Universal Robots Automates Singaporean Precision Engineering Firm

Singapore, December 4, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Universal Robots (UR), a global developer and manufacturer of flexible and user-friendly industrial robots, today announced PLC Industries’ successful commissioning and running of its UR10s in Singapore. Universal Robots’ newest UR10 models are highly flexible, lightweight, 6-axis robot arms that are ideal for a wide range of applications. The robot is capable of a 10kg payload and has a footprint of only 190mm.

Shermine Gotfredsen, General Manager, APAC, Universal Robots said, “We are thrilled to provide PLC industries with the latest innovation that UR has to offer. Years of research and customer feedback have culminated in the UR5 and UR10 that you see today. We are confident that PLC Industries will be able to leverage the benefits of the UR10 for their precision engineering needs and reap the rewards of pushing the envelope through automation over the long term.”

The shortage of skilled labour coupled with rising material and real estate costs have become issues for companies in Singapore. Given today’s High Mix, Low Volume manufacturing environment and being eager to stay ahead of the game, local precision engineering firm, PLC, began automating their production lines in February 2014. Armed with two UR10s, PLC is already realising rewards of increased efficiency, reliability and significant cost savings.

Marc Tan, Chief Operating Officer, PLC Industries, said, “Reliability and cost effectiveness have always been key contributors to PLC’s strong presence in the region over the years. Before we began automating our lines, the production only had the capacity to manufacture a handful of products (between two CNC machines) per weekly cycle. Today, with the help of the UR10s, we are able to boost overall output by 40%. In line with our strategy to use technology to increase productivity and product quality, we have been delighted to add the two advanced UR10 industrial robots to our lines.”

This sizable increase in output benefited by PLC Industries is attributed to each UR10 being able to take over two shifts daily over the course of a six-day workweek. Since only one worker is required to supervise both robots, the unfavourable impact of manpower shortage is significantly reduced.   

PLC first heard about Universal Robots through SPRING Singapore and received support through a Capability Development Grant to integrate the two robots into its existing production lines. SPRING is an agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry responsible for helping Singapore enterprises grow and building trust in local products and services. By offering a wide range of assistance to local SMEs, SPRING hopes to grow a vibrant, innovative and productive SME sector in Singapore.

“We are thankful for the support that we have received from SPRING. They understand the needs of SMEs, especially the challenges that we face daily. The grant has enabled us to automate our processes by deploying UR’s flexible and user-friendly robots. The robots have integrated well and given us more freedom to better utilise our resources,” explained Tan.

Gotfredsen added, “The government recognises that SMEs in Singapore have tremendous potential. With productivity always at the top of the agenda, we are confident that more companies will embrace automation as a means of adding value to their workforce. PLC has leveraged this opportunity and paved the way for their peers to follow suit.”   

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About Universal Robots

Universal Robots is an innovative and globally successful Danish manufacturer of robots. Since the first UR robot entered the market in 2009, the company has seen substantial growth. European portfolio of customers include; Lear, Oticon, Bosch, BMW, Scandinavian Tobacco Group, LG, Volkswagen, Samsung, LUK and GN Resound. In Asia, UR’s robots are used extensively by Boeing, Mattel, Philips and the Indian automotive giant, Bajaj, in the production of 4 million vehicles, motorcycles and auto rickshaws annually.

Universal Robots is a “first mover” within a new segment of industrial robots with a focus on user friendliness and flexibility. The Danish company has approximately 100 employees and about 200 partners and distributors worldwide. All development and production is carried out in Odense in Denmark. For more information about Universal Robots please go to: http://www.universal-robots.com.

High-resolution pictures, videos and brochures can be found at:

http://www.universal-robots.com/GB/Press/Multimedia.aspx

Events: http://www.universal-robots.com/GB/Universal_Robots/Calendar.aspx