Stäubli recently invited Editors from the trade and technical press to view their new facility at Telford; the move to larger, purpose built, premises provided the opportunity for specifically designed ‘hands on’ exhibition display and demonstration areas to present a wide range of their technologically advanced quick release connectors and multi-axis robots.
Known worldwide for more than a century for the quality of its methods and processes, the Stäubli group has successfully transferred its mechanical engineering and technological know-how, initially established in machinery for precise and rapid movement of threads in the textile sector, into quick release connectors in 1956 and subsequently into multi-axis robotics in 1982.
In 2002 Swiss based Multi-Contact was incorporated into the Group. Multi-Contact’s expertise in electrical connections complemented perfectly St?ubli’s experience in all gases and fluids, making Stäubli Group the only manufacturer in the world to offer complete solutions in connector technology in all fields – fluids and electricity.
The development of both connectors and robotics businesses has been significant, engaging with the established capabilities and skills of the group, leading to the introduction of innovative and effective new products. Today Stäubli is a player in connectors and robotics around the world, its engineering as effective and dependable as its sales and services.
For the first time in the UK, Stäubli Connectors are now able to present their full range of products, providing customers with a ‘hands on’ evaluation opportunity. For example, plastic moulding companies can view the most recent quick mould change and clamping systems as well as the mould connectors that can dramatically boost their competitiveness; electronics companies can examine spill free connectors for liquid cooling systems, increasingly needed to disperse the higher temperatures produced by electronics in data centres; automotive customers can review the latest engine test bed multi-connectors and robot arm rapid tool changing solutions.
Being demonstrated was the latest introduction to the Connectors’ range, the HTI, high temperature coupling, specifically designed to withstand circuit temperatures up to 300°C. The design features double shut off technology without any internal seal and metal to metal tightness. Maintenance is reduced since the couplings do not have a seal in the fluid stream, a single ‘O’ ring on the outside of each coupling can be changed on-site in a few seconds causing minimal interruption to the production cycle.
This high temperature connector is also available in a multi-coupling version, capable of accommodating 6 circuits (12 couplings) all of which can be connected simultaneously in one single action and can only be connected in one position, eliminating any risk of wrong or misconnection. Specific applications for these advanced connectors are in the die casting, glass processing and plastic moulding sectors.
The major operational benefit of assembling an array of quick release connectors onto a single multi-coupling plate is interesting. Multi-couplings provide quick and simultaneous connection of all services e.g. air, water, hydraulics, electrics and data and often result in the most significant single improvement in changeover times for applications as diverse as automotive engine test beds, railway rolling stock bogies, robot tool changers and injection moulding machines.
Any selection of connectors can be located on the same multi-coupling plate as required by each specific application, taking into account the type of fluid, pressure and temperature as well as parameters such as the method of connection (automatic or manual?), the locking mechanism and the frequency of connection/disconnection. The use of multi-couplings dramatically improves safety; connection can only be made in the correct position, eliminating any risk of circuit inversion, wrong or mis-connection.
On the robotics side, customers benefit from dedicated demonstration cells, providing the opportunity to evaluate and adapt realistic simulations of any planned automation and develop the optimum cycle times for St?ubli’s high performance robots. Specific robot installations can be mirrored in the cells, demonstrating to customers how these multi axis, highly flexible robots can be used in a wide spread of applications from automotive to specialist pharmaceutical; drug discovery to plastics and food.
Most impressive were the demonstrations showing how robots can be integrated with vision. This opens up endless applications using the power of vision guided robotics for picking randomly placed objects as well as integrating quality control into the automation cycle.
Stäubli industrial robots deliver distinct technical advantages: compact size, broad work envelopes, high speed and precision, resistance to all types of environments and, above all, the flexibility to adapt to the greatest number of tasks.
The robot control software demonstrations were equally impressive, providing a range of user-friendly yet powerful solutions for all applications.
The latest approach to robot control is the uniVAL drive – a total new concept in robot system control it is a ‘ready to plug’ software solution for machine builders allowing Stäubli robots to be driven by generic industrial motion controllers.
St?ubli’s capabilities in the textile machinery sector are also represented in the new Showroom with a demonstration Cam Motion unit. When fitted to a weaving loom this unit rapidly and precisely lifts the threads to allow weaving of the desired pattern.
Multi Contact is also represented in the Showroom with a display of their range of electrical connectors and contacts featuring their unique ‘mutlilam’ technology.
Overall the development of these facilities at Telford and the benefit it brings to users of both quick release connectors and multi-axis robots supports the long standing ethos of the Stäubli Group.
Group strategy has always been “Be proactive… Undertake… Innovate… Act…Adapt”. This maxim has served well for many years and will continue to be the hallmark of St?ubli’s service in the future. This new facility, with its dedicated demonstration and display capability, reinforces the aim of presenting effective, innovative and reliable connection and robotic solutions to the UK market.
