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Automation Roadshow 2023

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Reliance Automation hosts an event showcasing the latest collaborative robotic technology. Featuring UR cobots, MiR mobile robot, OnRobot and Cobot safety.

Reliance Automation hosts an event showcasing the latest collaborative and industrial robotic technology. Hear about features and benefits of collaborative technologies as well as safety. Featuring industrial robots, UR cobots, MiR mobile robot, OnRobot end of arm tools, linear drives and more.

  • 9.30am registration, tea and coffee
  • 10am Hear from our partners
  • 12pm Learn about safety
  • 12.30pm Get hands-on with the technology
  • 2.00pm Close

Light lunch provided for corporate guests

Focus Ireland Shine A Light 2022

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Focus Ireland Shine A Light – Reliance team will sleep out to support Irish charities 

 

On Friday 14th of October, the team at Reliance will be sleeping out for one night to shine a light on homelessness in Ireland and raise vital funds for Focus Ireland and HUGG.  In May, homelessness figures surpassed 10,000, the highest figure recorded since before the pandemic due to a lack of affordable, secure housing in Ireland. Right now, there are 1,366 families, including 3,028 children without a home. These families can spend up to two years in a one-bedroom room in an emergency accommodation situation, which has a significant impact on mental health, self-esteem, and child development.

 

However, homelessness would be much worse without the work of Focus Ireland.  Focus Ireland are ending homelessness every day for families and individuals and our services are working hard to protect people who are currently homeless – especially children from the trauma caused by homelessness. 

 

HUGG is a peer support organisation. They provide a safe, confidential environment in which those bereaved by suicide can share their experiences and feelings, so giving and gaining support from each other.

 

Please donate to our Shine A Light Night to help Focus Ireland and Hugg Irish charities.  Friends and family of Reliance are welcome to join in.

Reliance Donates €10,500 to help Ukraine

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Everyone at Reliance is devastated by what is unfolding in the Ukraine.  We feel totally helpless however we hope that a donation of €10,500 shared equally between Unicef and the Redcross will help in some small way.  We chose these 2 charities in particular because they are working hard on the frontline helping families with life-saving aid.

Collaborative Technology Roadshow March 2022

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Collaborative Technology Roadshow

 

In the past 2 years, Irish manufacturing companies are being forced to automate.  Regardless of whether it was in their strategic plan or not, automation is necessary due to lack of available staff, health and safety issues, Covid 19 restrictions, increases in demand and more.  Innovative improvements in technology have not stood still while the market was developing meaning there are a lot more cost-effective solutions available for processes.  Collaborative technology that safely interacts with human workers and can be easily programmed is surging in popularity.

Reliance Automation is the biggest automation product supplier in Ireland and represents both industrial and collaborative robot brands.  The company recognises that it is not always feasible for engineers to visit their Dublin, Cork or Limerick offices so they are taking their collaborative automation products on the road during March. 

The roadshow will take place in four venues and engineers are invited to attend and get hands on with the latest technology.  The event will kick off on 21st March in Reliance Automation’s Dublin facility which houses the “Automation Hub”, a permanent centre where the newest automation technology can be viewed by customers.  The event will then travel to Monaghan on 22nd March, Mullingar on 23rd March and Galway on 24th March. 

Collaborative technology on display will be cobots, autonomous guided vehicles, grippers and more.  The event will be run in conjunction with three of the world leading companies in the sector, Universal Robots, MiR and OnRobot.  Experts will travel with these companies to communicate in detail the features and benefits of their technologies, the safety specifications and how they can be integrated with other collaborative systems.  Ease of programming, flexibility and deployment will be a focus of the demonstrations also.

Manufacturing professionals are invited to attend the event free of charge.  The events will begin at 10am and will run until 2.30pm.  The agenda will include speakers from Reliance Automation, Universal Robot, MiR, OnRobot and the IMR (Irish Manufacturing Research Centre).  Light refreshments will be provided on the day.

Spaces are limited so attendance is by pre-booking only.  Attendees are invited to bring project detail, URS (User requirement specifications), components, manual process breakdowns, videos or any relevant information with them and it will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.  Non-disclosure agreements can be signed prior to or during the event.  Please book your space online at www.relianceautomation.ie/roadshow to ensure your attendance is secured.  For more information email info@relianceautomation.ie

Automation Hub Open Week

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Automation Hub Open Week

Reliance is pleased to invite you to our brand new Dublin facility in Ballymount where we are showcasing all the most innovative and up to date robotics and automation.  The company recently relocated the premises from the Naas road to a much bigger modern facility.  The first floor of the new premises houses Reliance Automation, a branch of the main company.  

Reliance Automation has grown rapidly and is now the largest supplier of manufacturing automation products in Ireland.  The hub will be open to customers by appointment only between Monday 7th and Friday 11th March 2022.  Customers can book a slot of between 1 and 3 hours to get the best from the guided tour.

Automation manager Gerry Graham and automation engineer David Webb will be on hand to demonstrate all the latest automation technology and enable attendees to get hands-on with the products.

Market leading collaborative robots “Universal Robots” will be available to program and run along with collaborative end of arm tooling from “OnRobot”.  Industrial robots from “Nachi” Japan which were famously designed for use in Toyota will also be demonstrated.  

Mobile robots are becoming increasingly popular in Ireland and represented at the open week will be the market leading collaborative autonomous mobile robot “MiR”.  

Some products on display are so new to the market that they are completely unknown but they will solve some existing problems withing manufacturing production.  The “Wyzo” is a high speed delta robot that is collaborative and slows when it comes into contact with humans for safety reasons.  It is already extremely popular and is mobile.

Another product new to the market is the “Flexibowl” intelligent unscrambling bowl with integrated vision system that can sort more than one product in the same bowl.

Reliance Automation also represents many other technologies such as SMC pneumatics and electric actuators.  The company also represents Bosch Rexroth as Ireland’s sole distributor.

Reliance Automation is credited with its strategy to bring the newest and most innovative technology to manufacturing in Ireland.  The company has recognised the need for an affordable collaborative palletising system.  It is expected that there will be a palletising solution unveiled at the open week so stay tuned!

Customers are encouraged to book in advance to secure their slot.  NDAs can be signed prior to the visit to ensure the best use of the time.  Customers are also advised to bring video footage of manual processes and physical components for testing and discussion.  

To book your place on the open week please contact info@relianceautomation.ie and specify a date that will be suitable along with the number of attendees.  

In The Press: Rise of The Machines

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Rise of The Machines Article: 

Sunday Independent 23rd January 2022

Reliance Automation:

If companies can’t hire the workforce they need, will more firms start building them instead?
Peter Creighton certainly thinks so. He is managing director of Cork-based Reliance Automation, a division of an engineering products and mechanical agricultural components company that was founded in 1920 out of the back of a Model T truck by Creighton’s great-grandfather Horace Rhodes Kenworthy.  Reliance distributes and maintains industrial cobots (collaborative robots) in Ireland for Danish manufacturer Universal Robots, and has just opened an automation hub in Dublin.

