An Introduction to Industrial Robots for Beginners

Industrial robotics is a big industry and it changes quickly. The technology has changed dramatically in the past few decades, as has the volume and variety of deployments. For those who are new to the industrial robotics industry, it may seem difficult to find a starting point.

A broad overview of the types and benefits of automation can provide a basic understanding of industrial robotics technology and the growing robotics industry.

Types of Industrial Robotic Automation

There are many different types of automation applications that industrial robots are equipped to handle. Often, robots are designed or integrated with a specific task in mind and tailored to meet the unique needs of that task. Some common forms of industrial robotic automation include:

• Robotic welding
• Robotic material handling and packaging
• Robotic pick and place
• Robotic dispensing
• Robotic cutting
• Robotic non-destructive inspection

While there are certainly other types of industrial robotic automation, and a myriad of other types of collaborative and service robots, the applications listed above are some of the most common industrial forms of robotic automation.

Benefits of Industrial Robotic Automation

Industrial robots have transformed the manufacturing industry for a reason – they come with many bottom-line benefits. Their first and most important benefit is their efficiency. They complete tasks more quickly than manual labors, and their uptime is significantly higher. The combination of speed and uptime leads to higher throughput at lower operating costs.

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In addition, industrial robots, when programmed properly, are inherently repeatable. This improves the consistency of production dramatically, boosting overall product quality and reducing waste.

Industrial robots typically deliver great return on investment (ROI) despite high initial costs. The productivity gains from efficiency, consistency and reduced operating costs add up quickly – part of what has made industrial robots so popular among manufacturers over the past decade.

Industrial robots come with many bottom-line benefits, regardless of which type of industrial robot is being implemented. As long as a robot is programmed properly and suited to fit the unique needs of a certain application, it will almost certainly outperform manual labor.

The market for industrial robots is big and growing quickly. The underlying technology changes just as fast. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of change in the robotics industry but understanding the types of industrial robots and the benefits they provide is a great start.

To learn more about industrial robots, watch our free webinar from exclusive sponsor Epson, “The Starting Point for Robot Automation: A Beginner’s Tour.”