An amortisation period of 16–24 months and a zero margin of error convinces the panel of expert judges for the robotics competition
Simple, cost-effective automation solutions can be found both in an increasing number of small and medium enterprises and among large industrial players. igus has presented the ROIBOT award for creative applications every two years. This year, the inventors of a labelling robot, the developers of a fully automatic container system for growing vegetables and herbs, and the designers of a wallpapering device received the prize.
Robots are in use all over the world: in logistics, laboratories, and agriculture. Every two years, professionals from industry and trade press work with igus to develop cost-effective, creative and smart solutions with the ROIBOT Award.
The competition focuses on igus’ low-cost automation solutions such as delta robots, Cartesian robots, and articulated arm robot, with the main criterion based on return on investment which quickly pays for the outlay. A total of 110 submissions from 20 countries demonstrated diverse application options for cost-effective robotics.
In the second iteration of the competition, MFG Technik & Service won over the judges with its LabelMonkey labelling robot, winning robotic components worth €5,000. A robolink DP multi-axis articulated robot for €7,700 forms the centre of the system. Its two printing modules ensure that logistics labels are affixed to pallets. The LabelMonkey is a simple, cost-effective mechanism for the end user. The system pays for itself in just 16–24 months, making it very attractive for logisticians to use.
Automatic harvest assistant takes second place
The increasing extremes in weather conditions due to climate change requires greater expenditure of resources and personnel in agriculture. This is compounded by crop storage and long transport routes.
Farmionic, an Austrian company, has therefore set itself a goal to develop a vegetable garden for the future: it is a fully automatic, resource-conserving container system for growing vegetables and herbs with 24/7 availability anywhere in the world.
A robolink DP robot, which won second place, takes on all tasks, from planting to harvesting, on a seventh axis. The robotics system costs €11,200 and pays for itself in 13–15 months.
tapo-fix, which won third place, used a room linear robot to develop an automated solution for applying paste to metal, allowing human employees to carry out other tasks. With an acquisition value of €6,700, the robot works precisely and hand-in-hand with staff, saving the company up to €8,000 per year.