“What the pandemic did was made companies realise that if they had automated before they wouldn’t be in the sticky situation they are in now,” says Creighton.  “Covid has taught us a lot of lessons about the way the world will look going forward, which is that there are going to be times when we are going to go through pandemics – though not for a long time, I hope.

“Staff can be out because they are sick or there is a Covid outbreak and all of those elements come into the mix in how businesses are planning for the future.

“This next generation of robotics has been a game-changer for businesses looking to automate, because all of a sudden you can put a robot working side-by-side with someone without having to deal with safety issues.

“You can move that robot from one application to another and have as many pre-saved programs as you want – you just pick a program for any application and press ‘go’.
“The biomedical and biopharma companies are advanced in their use of robotics, but they are always adding on to what they have.

“A big problem is those businesses don’t have staff now, because of Covid outbreaks, and have to stop production lines. One large customer who purchases a lot of automation now has three out of 20 production lines that aren’t working because of Covid.

“It’s worrying because they are manufacturing products that save lives.
“The food industry is certainly growing in its requirements for automation. Meat processing plants are very labour intensive and have had awful problems with labour during Covid.
“A cut of meat will be a different size every time, so it’s very difficult to automate the cutting of meat. But we do work with those companies for tasks like moving product from one area to the next.

“Robotics in high-volume warehousing housing and logistics it is most definitely an area that’s going to grow.

“Ireland is still in its infancy in this regard – the return on investment is more suited to larger high-volume warehouses, like the Amazon fulfilment centre that’s opening [in Baldonnell]. The logistics companies are looking at automating more than general warehousing, because of the surge in online shopping. The supermarket distribution warehouses are too.”

Automation Hub Open Week

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Reliance Automation Opens to the Public for Automation Testing

On 7th to 11th March 2022, the brand new Dublin 12 facility containing Reliance Automation’s technology centre will host an open week.  The purpose of the week is for customers and manufacturing companies to visit and carry out hands on training or even proof of concepts.  Visitors are encouraged to bring parts and components as well as project details with them to allow them to test the in house automation and robotics.

Reliance Automation’s engineering experts will be on hand to discuss automation options and test in house solutions first hand.  Technology available for exploration will be Universal Robots cobots, end of arm tooling, MiR autonomous mobile robots, a high speed collaborative delta robot, bosch rexroth, SMAC actuators, IAI actuators and so much more.  Olympus robotic welding cells will be available for testing with customers actual parts.

A busy week is expected so please email info@reliance.ie to book a time slot to ensure we can support you and you get the best out of your visit.  You can also express your intention to attend on our Linkedin event page.

Get hands-on with innovative technology at Dublin’s first automation hub

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COVID-19 has impacted Ireland in many ways, but one unforeseen change is that the automation of manual tasks has increased significantly.

A McKinsey report analysis suggests that 39-58% of the worldwide work activities in operationally intensive sectors could be automated by employing current automation technologies.

Reliance Automation, Ireland’s largest automation supply partner, has seen such a change first-hand within the Irish market where their customers are finding it very difficult to attract labour. The issue is apparent across the whole island, especially for repetitive, arduous and dangerous tasks.

This shift in the market has prompted the company to seek out even more new and innovative solutions to customers’ needs in our manufacturing industries. As a result, full automation of heavy lifting, packaging, driving pallet trucks, manual picking and placing of parts and even handling dangerous components is now more commonplace.

Utilising mobile robotic technology

Examples of innovations that are being continually deployed in today’s factories include the use of AMRs otherwise known as autonomous mobile robots. Previously these were known as AGVs but newer technology allows the mobile robots to now move around workers and obstacles safely and be programmed easily without any need for floor or wall sensors.

Reliance automation distributes AMRs from the world leading mobile robot brand, Mobile Industrial Robots A/S (MiR). Companies are deploying MiR robots to simplify and automate logistical tasks like moving products between clean rooms and warehouses, moving pallets to storage areas etc. Typically, this frees up crucial staff for more meaningful tasks thereby improving job satisfaction.

MiR robots can be used seamlessly with many other collaborative technologies such as universal robots, OnRobot grippers and ROEQ accessories (carts, rolling conveyors) for the top of the mobile robot.

“Newer technology allows the mobile robots to now move around workers and obstacles safely.”

Safe human and robot collaboration

Another automation trend that is being deployed on the manufacturing floor is the use of collaborative robots, meaning robots that can safely interact with humans without the use of extra guarding or safety systems. The robots are built specifically for this purpose as well as focusing on ease of programming and flexibility of re-deployment. Universal robots are the market leader and a partner of Reliance Automation. UR collaborative robots now have many compatible technologies to make the systems even easier to implement into production, by the end user themselves in many cases.

OnRobot is a company based in Denmark, Europe’s silicon valley for automation. The company has a vast range of end of arm tooling that clips easily and seamlessly onto the universal robot. The tooling is high tech and extremely intuitive. It automatically communicates with the robot so that minimal programming is needed to run an automated process. The range includes palletising, electric suction grippers, finger grippers end even sanding and screwdriving tools. OnRobot grippers are fully collaborative, very affordable and additional safety validation is not necessary for deployment.

New automation hub

Reliance Automation will be opening a brand new automation hub within its new facility in Ballymount, Dublin in January 2022. The hub will allow engineers and stakeholders to experience innovative automation technologies first-hand on a one-to-one basis with their technical experts. The hub will also house Dublin’s only training centre for Universal Robots. A launch of the automation hub is expected in the first quarter of 2022.

Interactive technology on display at the automation hub will include innovative products such as a world’s first collaborative high-speed delta (spider) robot with built-in safety scanners and vision system. A vision guided collaborative palletising system for bags and boxes, an intelligent bowl feeding system, a robotic welding system and electrical pneumatic replacements will also be showcased.

If you are part of the manufacturing industry and would like to attend the launch or book a one-to-one automation experience, please visit www.relianceautomation.ie/automation-hub/ to secure your place.

A no strings attached free site audit to evaluate automation possibilities

Click here to learn more

Robotics Roadshow 2022

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Reliance Automation hosts an event showcasing the latest collaborative robotic technology. Featuring UR cobots, MiR mobile robot, OnRobot and Cobot safety.

Reliance Automation hosts an event showcasing the latest collaborative and industrial robotic technology. Hear about features and benefits of collaborative technologies as well as safety. Featuring industrial robots, UR cobots, MiR mobile robot, OnRobot end of arm tools, linear drives and more.

  • 10am registration, tea and coffee
  • 10.30am Hear from our partners
  • 12pm Learn about safety
  • 12.30pm Get hands-on with the technology
  • 2.00pm Close

Light lunch provided for corporate guests

Reliance Dublin moves to a new modern facility in Ballymount, D12

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Reliance Automation at the Manufacturing Exhibition 2021

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Reliance Automation Wows at RDS Manufacturing Show

Reliance Automation didn’t let visitors down at the recent Manufacturing Exhibition held in the RDS.  The stand was a huge 24M2 and hosted a huge range of innovative technology including cobots, industrial robots, mobile robots, electric actuators and even some brand new innovative products.  

