Extrusion International 1-2025-USA

28 Extrusion International 1/2025 28 INDUSTRY NEWS Newly Established Company to Offer Collaborative Robot Automation Systems for Packaging Industry Cobots has been established as a standalone company which specializes in the development of advanced automation solutions utilizing collaborative robots tai- lored to meet the diverse needs of small- and medium-sized business- es across the packaging industry. The new company – which targets a range of industries including plas- tics, pharmaceuticals and beyond – is the sister company of Proco Ma- chinery, a leading manufacturer of automation systems for the blow molding industry, “Our mission is to redefine the way industries operate by provid- ing cutting-edge cobot solutions. We are dedicated to empowering businesses with innovative auto- mation technologies that stream- line processes, improve efficiency, and elevate workplace safety,” said John McCormick, Director of Cobots Inc. “Our team is passion- ate about delivering tailored au- tomation solutions that drive sus- tainable growth and success for our clients.” Collaborative robots (also called co-bots) are designed to work alongside human workers, assist- ing them with a variety of tasks. Since they are affordable and highly adaptable, manufacturers are eager to adopt this technology and huge growth is expected in the next few years, according to Mc- Cormick. The emergence of collab- orative robots is tied to the ability to place them alongside humans in small-spaced assembly lines, along with their affordability and ability to be easily trained. They are ex - ible and can handle short runs and repetitive jobs. “Collaborative robotic systems are seeing strong growth in the blow molding industry due to the need for greater ef ciency and au - tomation,” explained McCormick. “These systems are being designed in such a way that they comple- ment the production line and pro- vide simpli ed operation, a smaller footprint, and enhanced ef cien - cies.” These collaborative robotic systems reduce the handling of the container and provide an excellent return-on-investment (ROI), says McCormick. With a ROI of less than a year, cobot solutions are a cost-effec- tive option for the manufactur- ing industry, providing a safe and low-cost alternative to traditional methods. With the ability to eas- ily adapt to a variety of repetitive manufacturing situations, cobot solutions can be tailored to spe- ci c needs. They offer advanced ro - botic automation bene ts without added cost. With a two- to eight- month payback period, it's now af- fordable for small- and mid-sized manufacturers, according to Mc- Cormick. With lightweight and exible design, cobots can be easily re- deployed to multiple locations without changing the production layout and support agile manu- facturing processes with minimal set-up time. New robotic technol- ogy allows programming the cobot movements without a dedicated programmer. Intuitive tools and logical process steps make it easy for operators with no program- ming experience to streamline their operations. Cobots also address labor short- ages by assisting workers with re- petitive tasks, increasing productiv- ity and reducing injury risks. Cobots have safety features that imme- diately stop motion when contact is made with a person or object, which means they don't require the enhanced safety components asso- ciated with industrial robots. Cobots are impacting a range of manufacturing aspects including material handling, process assem- bly, quality inspection, and pallet- izing. They are tailored to meet the dynamic needs of modern packag- ing industries, ensuring seamless integration and performance. Sister company Proco Machinery is heavily involved in collaborative robot technology, recently launch- ing a super-compact palletizer sys- tem with collaborative robots for blow-molded containers. Proco’s latest automation technology also includes the collaborative robotic Robo Packer case packer. Cobots is currently supplying ad- vanced customized cobot solutions for packaging manufacturers in a range of industries. Cobots Inc. www.cobotsinc.com