"Hello Industrie 4.0"

Augsburg, February 2015 – At the KUKA booth, the visitors of this year’s Hanover Fair can deal with the increasing digitalization of production and cooperative network of employees and machines.

10 February 2015

KUKA shows the orange factory of the future at this year’s Hanover Fair

As Europe’s leading supplier of industrial robots and automated production systems, KUKA directly participates with its products and services in the fourth industrial revolution – Industrie 4.0.

Therefore, robots will be the defining component for industry in the future – while the human takes center stage. Sustainable automation concepts can only be developed with efficient, flexible and first of all safe production systems respecting the needs of the production staff.

The newest member of the KUKA robot family – the LBR iiwa lightweight robot

At Hanover Fair 2015, the Augsburg-based robot and system builder KUKA will not only present ways in which KUKA products can improve competitiveness, but also prove its compatibility with the digital world.

Across the more than 1000 square meters of space at Booth G04 in Hall 17 in the Industrial Automation area, KUKA will be presenting innovative solutions that have one key characteristic in common: they are all designed to meet the requirements of Industry 4.0 and bring flexibility in the utilization of production capacity, in logistics, in the sustainable use of resources. KUKA achieves this by merging the IT world and conventional high-tech industry solutions into complete Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPS).

In order to react in a flexible manner, to control process data streams from complex networks around the globe and to network digital controllers from different systems, interfaces based on Mainstream IT infrastructure are essential. This was already a key concept at KUKA in the mid-90s when it brought the first PC-based robot controllers onto the market. Subsequent KUKA innovations and developments also followed this core concept of simple integration. With the newest member of the KUKA robot family – the LBR iiwa lightweight robot and the controller Sunrise designed for direct cooperation between humans and robots – KUKA now takes it a step further, offering products that are truly “Industry 4.0-ready”.

Among other things, this means features such as a variety of external communication ports and an open and modular programming environment – or even just the ease of use and connection to external systems and machine control systems. Therefore, KUKA continuously focuses on open and interoperable standards.

KUKA SETS FOCUS ON MOBILITY, CONTROL AND HUMAN-ROBOT-COLLABORATION

Specific robot and system solutions are used to illustrate the three focal points of mobility, control and human-robot-collaboration. Here, it also becomes evident that the core of the “smart factory” of tomorrow involves people rather than machines.

KUKA sets its stamp on this year with its applications for the innovative LBR iiwa – the first collaborative lightweight robot using safe technology and suitable for series operation. It is joined by a host of products and services from other KUKA areas of expertise.

The LBR iiwa – the first collaborative lightweight robot using safe technology and suitable for series operation

APPLICATIONS FOR WAREHOUSE-LOGISTICS

We are also proud to have the newest member of the KUKA family with us at the trade fair for the first time: Swisslog. The Swiss logistics professionals will be at the KUKA booth showing how robots and mobile warehouse logistics solutions can be combined for maximum flexibility, thus increasing productivity.

KUKA INDUSTRIES INTRODUCES ITSELF

Among other things, KUKA Industries shows a standard solution for system control and the simple evaluation of production figures out of the control level. As well as the control options via the reisPAD, TouchPC or networked tablet PCs. Behind the name KUKA Industries hides the Reis Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co.KG, merged with a range of KUKA Systems after successful integration.
KUKA is not only focusing on the conscious use of energy at the main booth, but also within the framework of the VDMA “Blue Competence” initiative. Here, trade fair visitors will have the opportunity to ride a bicycle in a direct duel with a robot – keeping in mind that it is not only about speed, but also energy efficiency.

NEXT ROUND FOR THE KUKA INNOVATION AWARD

This year’s KUKA Innovation Award too will place direct cooperation between humans and robots in the foreground. The task given to the applicants was to develop an application or key technology using the KUKA LBR iiwa lightweight robot. The finalists will exhibit their applications at the Hannover Messe, where KUKA will award the prize of 20,000 euro.
KUKA will also devote a further exhibit to the connection between humans and robots. This year the visitors to the Hannover Messe will again have the opportunity to brave a ride on the KUKA Robocoaster.
Furthermore, KUKA robots will also be in action at the booths of numerous system and technology partners of the Bavarian high-tech company.

KUKA IS ACTIVELY SHAPING INDUSTRY 4.0

The company’s showing in Hannover demonstrates that “Industry 4.0” is not just a buzzword for KUKA. The Augsburg-based manufacturer is actively involved in the working groups of the Industry 4.0 platform, in the VDMA as well as in further industry associations. KUKA continues to welcome opportunities to join forces with further partners and associations, as providers of cloud technology or providers of automation technology cannot implement the idea behind Industry 4.0 alone. All sides will need strong alliances with high-performance partners. Partners like KUKA.