There were some stand out stars of the show; the Wyzo the Flexibowl and Bosch Rexroth Control X.   The Wyzo is the worlds first robot that marries the benefits of fast industrial robots and safe cobots in one unit.  The demonstration on the Reliance Automation stand was in fact only the 6th unit in the world.  Visitors were able to interact with the delta robot when it was moving quickly and it responded by slowing down into safe mode.  

The Flexibowl also attracted lots of attention by demonstrating how parts can be picked using vision from an intelligent vibrating bowl system.  The system sorted and picked pens for visitors to take from the stand.  

Having just announced it’s partnership with Bosch Rexroth, Reliance Automation was also proud to showcase the brand new ground breaking Control X technology.  ctrlX AUTOMATION surmounts the classic boundaries between machine controls, the IT world and the Internet of Things. With a Linux real-time operating system, consistently open standards, app programming technology, web-based engineering and a comprehensive IoT connection, ctrlX AUTOMATION reduces components and engineering costs by 30 to 50%.

Reliance Automation clearly demonstrated it’s unique place in the Irish market as the supplier with the largest and most innovative range of automation products.  The company does not built machines or integrate, rather they sell directly to end users who have the expertise to self integrate or via machine builder.  This makes savings much easier to achieve for lean specialists and Reliance Automation prides itself on after sales service to ensure their product quality speaks for itself.  

Reliance Automation plans to open Dublin’s first automation hub to showcase their technology on a permanent basis and provide training to customers.  They also plan to do a roadshow in May of next year to bring technology to major cities across the island. 

If you would like to find out more about any of Reliance Automation’s products please contact us.

Webinar: Collaborative Vision Guided Palletising Solution

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Collaborative Vision Guided Palletising Solution
Cobot Lift is a new and innovative company providing a solution that extends the lifting capacity of a Universal Robot cobot to 45kg. Cobot Lift can be used in various different industries and environments and is an affordable and flexible solution to health and safety concerns.  Join our webinar to learn abour Cobot Lift’s brand new vision guided palletising solution using a universal robot.

Webinar Agenda:

  • About Cobot Lift
  • Benefits
  • Solutions
  • Vision guided palletising solution
  • Case studies
  • Prices
  • New Products
Cobot Lift Webinar Host
Henrik Elm Gullov will host the webinar and discuss the features and benefits of Cobotlift. He will discuss the innovative and dynamic vision based palletising solution paying attention to case studies in various different industries and environments. Henrik has a wealth of executive and technical experience at national and international board level.
CEO & Co-Founder of Cobot Lift
Henrik Elm Gulløv
1st December 2021 9 am – 9.45am
Cost: FREE
Book Now
Learn more about Cobot Lift
Are you interested in finding out more about Cobot Lift in advance of the webinar?  View the video above or Contact Reliance Automation, Ireland’s exclusive Cobot Lift partner.

Reliance Staff Raise Over €8k for Charity

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Over 8k raised by Reliance team for Focus Ireland and HUGG Charities

October 15th saw the national “Shine a Light” campaign run buy Focus Ireland to raise funding for homelessness in Ireland. As of August 2021, the number of people certified as homeless in the Republic of Ireland is 8212.  The aim of the annual event is to raise sponsorship for sleeping out that night while gaining a real insight into what homeless people must endure on a nightly basis.

The team at Reliance took the last minute decision to bring together their Cork, Dublin and Limerick facilities and stage a meaningful sleepout at its head office location in Little Island, Cork. 16 people braved the night weather and came together on the night raising a total of €6182, over twice the target!

Peter Creighton, MD of Reliance, got involved and brought along his teenage daughter. “When I came across the charity, I just knew it is something we had to do.  This was our first-time taking part as a company. As a family business almost a century old, we are very focused on the team so we felt that such an amazing charity on our own doorstep was very worthwhile.  We are absolutely delighted with the amount raised and thank you so much to all those who donated. It is overwhelming just how generous people have been with both their time and donations.  We also gained a lot from the experience as a team, and it brought us closer together.  It was a wonderful experience for me and my daughter to go through together.”

Reliance was 14th on the company leader board for funds raised which was a great achievement considering they only decided to participate a week in advance of the event!  The overall amount raised by Focus Ireland was over €1.2m which will go a long way to supporting the charity’s work.  Reliance has vowed to take part again next year and delighted that their contribution will make a real difference to those suffering here in Ireland.

In addition to raising funds for homelessness in Ireland, Reliance staff ran a joint fundraiser for HUGG, a charity that supports families affected by suicide.  This charity was particularly supportive of a team member from Cork, Frank Hurley, who tragically lost her son in January.  HUGG was her lifeline when she struggled to find solace in everyday life.  The charity provides refuge by bringing families together in a group setting who have suffered the same loss.  Reliance raised an additional €1200 in support of HUGG.  Details of HUGG can be found on www.hugg.ie

Reliance achieves Bosch Rexroth Certified Excellence Partner status for Ireland

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NEW Certified Excellence Business Partner

We are very pleased to announce that RELIANCE may now call itself a Certified Excellence Partner of Bosch Rexroth.

RELIANCE has successfully completed all stages of the certification process and from now on will specialise as an Linear Motion (LT) Distribution Partner and a Automation & Electrification (AE) Solution Partner of Bosch Rexroth UK

You can find Bosch Rexroth products on www.reliance.ie as well as our automation website www.relianceautomation.ie

#OneRexrothSales #CertifiedExcellence #WeMoveYouWin

Book Free Demonstration

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Reliance Sleep out for Focus Ireland

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Help Reliance Shine a Light on homelessness with Focus Ireland

The past two years have helped everyone to appreciate the food, shelter and family are all that truely matters to make us happy.  Unfortunately though, pandemic or not, there are still homeless people in our own country.  This is an ongoing serious problem that is affecting over 900 families and over 2000 kids in Ireland.

In order to help make a difference Reliance will “Shine a Light” on homelessness in Ireland by sleeping out in Reliance Cork on 15th October in aid of Focus Ireland.  Our team is working hard to raise funds towards the big sleep out so we would really appreciate if you can also contribute to such a great cause.  


Donate Here

Soft Robotics Gripper for handling delicate products 

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Reliance Automation Wins 2 Awards

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Award Winners

 

Reliance Automation won not 1 but 2 awards from OnRobot at their partners event in Edinburgh. The awards recognised Reliance Automation for having the “Highest turnover” and “Best collaborative application” for projects carried out in 2021. 

Automation division manager, Gerry Graham, delivered a presentation on how Reliance Automation adopts a partnership approach with clients to choose the best end of arm tooling for their applications. The automation division continues to lead at the forefront of innovation in Ireland bringing robots, cobots, mobile robots and advanced solutions to the market.  The event was hosted by Vikram Kumar and his team at OnRobot.  

