igus, the international motion plastics specialist, is committed to lowering the barriers to entry into automation applications to enable small and medium-size companies in particular to increase their competitiveness. It has built up a broad network of 55 robotics suppliers and 40 providers over the past three years — and new partners are constantly being added.

Once seen as expensive, due to numerous developments and product innovations, affordable robotics has become more appealing for small and medium-size companies and the supply of solutions on the market is increasing. igus has developed a broad low-cost automation portfolio of articulated arm and gantry robots as well as delta and scara robots. Due to the modularity of the products, individual components or individual complete solutions can be put together according to the ‘build-or-buy’ principle — meaning customers can build and test a robot before purchase, free of charge.

The focus is always on a low, entry price and fast amortisation, and this is where the high-performance plastics from igus show their strengths. They are tribologically optimised and particularly durable, lightweight, lubrication- and maintenance-free as well as cost-effective.

Adam Sanjurgo, head of low-cost automation at igus UK, said: “We want to make the best automation solutions for a company’s individual requirements, quickly and easily accessible for the lowest budget. For example, two-axis robots are available from as little as 1,100 euros.

Over the past three years, igus has built up a broad partner network that is growing. As part of the LCA partner programme, igus works with integrators who support customers with their expertise, who have experience with end-customer projects and joint project experience.

Cost-effective solution
Mr Sanjurgo continued: “We started with seven partners about two years ago, now there are almost 100. In order to connect potential customers with competent integration partners directly in their vicinity, we are constantly expanding our network. Working together, we can offer our customers a huge range of automation solutions, focusing on applications with a total investment of less than 45,000 euros. We can help customers select the best integrator for the application to find the best possible and most cost-effective solution.”

Typical services the LCA service provides are, for example, the integration of a control system into existing machines, the construction and commissioning of a robot, the assessment of safety measures or, if there is simply a lack of capacity, viability of setting up the machines on site.

Many integrators, as well as igus itself, have set up customer testing areas so that customers can experience the cost of automation live. Mr Sanjurgo added: “Nothing is more convincing than being able to experience robot programming or adaptations of grippers on site, within 30min. That is why we have over 30 customer visits a week in Cologne alone, and we can do demonstrations at igus in Northampton too.”

The range of test areas is large. In Germany, it ranges from a single delta robot cell at ITQ GmbH near Munich to a 150m² area with four robots and portal axes at Provitec near Heilbronn, to a 1,400m² customer testing area at Truphysics in Stuttgart with 300m² of space just for igus products. With its own low-cost automation roadshow, involving the integrator partners, igus also visits customers directly on site and organises events at its partners’ premises.

Roadshow events
Mr Sanjurgo explained: “We have already organised Roadshow events in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Belgium, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands with a total of around 3,500 visitors. The aim of the Roadshow is to always automate directly on site.”

Since 2019, robot and automation users have also had access to the RBTX marketplace launched by igus — an online marketplace and consultancy that brings users and manufacturers of low-cost robotics to the table. Mr Sanjurgo said: “On RBTX.com, interested parties can find compatible components from a total of 78 different partners. The marketplace currently has over 100 low-cost applications, providing a BOM (bill of materials) as well as hardware and software compatibility, and price transparency.

As an open marketplace, we are always interested in new partners for the ‘Low Cost Robotics’ mission, so that we can offer interested parties even more individual solutions for their specific application.”

Partners on RBTX also benefit from a new digital sales channel and can expand their customer base and enter new markets — a win-win situation for everyone.