MLX300 – A 3rd generation, more innovative than ever!
The MLX300 is Yaskawa’s third-generation solution for environments requiring robots to integrate with programmable logic controllers (PLCs). MLX300 is a software solution based on our advanced robot controllers, where all programming, configuration, maintenance and troubleshooting are done through the PLC interface via additional instructions (AOI).
Robotics: A powerful partner during Covid-19
With factory closings, shortages, delivery disruptions, and a paralyzed supply chain, the pandemic that has turned the world upside down is more than ever highlighting the pressure that the world economy is putting on manufacturing production. A host of factories are now turning to traditional and collaborative robotics in order to overcome the major challenges raised by COVID-19. In the age of the coronavirus, how can industrial robotics benefit your plant?
The role of industrial robotics in Quebec
For several years now, the shift to Industry 4.0 has been gaining traction in manufacturing and industrial robotics. The most significant growth in the robotics industry can be seen in China, Japan and Korea. Quebec’s manufacturing sector continues to lag behind when it comes to industrial robotics—but is committed to making the shift, which is essential to the progress of the sector at large.
A report by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) shows that with an average of 113 robots per 10,000 employees, the robotization rate of the manufacturing industry worldwide has never been higher. Between 2013 and 2017, robotics sales saw a 114% increase. Needless to say, factories are finding that robotics has become key to progress in the manufacturing sector.
The promising future of robotics
For several years now, industrial robotics has been gaining credibility across the world. Yet Quebec is still far from being able to compete with countries such as the industrial superpower that is China. Even so, robotics remains an important driver for Quebec’s economic recovery. And the Quebec government is on to this fact, which is why it is now prepared to loosen the purse strings of the state to help business owners focus on innovations… such as robotics and automation.
While many Quebec manufacturing companies have already adopted robotics and automation technologies, a CATA survey shows that one of the main obstacles to this integration in Quebec factories remains, i.e., funding. Very often, the total required investment goes beyond the cost of acquiring the robot. The Quebec government has rapidly understood this and continues to see these technologies as an undeniable asset for the province’s economy.