Fuchs and Reliance Partnership News

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Announcement

Exclusive Distribution Partnership Agreement between Fuchs and Reliance

As a user of high-end lubricants, you will appreciate that quality, service, and cost are crucial in a lubricants supplier.

Fuchs values its customers and therefore has made necessary changes to combat customs administration challenges, extended shipping times and uncertainty brought on by Brexit.

To overcome Brexit issues and improve service levels, Fuchs has taken the decision to partner with Reliance, as the authorised technical distributor of Fuchs Industrial lubricants in Ireland. Reliance is Ireland’s largest engineering products distributor, with 3 strategically located facilities in Ireland, and with over 45,000 sq. ft of warehousing space available.

Our new partnership will ensure lead times and delivery service levels for Fuchs Lubricants will improve significantly ensuring Fuchs customers will be able to plan better and stay more competitive.

Should you have queries please contact us at any of our 3 locations.


Manufacturing Exhibition 2021

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The National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference and Exhibition is taking place on 23rd and 24th November in the RDS Dublin. The day starts at 9am on both the days and runs until 16.00pm on the 23rd and 15.00pm on the 24th.

Meet the Reliance Automation team

We will be on stand C16 and looking forward to demonstrating our technologies.

What can you see?

  • Universal Robot Cobot
  • MiR robot
  • Nachi robot
  • ROEQ equipment for MiR
  • Onrobot end of arm tools
  • Flexibowl
  • Cobotlift
  • IAI
  • THK
  • Smac

If you would like to meet one of our automation experts to discuss your application, send us an email and book a time slot info@relianceautomation.ie 

Covid Pandemic shifts manufacturing towards automation

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After 2 years of wading through business in a pandemic it is difficult to see who the winners are… 

Many sectors of the domestic economy have been severely affected with widescale job losses, the unemployment rate stood at 14.7 per cent in September 2020 which is much higher than the pre-pandemic level and household spending declined by 22 and 24 per cent respectively in the second quarter of that year according to the ESRI.

On the other hand, Irish export figures were strong due to medicinal and pharmaceutical products and computer services. With extra pressures being inflicted on an already struggling manufacturing sector such as health and safety covid measures, social distancing on production lines, illness, pandemic payments and covid outbreaks, many businesses had to seek out an alternative way to continue trading safely.

Reliance Automation, a large automation technologies supply partner serving the Island of Ireland, identified a shift in the type of automation being requested by their customers.  Peter Creighton, MD of the company comments “We have had two difficult years just as every other business; however, we continue to experience demand for automation resulting from the Covid pandemic situation.  Production lines of people who were tightly packed within one metre of each other suddenly needed to distance themselves 2m apart and there was also a huge increase in demand for covid related products such as testing and vaccines.”

“Many factories found themselves introducing extra shifts to split the workers for safety reasons and introducing automation to ensure demand was met.  One large customer introduced robotics to significantly increase covid samples being tested quickly and safely.  Within the food industry, which is traditionally very slow to adopt automation, there has been a significant shift towards automation due of significant increased demand.”

Looking outside of Ireland the trend has continued in the USA and Europe.  In 2021, robots imported into the USA increased by 26.3% according to the Financial Times.  Within Europe it was also reported that many factories chose to adopt “lights out manufacturing” with production continuing with 100% automation and operators controlling systems remotely from home.  The International Federation for Robotics (IFR) testified that automation has now been deployed 25 times faster than was expected pre-pandemic.

Let us address the elephant in the room, job losses.  The pandemic seems to have also brought the controversial debate about automation and job losses to the fore and finally proven that automation is a necessary part of industrial evolution.  The IFR also conveyed that digitisation will create significantly more jobs than it destroys in the next 5 years.  Due to an increase in automation jobs like engineering, IT and programming, there has merely been a shift in the types of jobs that are now in high demand.  UiPath, a software company founded in Romania and now headquartered in New York, reported that they have employed 60% more programmers since the pandemic began in 2019 and they expect to recruit a further 70% more this year. 

Does Ireland reflect the global trend?  Peter Creighton of Reliance Automation confirms it does.  “I can honestly confirm that, for the robots and automation solutions we have supplied to our customers since the Covid pandemic began, no staff members have been replaced as a direct result with redeployment to more interesting roles being the main change for many.  Demand continues to be driven by an increase in sales or a lack of available people.  There has been a huge change in attitudes of both our customers and the public in general and there now seems to be an understanding of the benefits of automation.  Afterall, automation kept the public safe from the virus for the past 2 years in many cases.”

According to Reliance Automation, there have been huge strides in robotics and automation innovations in recent years to allow for humans to work side by side with machines.  Collaborative robots, often termed ‘cobots’ are specifically designed to engage with operators safely.  Cobots take repetitive and dangerous tasks from humans but still allow humans to interact with them closely.  Rather than replacing humans, cobots are carving out a future for human and machine cooperation to achieve the best manufacturing solutions.

Robotics and automation is here to stay and is now being embraced more rapidly due to demand, safety and future proofing necessities.  The pandemic has removed the fear factor and sky-rocketed the raw need for automation to enhance performance, efficiency, and reliability.  The future may be a little different, full of digital innovations and automation, however it is safe, and it is bright.

If you would like to find out more about robotics, automation or cobots contact Reliance Automation www.relianceautomation.ie or email info@relianceautomation.ie.  The Reliance Automation website hosts lots of videos showing automation applications in manufacturing that have promoted health and safety and webinars for further learning.

UR 16e Cobot

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Quick UR16e Facts

Reach: 900 mm / 35.4 ins

Payload: 16 kg / 35.3 lbs

Footprint: Ø 190 mm

Weight: 33.1 kg / 73 lbs

THE UR16e COLLABORATIVE INDUSTRIAL ROBOT

The Universal Robots UR16e delivers an impressive 16kg (35.3 lbs.) of payload within a small footprint, and is ideal for use in heavy machine tending, material handling, packaging, and screw and nut driving applications. This powerhouse robot allows for heavier end of arm tooling and multi-part handling, and is especially useful for achieving shorter cycle times.

GET TO KNOW OUR UR16e ROBOT

The utility of this collaborative industrial robot is unmatchable. The UR16e is built for heavy duty tasks like machine tending, material handling, packaging, material removal, and screw and nut driving applications.  It handles an exceptional 16 kg of payload that is especially useful for carrying heavy end of arm tooling and can lift multiple parts in a single pick, making tasks much more efficient by achieving shorter cycle times. UR16e is also offered as an OEM robot system and with a 3-Position Teach pendant. Are you looking for the CB3 model you can find it here

 

UR 10e Cobot

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Quick UR10e Facts

Reach: 1300 mm / 51.2 ins

Payload: 12.5 kg / 27.55 lbs

Footprint: Ø 190 mm

Weight: 33.5 kg / 73.9 lbs

OUR BEST-SELLING COBOT JUST GOT BETTER.

Delivering 25% more payload – the UR10e now lifts up to 12.5 kg. That means more performance and even more productivity, 24 hrs a day.  With a proven 1300 mm reach and an even longer record of success, our best-selling cobot has been built to do even more.

