as four showing on the Rodriguez stand; FrontLine Packaging Limited A94 will be showing the Universal Robot as part of a packaging line. Finally, the BARA Robot Feature Area, where the new Universal Robot table top model will be posing a challenge to would-be programmers.

#4 - new table top robot

There are now three robots in the Universal range; the established UR10, the smaller UR5 and now the newly introduced workbench-mounted UR3 - typically for assembly, polishing, gluing and screwing applications. The model denominations reflect the maximum payloads of 10, 5 and 3kg respectively.

On stand K90, the UR3 will be running the UR Robotrun program to test the programming skills of anyone wishing to enter the Robot Challenge. Contestants will use a tablet device to program the robot to travel along a track. Those who conduct the task successfully will automatically go into a prize draw at the end of the show.

#5 - complementary grippers

R.A. Rodriguez is able to offer customers the choice of the entire range of off-the-shelf Robotiq grippers to complement their robots. These are available in 2-finger and 3-finger configurations and are known for their ease of integration. A notable model in the range is the 2-finger 85 which has been specifically designed for collaborative work in terms of payload, flexibility and user friendliness.

Also available is the Robotiq FT-150 Force Torque Sensor which provides flexible handling and sensor feedback to the majority of industrial robots and is fully functional with the Universal Robot. This 6-axis Force Torque Sensor is designed for force and position control and provides immunity from external noise.

#6 - cost -saving palletising & pressing

One of the most successful and enduring partnerships that R.A. Rodriguez has developed is with the automation and linear motion specialist, IEF Werner. Its high-quality products are the basis of many bespoke automation systems that R.A. Rodriguez has supplied to companies in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

Two IEF Werner products, in particular, will be highlighted at PPMA 2015. The first is the ecoSTACK component palletiser which, as its name suggests, is one of the most energy efficient available. Unlike other palletising systems, ecoSTACK does not require compressed air and therefore power consumption is much reduced. It is also designed to power down system components automatically when they are not in use. The second of the featured IEF Werner systems with sound energy efficiency credentials is the aiPRESS servo press. This machine has given manufacturing industry "intelligent pressing', a concept that assures precise and repeatable processing. The flexible design of the aiPRESS allows it to be integrated into manual work stations as well as automatic assembly lines.

#7 - push/pull actuation

The big benefit of using chain to move a load is that is can be stored compactly - a clear benefit when space is at a premium. Thanks to a special profile with interlocking fingers, the GROB Linear Chain can also become a rigid thrust device for pushing a guided load as well as pulling it.

This innovative product has proved to be a good choice for a wide variety of applications across industry, providing stroke lengths up to 30m with a maximum push force of up to 35,000kN with a single chain.

#8 - even more new products

R.A. Rodriguez continues to add strength and depth to its product range through strategic alliances, the latest of which is a partnership with MAFU GmbH Automation. PPMA 2015 therefore provides the opportunity for R.A. Rodriguez to showcase examples from the MAFU range for the first time; a spring disentangle as well as bowl feeders.

MAFU is well known throughout Europe for several different types of feeding equipment that allows the end user to reliably sort, feed and very effectively place complex bulk parts.

To learn more about factory automation please go to www.rarodriguez.co.uk.