Spanish machine tool builder and manufacturing-systems specialist Soraluce is set to play a key role in a European Union initiative focusing on integrating robots with production machines, the aim being to secure manufacturing competitiveness and boost the advent of ‘smart factories of the future’ (
www.danobatgroup.com).
There are 16 companies and institutions from seven countries involved in the COROMA project; Soraluce will take the lead role in establishing an effective interface between robots and machines.
According to TW Ward CNC Machinery Ltd (
www.wardcnc.com) — Soraluce’s exclusive distributor in the UK and Ireland — the aim will be to develop a modular robotic system capable of autonomously performing a multitude of different tasks — such as drilling, trimming, deburring, polishing, sanding and non-destructive inspection routines — as well as carrying out operations involving adaptive fixturing.
The three-year project, which has 7 million euros of funding, will build on the results of research projects covering robotics perception, reasoning, minimal programming, mobility, dexterity, learning and safety.
Soraluce’s machine and manufacturing-system innovations, along with Industry 4.0 expertise, will combine with input from its technological research partner IK4-IDEKO, a specialist in advanced-manufacturing technologies.