GET TO KNOW OUR NEW UR10e ROBOT WITH 25% MORE LIFTING CAPACITY

The UR10e is an extraordinarily versatile collaborative industrial robot, delivering both high payload (12.5 kg) lift and long reach (1300mm) which makes it well suited for a wide range of applications in machine tending, palletizing, and packaging. The UR10e is also offered as an OEM robot system and with a 3-Position Enabling Teach Pendant. Are you looking for the CB3 model? Find it here

UR 5e Cobot

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Quick UR5e Facts

Reach: 850 mm / 33.5 ins

Payload: 5 kg / 11 lbs

Footprint: Ø 149 mm

Weight: 20.6 kg / 45.4 lbs

THE UR5e – A FLEXIBLE COLLABORATIVE ROBOT ARM

Built with the future in mind, the UR5e is designed to grow in capability alongside your business, a spring board to improved product quality and productivity, so you will always be able to stay ahead of competition. Equipped with intuitive programming, versatile use and an almost endless list of opportunities for add-ons, the UR5e is able to complement production regardless of your industry, company size or product nature.  The UR5e strikes the perfect balance between size and power.

GET TO KNOW OUR UR5e ROBOT

The UR5e is a lightweight, adaptable collaborative industrial robot that tackles medium-duty applications with ultimate flexibility.   The UR5e is designed for seamless integration into a wide range of applications. UR5e is also offered as an OEM robot system and with a 3-Position Teach pendant. Are you looking for the CB3 model? Find it here.

UR 3e Cobot

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Quick UR3e Facts

Reach: 500 mm / 19.7 ins

Payload: 3 kg / 6.6 lbs

Footprint: Ø 128 mm

Weight: 11.2 kg / 24.7 lbs

NEW SERIES OF COLLABORATIVE ROBOTS

The UR3e collaborative robot is a smaller collaborative table-top robot, perfect for light assembly tasks and automated workbench scenarios. The compact table-top cobot weighs only 24.3 lbs (11 kg), but has a payload of 6.6 lbs (3 kg),  ±360-degree rotation on all wrist joints, and infinite rotation on the end joint.   

The UR3e has a compact form factor making it a good fit for tight workspaces.  Its small footprint is great for bench-tops or built directly inside machinery, making it well suited for light assembly and screwdriving applications. UR3e is also offered as an OEM robot system and with a 3-Position Teach pendant. Are you looking for the CB3 model? Find it here

Brand New Innovative Automation Products Launched

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Introducing FlexiBowl

Reliance Automation is delighted to announce that we have been appointed as the official distributor for Flexibowl in Ireland. FlexiBowl® is an innovative flexible parts feeder that is compatible with every robot and vision system. Entire families of parts within 1-250 mm and 1-250 g can be handled by a single FlexiBowl®, replacing a whole set of vibrating bowl feeders. Its lack of dedicated tooling and its easy-to-use and intuitive programming allows quick and multiple product changeovers inside the same work shift. Production changes are made in a matter of seconds, without needing long mechanical adjustments.
 
Find Out More
 
 
Introducing Cobotlift

Reliance Automation is delighted to announce that we have been appointed as the official distributor for CobotLift in Ireland. Cobotlift is an ideal solution for palletising or de-palletising where manual handling is a health and safety concern. Cobotlift offers a solution allowing the operator to work collaboratively with the robot and can lift up to 45kg

The Cobotlift solution is new and innovative in solving manufacturing issues such as:

  • Manual Handling
  • Lack of Space
  • Integration with other technology
  • Flexibility
  • Cost of automatic palletising/de-palletising
 


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Reliance Launches A New B2B Web Shop

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Reliance is the largest provider of technical engineering products to Irish manufacturing and agriculture. Nearly 100 years old, Reliance attributes its long success to personal customer service and by continuing to introduce leading innovations. Reliance is pleased to launch its online web shop (www.reliance.ie ) to introduce a new dimension in how you can now do business with Reliance.

Reliance’s long-standing reputation is based on partnership and loyalty. We love engaging with our loyal customer base on a daily basis. We also wish to make it easier for our customers to do business with us. In addition to being able to place orders online or check stock and pricing, customers will also be in a position to print old invoices set up template order profiles amongst many other capabilities.

The new Reliance web shop has now been launched and customers are invited to set up an account.  Reliance is offering a €10/£10 discount to be applied to the first order placed online. To open an account simply click on the log in section of the website and follow the instructions. Customers will be guided through the account set up by a knowledgeable web shop assistant. Reliance service representatives are also available to assist in account set up and ordering. 

Other benefits of setting up an account include being the first to learn about new innovative products and promotions.  To avail of the discount simply type 1STWEB into the code box when asked for a discount code then complete the purchase.    Delivery and customer service policies will be unchanged.  To browse products and prices visit www.reliance.ie

We hope you enjoy the experience of being able to trade with Reliance online.

Reliance Launches Innovator’s Hub

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Reliance Automation Partners Innovators in Technology to Launch to Market

 

There are many types of innovators in the world, those who have create ideas, those who turn ideas into products and those who take products to market.  Often innovators with ground-breaking ideas lack the support, skill sets and funding to commercialise their vision successfully.  Reliance Automation is at the forefront of innovation in Ireland and our mission is to closely partner with innovators to successfully introduce their ground-breaking technologies to market.

Many research support agencies currently operate within Irish universities such as the Tyndall institute or the IMR (Irish Manufacturing Research) centre.  These supports provide excellent guidance and funding for innovators to research and test their ideas and prove that their concepts are marketable.  However, great inventions need to be taken many steps further to be ready for successful introduction to industry. 

Reliance Automation recognises that substantial innovative talent exists in Ireland and with the right support, together we can drive change through technology. Reliance Automation partners with innovators of new world 1st innovative solutions and provides guidance on protecting intellectual property as well as engineering and business advice.  Reliance Automation is already a leading provider of automation solutions in Ireland and works within manufacturing daily.  The company can offer practical support on market research, budgeting, economics, costing, strategic planning, exporting and so much more.

Reliance Automation has set up an “Innovators Hub” to actively support innovators we partner with.  Innovators and education institutions are encouraged to engage with Reliance to openly discuss their concepts and new solutions.  Confidentiality is paramount and Reliance Automation will undertake all measures to protect the private nature of a viable concept.  The business values fairness and honesty and builds strong, comprehensive partnerships to successfully introduce new innovations to market both in Ireland and internationally. 

Reliance Automation Appointed as Irish Partner for Schaeffler OPTIME Condition Monitoring

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Reliance Automation is delighted to announce that it has been appointed Ireland’s sole technology partner for the newly launched Schaeffler Optime condition monitoring system. The system is set to take industry by storm for its effectiveness in improving plant reliability and asset optimisation.  Read on to find out more about Schaeffler Optime and contact us for more information

Monitor all assets in a single app

Schaeffler OPTIME makes condition monitoring cost-effective for all plant assets

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With Schaeffler OPTIME, comprehensive and automated condition monitoring is now a cost-effective proposition for maintenance personnel and facility operators. Schaeffler OPTIME is an efficient and easy-to-use low-cost solution designed specifically for the comprehensive condition monitoring of all indirectly process-critical assets across entire machine and equipment parks.

