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VOLA's Innovative Production Line That Incorporates OMRON's LD-Series Mobile Robots Receives Danish "Automation Award"- Automating 75% of Transport to Mitigate Heavy Burden and Shorten Lead Time from 42 Days to 1 Day -

  • October 30, 2020

*This is a translation of Denmark press release announced on the 10th of September.

OMRON Corporation (HQ: Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan; President & CEO: Yoshihito Yamada) announced that an innovative production line that it co-created for VOLA, a Danish manufacturer of luxury sanitary and kitchen fittings (Headquarters: Horsens, Denmark; Managing Director: Johannes Saugbjerg; hereinafter, "VOLA"), in partnership with CesTek Automation (Headquarters: Slagelse, Denmark; CEO: Morten Bodilsen; hereinafter, "CesTek"), received the "Automation Award" from the Danish Industrial Robot Association (hereinafter, "DIRA") in September 2020.


【VOLA's innovative production line with 9 OMRON's mobile robots】

With the hope of facilitating the advancement and introduction of automation technologies and solutions, this prestigious Danish award is given to a company or an individual who has been particularly noted for utilizing advanced robotics. This year, VOLA won the accolade for its plant expansion project, in which they installed nine units of OMRON's LD-Series mobile robots (hereinafter, "LDs") in place of roller conveyors to achieve flexible production and in-plant logistics. Capable of flexibly responding to VOLA's production processes, the brand new system automated 75% of transport, mitigating heavy burden and shortening the production lead time from as long as 42 days to a single day. In conferring the award, DIRA's jury noted that this project was not only impressive and comprehensive but inspiring overall.

Driven by its unique concept, "innovative-Automation," OMRON is committed to innovating manufacturing through automation as we seek to achieve harmony between humans and machines on customers' production floors. In this project, OMRON worked with VOLA, who put a high value on OMRON's advanced control of multiple LD units*1, to design a state-of-the-art plant where humans and robots optimally collaborate with each other, through the partnership with CesTek from the early stages of the project. Relative positions between parts assembly tables and aisles, for instance, are designed to enhance safety and convenience, allowing both humans and robots freedom of movement. For about a year after the system became operational, the LDs have facilitated production, conveying between 1,300 and 1,600 boxes of parts and products every day. VOLA is planning to introduce more units of LDs to automate its factory's logistics further.

"We are so proud that VOLA won the Automation Award for introducing OMRON's mobile robots and control system. They have our sincere gratitude for sharing the problems they encountered on production floors so openly and listening to our suggestions. Their receiving of this award will definitely be a big push for the next stage of evolution for both of our companies," said Thomas Jansen, OMRON's Area Sales Manager for Denmark.

Based on its unique "innovative-Automation" concept, OMRON will remain committed to solving issues on customers' production floors by facilitating the optimal collaboration of humans and machines.

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<About LD-Series Mobile Robots> http://www.ia.omron.com/products/family/3664/

Automating Transport of a Broad Range of Workpieces With Ease
Without the need to indicate traveling routes with magnetic tape, these mobile robots convey parts and products to specific locations using AI to map out optimal routes while avoiding humans and obstacles. With wide product lines ranging from the LD-Series for small payloads to the HD-Series with a heavy duty payload capacity of up to 1.5 tons (among the largest in the world), OMRON's mobile robots achieve seamlessly automated transport of a broad range of workpieces from materials and components to works-in-progress and finished products.

Advanced Mixed Fleet
The first of its kind in the industry, the OMRON Fleet Manager system simultaneously controls up to 100 mobile robots of different types with varying payloads. No need to worry about compatibility or performance--Fleet Manager coordinates all OMRON mobile robots and optimizes traffic control, battery management, and fleet navigation, thus automating complex transport jobs to boost productivity.

About "innovative-Automation"
As a leader in industrial automation, OMRON has extensive lines of control components and equipment, ranging from vision sensors and other input devices to various controllers and output devices such as servomotors, as well as a range of safety devices and industrial robots. By combining these devices via software, OMRON has developed a variety of unique and highly effective automation solutions for manufacturers worldwide. Based on its reservoir of advanced technologies and comprehensive range of devices, OMRON set forth a strategic concept called "innovative-Automation!" consisting of three innovations or "i's": "integrated" (control evolution), "intelligent" (development of intelligence by ICT), and "interactive" (new harmonization between people and machines). OMRON is now committed to bringing innovation to manufacturing sites by materializing this concept.

About OMRON Corporation
OMRON Corporation is a global leader in the field of automation based on its core technology of "Sensing & Control + Think". OMRON's business fields cover a broad spectrum, ranging from industrial automation and electronic components to social systems, healthcare, and environmental solutions. Established in 1933, OMRON has about 30,000 employees worldwide, working to provide products and services in around 120 countries and regions. For more information, visit OMRON's website: http://www.omron.com/


Contact (media):
Brand Communications Department
OMRON Corporation
TEL: +81-75-344-7175

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