Sepro Group and Universal Robots announce new Cobot partnership

Sepro Group, a global leader in the field of robots and industrial automation for the plastic industry, and Universal Robots, market leader in collaborative robots, have signed an agreement to collaborate in the fields of collaborative robotics and industrial automation.

Jürgen von Hollen, President, Universal Robots, and Jean-Michel Renaudeau, CEO of Sepro Group, sign the agreement in Universal Robots HQ (Odense, Denmark)

Under the terms of this partnership between Sepro and Universal Robots, Sepro Group will integrate its Visual control system with collaborative robots (cobots) supplied by Universal Robots (UR). The Visual control platform was developed by Sepro especially for robots used in plastics injection-molding machines. All Sepro products, including co-branded lines, are controlled by Visual, providing the same user interface regardless of the type robot.

Jean-Michel Renaudeau, CEO of Sepro Group, says: “I am enthusiastic to announce this partnership, which will expand our already extensive portfolio. Moreover, I believe that the combination of Sepro Group know-how with the ground-breaking collaborative technologies developed by Universal Robots will allow our customers even greater flexibility and choice in how they approach automation in the plastic injection process.”

Jürgen von Hollen, President, Universal Robots, says: “I am very excited about our new partnership with the Sepro Group targeting the plastic injection automation market. Sepro has extensive experience and knowledge about how to automate the manufacturing processes and Universal Robots is the market leader in collaborative robots. Together, the two companies will be able to provide efficient, safe and easy to use solutions for a wide range of customers within the plastic injection industry.”

The new partnership solutions will allow Sepro Group to deliver the most extensive range of automation solutions to injection molders of the plastics industry. This portfolio includes Cartesian robots, 6-axis articulated-arm robots and now cobots. Like the 6-axis robot solutions, cobots are perfectly adapted to peripheral operations that are increasingly in demand in the plastics industry. By helping customers define the solution that really fits their needs, Sepro Group offers its customers the smartest industrial automation solutions.

Launching operation-ready cobots
By adding the renowned Visual control to the leading cobot for the first time, Sepro Group guarantees seamless integration of the UR technology with other Sepro robots and the molding machine. This will allow customers to design safe, open configurations for various types of processes, including peripheral operations or advanced automation cells. The new solutions from Sepro and UR ensure shortened process -development times and faster installation, resulting in easy-to-deploy, easy-to-test post-processing operations and turn-key automation systems.

Under the terms of the agreement, Sepro will provide global service for solutions from Sepro and UR. With more than 150 experts and 42 service centers around the world, Sepro will be able to deliver local support and the same quality of service on cobots as it does on Cartesian and six-axis robots.

The partnership with Universal Robots is just the latest agreement Sepro has formed with global leaders in robotics and injection-molding technology. Similar arrangements with Staubli Robotics and Yaskawa Motoman, reached in 2012 and 2016, respectively, expanded the Sepro offer beyond 3-axis Cartesian solutions to include 5-axis Cartesian robot and 6-axis articulated-arm units – all operated with Visual controls. Agreements with more than a dozen injection-molding-machine manufacturers have made it possible to integrate the Visual robot controls into the IMM controls for simpler set up and operation.

The solutions from Sepro and Universal Robots will be displayed on Sepro Group’s stand during K 2019, which is being held in Dusseldorf, Germany, 16 to 23 October

About Sepro
Sepro Group is a global leader in the field of industrial robotics, with a recognized know-how in the field of plastics. Sepro Group provides 3-axis, 5-axis, 6-axis robots and cobots with the same man-machine interface: the Visual control platform. This acclaimed control system makes it easier to use and program industrial robots dedicated to injection molding machines. Working with numerous global technology leaders, Sepro Group is also a recognized integrator and automation specialist.

About Universal Robots
Universal Robots reinvented industrial robotics with lightweight and flexible robot arms dubbed "cobots" (collaborative robots). The Danish-designed cobots automate production in all industries – even in small and medium-sized businesses that may have previously regarded automation as expensive and difficult to integrate.