2020-02-12 | Schweinfurt/Hannover

 

  • Schaeffler OPTIME: Comprehensive and automated condition monitoring
  • Highly scalable wireless IoT solution
  • Easily integrates several hundred assets in a single day
  • Cost savings of up to 50 percent compared with manual offline measurement

For cost reasons, permanently installed continuous condition monitoring is typically used only for production machines that are directly process-critical. In the process manufacturing and automation industries, it is therefore not uncommon for up to 95 percent of all assets in a production facility to be either totally unmonitored or monitored only periodically by means of route-based, manual measurements. With Schaeffler OPTIME, however, comprehensive and automated condition monitoring is now a cost-effective proposition for maintenance personnel and facility operators. Schaeffler OPTIME is an efficient and easy-to-use low-cost solution designed specifically for the comprehensive condition monitoring of all indirectly process-critical assets across entire machine and equipment parks.

Automated data analysis powered by Schaeffler expertise
OPTIME is an easily scalable system that consists essentially of wireless, battery-powered vibration sensors, a gateway, and an app to visualize the resulting analysis data. The data captured by the sensors are analyzed using specially developed algorithms that draw on Schaeffler’s technical expertise, its extensive storehouse of physical models developed and refined over many decades, and the experience in condition monitoring that it has built up in the course of its bearing servicing operations. OPTIME provides several weeks’ early warning of damage to machine components such as electric motors, fans, and pumps. It also provides early warning of imbalances, misalignments, and knocking. The app presents trends in graph form and visualizes the severity of incidents using traffic light colors, alarm states, and other information. Assets can be grouped according to users’ requirements, and their condition can be presented in a range of user group-specific views. With OPTIME, in-house maintenance crews and external service contractors receive specific recommendations on the remedial steps required, so they can easily plan their maintenance work, manpower requirements, and spare parts procurement in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

Quick and easy initial operation
OPTIME can be installed and initial operation carried out without any prior condition monitoring expertise, and several hundred measuring points can easily be set up in the space of a single day. The vibration sensors are attached to the monitored assets by means of screws or adhesive, and are activated by the accompanying app, which connects to them via near-field communication (NFC). All installed sensors communicate autonomously with each other and the gateway, thereby forming a dedicated mesh network that ranks among the most reliable and energy-efficient types of IoT networks in use in industry today. The sensors in the mesh network transmit machine KPI data and raw vibration and temperature data via the gateway to the Schaeffler IoT Hub. The hub analyzes the data, and the results are displayed in the app, which supports a very wide range of end devices commonly used by maintenance teams and plant operators. Alternatively, the analysis results can be made available for integration into the customer’s own IT environment via a REST API.

Cost savings of up to 50 percent
OPTIME can yield cost savings of around 50 percent compared with monthly offline measurements made using hand-held devices. It also provides better-quality monitoring than most wireless online CMS systems thanks to its complex, algorithm-based analytics. Moreover, OPTIME can be used for a multitude of assets for which condition monitoring was previously not commercially viable, which makes it the first solution capable of providing an overview of machine states that is truly comprehensive and encompasses all subsystems and auxiliary assets. This is important, because the automated condition monitoring of all assets is fundamental to the reliable prevention of unplanned machine and plant shutdowns.

 

Inspection in Industry 4.0: The rise of Cobotics

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HARNESSING THE POWER OF AUTOMATION IN QUALITY ASSURANCE

Industry 4.0 is here and more pivotal than ever. Whether you’re in automotive or electronics, generating greater output efficiencies with reduced inputs can be a challenge that many Production or Operational Teams face.

Using cutting-edge software as part of Industry 4.0, the power of cobotics can leverage your current inspection system to quickly identify multiple parts or component quality issues before they arise.

Discover how by leveraging cobotic automation you can offer…

  • Enhanced production workflow flexibility.
  • Greater product repeatability.
  • …and most of all, offer consistent quality assurance.

Unlock the power of automation in your quality assurance process today by registering for our latest webinar on 6th April, at 11:00am (GMT).

Register

Machine Tending

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Robotic Machine Tending 

On top of the increased uptime, robotic machine tending systems are more accurate, safer and more repeatable than manual loading and unloading. Not only can this increase the quality of parts produced, but it can reduce the amount of error in the machining process, maximizing throughput and minimizing wasted materials and time.  The increased uptime benefit comes from the ability to do what known as “lights out” runs, setting up a large run of items to be machined in the evening, and coming back in the morning to find them finished.
Machine Tending Simulation using Universal Robot

Benefits of Robotic Machine Tending

  1. Lower operating costs and fast Return on Investment
  2. Improve speed and precision as well as reliability and quality
  3. Relieve machine operators from physically demanding, repetitive work, freeing them up for more valuable tasks
  4. Eliminate the risk of injuries
  5. Flexibility if your work flow changes, the Universal Robot can be deployed quickly and easily elsewhere due to its small size and lightweight design
  6. Small footprint, the robots can even be pole mounted beside the machine, taking up almost no floor space, and when using Universal Robots, no caging is necessary
Contact Reliance Automation for a free, no commitment consultation
Find out More
 

2021 Automation Brochure

Click the image to view the Reliance Automation NEW Automation Brochure

SMAC

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SMAC is a leading manufacturer of precision programmable electric actuators based on moving coil technology. SMAC actuators are unique in that force, position, and speed are totally programmable. SMAC electric actuators are designed to perform at exceptionally high speeds or very low speeds and with sub-micron accuracy and repeatability. Patented Soft-Land™ function gives extremely accurate sensing of product location or dimensions.

This makes SMAC electric actuators ideal for a wide range of high cycle positioning, measuring, inspection, and pick and place applications, particularly where 100% verification is required. Customers desiring to increase up-time, ease of set up, and adjustment can make dramatic improvements by using mechatronic SMAC Moving Coil technology.

Electric Cylinders

 High speed, compact and price-competitive cylinder actuators that provide an alternative to pneumatic cylinders with superior performance. SMAC electric cylinders offer life cycle well beyond 100 million cycles and the ability to repeat a move within one millisecond with no stiction. The conventional cylinder actuator shape and multiple mounting points allow the electric cylinders to be directly retrofitted in most cases.

Linear Actuators

 

A comprehensive selection of electric linear actuators are offered in a wide range of sizes, styles, and options for automated manufacturing, packaging, assembly applications, and more. These programmable linear actuators range from units with 10mm stroke in a compact unit only 8mm in height, to units with 250mm of stroke length or up to 500N peak force.

Linear Rotary Actuators

The precision Z-theta motion within one small actuator, providing a convenient pick, orient and place. A wide variety of linear rotary actuators are offered with either direct drive or gearbox equipped rotary units.

