Robotics in Manufacturing

Applications

What robots do on the floor

41 application guides covering the payload, reach, and cell requirements for each job.

Arc Welding Robotic arc welding uses a torch-mounted arm to run MIG, TIG, or flux-core welds with consistent speed and angle. It is the highest-volume robotic welding application in general fabrication and automotive.
Assembly Assembly robots join components together, from press-fit and snap-fit operations to multi-part subassembly builds, using precise motion and often force feedback.
Bin Picking Bin picking robots use 3D vision to locate and grasp individual parts from a jumbled bin, one of the harder perception problems in industrial robotics.
Case Packing Case packing robots load individual products into shipping cases, coordinating with case erecting and sealing equipment on the same line.
CNC Machine Tending CNC machine tending robots load raw stock into a lathe or mill chuck and unload finished parts, keeping the machine running through unattended shifts.
Deburring Deburring robots remove sharp edges and flash left by machining, casting, or molding, using a spindle, file, or brush tool with controlled contact force.
Depalletizing Depalletizing robots remove cases or layers from a loaded pallet and feed them onto a line, the reverse of palletizing and often the harder problem because incoming pallets vary more.
Die Casting Die casting robots extract hot metal parts from the die, quench and trim them, and keep the cell running through a high-heat, high-cycle process.
Dispensing Dispensing robots apply a controlled bead or dot of liquid material such as adhesive, sealant, or lubricant along a programmed path.
Edge Finishing Edge finishing robots smooth, chamfer, or round part edges after cutting or forming, using contour-following force control to keep contact consistent along the profile.
Food Handling Food handling robots pick, place, and pack food products under hygiene requirements that go well beyond standard industrial cleanliness.
Gantry Loading Gantry loading systems mount a robot or dedicated loader on an overhead rail, extending its reach across multiple machines or a wide work envelope.
Glass Handling Glass handling robots move large, fragile glass sheets or formed panels between processing stations without chipping edges or breaking the material.
Gluing Gluing robots apply adhesive between two components ahead of a bonding or assembly step, similar to dispensing but focused on structural or semi-structural joints.
Grinding Robotic grinding uses a belt, wheel, or disc tool to remove stock or refine a surface, typically on castings, welds, or forged parts that need heavier material removal than deburring.
Injection Molding Tending Injection molding tending robots pull finished parts and sprues from the mold and place them on a conveyor or downstream fixture, cycling in sync with the molding machine.
Kitting Kitting robots gather a defined set of parts into a tray, tote, or box to support a downstream assembly or shipping step.
Lab Automation Lab automation robots move samples, plates, and consumables between instruments in a laboratory, running repetitive test or sample-prep sequences unattended.
Labeling Labeling robots apply printed labels to products or packaging at a precise location, coordinating with a print-and-apply system.
Laser Welding Robotic laser welding guides a fiber-delivered laser head along a seam for narrow, low-heat welds. It suits thin sheet metal and precision assemblies where distortion has to stay minimal.
Machine Tending Machine tending robots load and unload raw stock and finished parts from a production machine, running unattended cycles. It applies across CNC, molding, stamping, and other automated equipment.
Material Handling Material handling is the broad category of moving parts, containers, or stock between stations, covering everything from light totes to heavy castings.
Material Removal Material removal covers robotic cutting, trimming, and stock removal processes where the robot carries or presents a tool that takes material off the part.
Order Picking Order picking robots select items from warehouse storage to fulfill a customer or production order, a growing application in e-commerce fulfillment.
Packaging Packaging robots handle end-of-line tasks like loading, wrapping, and cartoning at high speed, often on delta or SCARA platforms built for fast pick rates.
Painting Robotic painting applies liquid coatings with a spray gun mounted on a purpose-built paint robot, standard in automotive and appliance finishing lines.
Palletizing Palletizing robots stack cases, bags, or totes onto pallets in a defined layer pattern, replacing manual stacking on high-throughput lines.
Part Inspection Part inspection robots position a camera or sensor at multiple angles around a part to check dimensions, surface condition, or feature presence during production.
Pharmaceutical Handling Pharmaceutical handling robots move product through cleanroom and packaging steps under validated, repeatable motion and strict traceability requirements.
Pick and Place Pick and place covers high-speed, short-cycle transfer of small parts between fixed positions or a moving conveyor, the core task behind most delta and SCARA installations.
Polishing Polishing robots refine a part's surface finish after grinding or machining, using a buffing wheel or compliant pad under controlled contact force.
Powder Coating Powder coating robots apply electrostatically charged dry powder to a part, which is then cured in an oven, an alternative finishing process to liquid paint.
Press Tending Press tending robots feed blanks into a stamping press and remove formed parts, working at the fast cycle rates typical of sheet metal stamping lines.
Quality Inspection Quality inspection robots carry out final checks on finished parts, combining vision, gauging, or probing with automated sorting of good and reject parts.
Riveting Riveting robots set mechanical fasteners using a high-force end effector, common in aerospace structures and sheet metal assemblies where welding is not suitable.
Sanding Robotic sanding smooths a surface with an abrasive pad or belt, commonly used on composite parts, wood, and painted surfaces ahead of finishing.
Screwdriving Screwdriving robots drive fasteners with a torque-controlled tool, verifying seating and torque on each screw in an assembly sequence.
Sealing Sealing robots lay a continuous bead of sealant along a joint or seam to block moisture, air, or contaminants, common in automotive body and appliance assembly.
Sorting Sorting robots divert items to different destinations based on type, size, or quality, typically working at high speed on a moving conveyor.
Spot Welding Robotic spot welding drives a servo weld gun through a sequence of resistance welds on sheet metal assemblies. It remains the backbone of automotive body-in-white production.
Waterjet Tending Waterjet tending robots load and unload parts around a high-pressure waterjet cutting cell, working next to a process that combines water, abrasive, and extreme pressure.