The vacuum-built-in shaft through the rotary motor is available for some models to prevent dust build-up in the unit. These z-theta actuators can easily be programmed to control force/torque, position and velocity in all axes at the same time with feedback capability. SMAC’s unique, patented “Soft-Land” function enables the unit to gently land on a delicate component with a controlled force to avoid damage of both the component and the actuator.

Popular Applications:

Ejection off a line

Capping

Smart Screw Driver

Thread Check

Measurement

Pick and place

Need to Automate? What Next?

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NEED TO AUTOMATE? WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

 
 

The decision to invest in automating is reached by in-depth analysis of sales, finance, space, staff and your return on investment. 

When you decide you want or need to automate, how do you then select the right automation solution that is best suited to your process…Reliance Automation specialises in assisting you in this process and at no cost to you…

 Reliance is the only authorised specialist automation company in Ireland that is nationally based and not biased towards using one technology over another. This means we will support you where-ever you are located and we will have your best interests as our primary goal.

 

Reliance is partnered with the widest range of global leading automation technology manufacturers and depending on what your application is, we will determine what the best suite of technologies will be for you to achieve your automation goals with no hidden agendas.

Reliance is not an integrator, instead we work with the majority of established integrators based in Ireland. If your application requires an integrator to be involved, we will know which integrator is best suited to your project and importantly, will deliver on time, using best in class technologies and within budget. In addition, Reliance Automation will always be there all the way to make sure your project runs smoothly from start to finish.

What’s the catch…There is none. Reliance specialises and represents the widest range of automation technologies in Ireland, we have nearly 100 years of application knowhow and we have very strong partnerships to ensure any automation project will be delivered at the best price for the application. When a project needs to be automated, Reliance’s role is to marry all of the key components of the project so that the process is easy, efficient, cost effective and most importantly, delivers the planned return on investment. Our strong ethos is a collaborative open book partnership approach to any project we are involved in. Read on for some practical and impartial advice to help you choose the right technology for your application.

 Which Robot is Right for your Application

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Industrial Robot

  • Cost: From €16k for robot 
  • Programming: Must be programmed by integrator or robot brand supplier
  • Flexibility: Can be re-deployed but needs integrator and re-programming
  • Safety: Non-collaborative due to high speeds and payloads so needs guarding or light curtains
  • Versatility: Many end of arm tool options
  • Reach: Up to 4m
  • Space:  Usually needs considerable floor space but can be ceiling mounted
  • Support:  24/7 support 365 days a year 
  • Speed: High speed option 
  • Payload: Can manage huge payloads and is used for car manufacturing 
  • Other Costs:  Up to €100k for safety guarding, programming, EOAT, cell etc.

Collaborative Robot

  • Cost: From €23k 
  • Programming:  Can be done by in-house engineers so no need for outside integrators
  • Flexibility: Adapts to processes and can be re-programmed in house quickly and easily
  • Safety: Conforms to health and safety standards and is safe when run in Collaborative mode
  • Versatility:  Many end of arm tool options. For collaborative mode the EOAT must also be collaborative
  • Reach: Up to 1.35m
  • Space: Ideal for small spaces no guarding needed
  • Support:  24/7 support 365 days a year 
  • Speed:  Ideal for slower processes in collaborative mode
  • Payload:  Max 16kg including EOAT – Can be increased to 45kg using CobotLift (Supplied by Reliance Automation)
  • Other Costs: EOAT from €2k
 

Suitable Applications

Industrial robots are ideal for applications that are high speed and require heavy lifting. These could include high speed palletising, pick and place of heavy car components etc. The project focus is on speed and not on space. Industrial robots allow for fast return on investment due to scaling up of production through dramatically increased speed and running 24/7. These robots solve issues such as output increases, quality, and heavy lifting.  View suitable applications in the video below.

Collaborative robots are suited to smaller intricate applications such as pick and place within the pharmaceutical or food industry. These applications are not speed focused, but space is an issue. Collaborative robots work well in busy production areas where operator interaction is necessary. Collaborative robots can palletise using a very small footprint. They are also easy to program and re-deploy in house. Collaborative robots solve such issues as repetitive stress injury, quality, output.  View suitable applications in the video below.


What’s The Verdict?

It is clear that both collaborative and industrial robots have a place in the production line with different advantages. Which one is best is dependent on the specific application. Both are compaiable with other equipment such as end of arm tooling, conveyors, motors, HMI and PLC etc. At Reliance Automation we can supply you directly with both Universal Collaborative Robots and Nachi Industrial robots and we support our customers to ensure they make the best equipment choices. We work with you and our suppliers to ensure you reach your automation goals and achieve the best ROI.  

Contact Reliance Automation www.relianceautomation.ie for more information info@relianceautomation.ie

Irish food and agribusinesses turn to automation to help solve manufacturing challenges, mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and get ready for Brexit

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Launching a guide published by ifac and Reliance Automation for Irish food and agribusinesses turning to automation, to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and get ready for Brexit, were Robert Troy T.D., and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation; David Leydon, Head of Food and Agribusiness at ifac; Peter Creighton, Managing Director of Reliance Automation; and a Cobot.


Ifac and Reliance Automation publish a guide to help businesses on their
automation journey in response to rise in enquiries

Ifac, Ireland’s farming, food and agribusiness professional services firm, and Reliance Automation have joined forces to support Irish food businesses considering automation.

Recent advances in technology mean robotic automation is now more accessible, cost-effective and safe, and less complicated than in the past. The automation opportunities that now exist can enhance businesses of all sizes; cobots (collaborative robots) can now take on a wide range of repeatable production tasks from the end of production line inspections and packaging to tray handling and loading products onto pallets.

Automation can also help to address a wide range of manufacturing challenges including increasing productivity, improving efficiencies and product quality, and redeploying teams to higher-value work. By addressing these challenges, businesses can achieve higher margins, improve competitiveness, manage staffing shortages, enhance their health and safety management, and mitigate the impacts of Covid-19 and Brexit.

Ifac and Reliance Automation have partnered to produce a practical guide for business owners and CEOs to help them manage the funding process from start to finish. The publication covers planning and implementing automation projects, return on investment, funding your investment in automation, and business process automation.

Speaking at a photocall to launch the publication, Robert Troy T.D., and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation said:

“I am very pleased to see positive momentum in Ireland to assist businesses to adapt to new digital technologies and embrace digitalisation. As we navigate the road ahead, we must ensure our SMEs are able to adapt to new innovations and reap the benefits of digital transformation.

“My Department recognises that investment in Advanced Manufacturing and Digitalisation are vital to ensuring that Irish companies remain competitive. Specific financial and advisory supports are available to the food sector through its agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, for the advancement of technologies in the area of robotics, cobotics, automation and industry 4.0.

“We are committed to supporting companies to mitigate the challenges presented by both COVID-19 and Brexit, and now, more than ever, it is important to look at ways to improve both business and manufacturing processes, to make your business more resilient and competitive.”

Head of Food and Agribusiness at ifac, David Leydon said:

“Business transformation makes up a big part of the work we do at ifac and now we’re seeing businesses move faster towards automation than ever before. You don’t have to be a big business to put in industrial robots – cobots are now available to any SME and the cost is coming down all the time.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Peter and the Reliance Team on this guide. There are things in the guide that some businesses aren’t fully aware of so we hope it will be of some assistance. At ifac, we will work with business owners every step of the way on their automation journey to help them future-proof their businesses.”

Managing Director of Reliance Automation, Peter Creighton said:

“There is no doubt that we are seeing a rise in the number of automation enquiries. Smart automation solutions are now easier, faster, and more cost-effective to employ in all types of industry. Jobs that are not suitable for people to do, repetitive or dangerous processes are very suited to both collaborative and industrial robots. Implementing sensible automation solutions frees up experienced employees to be redeployed to do more rewarding and productive work. 

“This approach also enables manufacturers to grow and achieve important economies of scale, very cost-effectively. Reliance Automation is delighted to be partnering with David and his team at ifac to help manufacturers make sensible decisions about intelligent automation solutions that will help their businesses realise their true ambitions.”

In September, ifac published its 2020 Food and AgriBusiness Report – its third annual sentiment survey of Irish food and agribusiness small and medium-sized enterprises conducted during June and July. The findings revealed that one in four respondents believe increased investment in new technology and automation will be one of the long-term impacts on their businesses from Covid-19

Reliance Automation Announces new sofware partner

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Reliance Automation has partnered with Vantage to support our clients with validation and serialisation. Vantage consulting group is a well known and respected global company that has been supporting manufacturers for decades. Vantage is based in New Jersey, USA and boasts some of the major pharmaceutical giants as their customers.

In order to offer their customers the most up to date technology to enable them to be at the forefront of their industries, Reliance Automation felt it was time to offer digital based supports. Validation is a huge part of planning and execution for all major manufacturing projects and Reliance Automation is pleased to be able to now offer this service.

Peter Creighton, MD of Reliance comments “Reliance is thrilled to be partnering with Vantage who are the global leader in serialisation, validation and strategic vision consultancy. We are very much looking forward to introducing Vantage to our life sciences clients as we continue to drive towards helping improved efficiency, reliability, compliance and productivity.”

in 2018, as a result of counterfeit drugs flooding the market from South East Asia, serialisation was made a legal requirement in the pharmaceutical industry. Apart from protection against counterfeiting, serialisation has also introduced many other benefits such as protection of consumer safety, brand protection, improved efficiency and controlled costs and recall integrity.

Emma Lacy, Marketing and Business Development manager for Reliance Automation comments “It is important for us to support our customers from inception of projects, through implementation and finally to montioring. We are leaders in innovation and for that reason we want to ensure our customers have the best and most up to date technical supports on their production lines.”

“For almost 100 years Reliance customers have trusted us to supply their hardware and we are delighted to now be able to work with them through their entire production process, supporting hardware with validation, serialisation and line monitoring solutions. In this way we can ensure our customers are saving time and money throughout their production processes “

In partnership with Vantage Consulting group, Reliance Automation offers serialisation, validation and monitoring/counting systems to ensure customers can impement lean systems into their production facilities as well as monitor and control the output and success of these systems. Contact Reliance Automation for more information.

RELANCE AUTOMATION SUPPORTS IRISH SMES TO SCALE UP PRODUCTION

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Universal Robots Webinar
  1. Rental scheme for cobots
  2. Free expert resources to help businesses access automation in the wake of Covid-19
  3. Cobots support safety measures and allow Irish SMEs to keep operations going

Reliance Automation, an Irish supplier of automation and robots is located in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.  Reliance offers a wide range of automation solutions for various industries including pharmaceutical and food.  Among its many high-profile brand partners is Universal Robots, the world’s most recognised collaborative robot supplier.

In conjunction with Universal robots, Reliance Automation has announced it will introduce its first-ever ‘SME Automation Month’ this October. The month will be dedicated to supporting Ireland’s community of small and mid-size enterprises to understand and access collaborative robots (cobots) to begin to bounce back from the challenges of Covid-19.

The month, designed specifically to tackle the pain points faced by smaller businesses when adopting automation, will offer a wide array of free resources such as webinars and online, one-to-one consultations with local automation experts, as well as new leasing options which will allow SMEs to reap the financial rewards of automation before having to start payback on their cobot.

The full SME Automation Month offering includes:

  • Introductory Webinar – SMEs can join an expert-led webinar on Wednesday October 7th at 11:00am which will detail the month’s offering in full and serve as a guide to attendees on how to avail of resources.
  • Free Automation Assessments – connect with experts who can analyse existing operations and detail where cobots can optimise production, increasing efficiency, output and profits
  • New Leasing Terms – although UR cobots are already affordable, starting at just £300 per month, UR’s new ‘buy now, start paying 2021’ leasing programme allows SMEs to reap the financial reward of automation right away
  • Expert training – businesses can train their team in cobot programming within 2-4 days. As UR cobots are highly user-friendly, very little training is needed.
  • Quick, painless setup – cobots can be set up within 30 minutes, meaning that SMEs can benefit from increased productivity and profits almost immediately

Mark Gray, Ireland Country Manager said: “Following a challenging period for the industry, greater adoption of automation is critical across the Irish SME landscape to allow producers to support jobs by ensuring they are competitive, efficient and flexible enough to thrive now and into the future. Yet, we know that many Irish SMEs still feel ill-equipped to start their journey with automation. We also appreciate that during these uncertain times, SMEs are understandably reluctant to invest in new technologies, but with cobots, smaller businesses can reap the benefits, almost immediately and at an affordable cost.

“We’d love to see Irish SMEs engaging with automation like we have seen across the UK in recent months and SME Automation Month is an ideal time to do so. Bloom in a Box used our cobots to adapt their operations quickly during the initial coronavirus outbreak, switching their production line from packing flowers to manufacturing PPE, proving that whether a business wants to improve existing operations or quickly adapt to a new market opportunity, cobots make it simpler to be flexible and stay profitable.

“At Universal Robots, we’ve seen a huge increase in the frequency of cobots in the Irish workplace in the last 12 months, with approximately 250 cobots in place across the country as it stands. In addition, there has been huge variation in the types of workplace enquiring and adopting cobots to perform specific functions. And while we do envisage that cobots will make their way into more consumer-facing outlets in retail, hospitality and healthcare quite soon, it’s highly unlikely that a cobot is a threat to your job.

“The magic of cobots is that they are purposefully designed to change the workplace for the better – to collaborate with humans and make their working life easier. In addition, cobots make the workplace safer by ensuring that humans no longer have to do dangerous or overtly manual labour. Now with distancing a key measure in the fight against coronavirus, cobots pose a real opportunity for SMEs.

“We hope that the increased prevalence of cobots, as part of the rise of automation will deliver a positive shift in the perceptions held towards them. For us, it’s all about education and helping people to see the benefits to understand that cobots are here to support and empower.” Businesses can find out more about SME Automation Month and register for resources by visiting www.relianceautomation.ie