YASKAWA HC DTP Series Use-Cases
Ranked Nr. 22 of 206 Cobots
- End-of-Line Packaging: The Yaskawa HC30PL excels in palletizing heavy boxes and packages in end-of-line packaging processes. Its 30 kg payload and 1,700 mm reach ensure efficient stacking and organization in confined spaces.
- Food Processing: The HC30PL is ideal for handling food products and packaging due to its integrated food-grade grease, ensuring hygiene and compliance with industry standards. It can handle raw ingredients, packaged goods, or assembly tasks in food production lines.
- Pharmaceutical Industry: This cobot is suited for precise and sterile operations in pharmaceutical environments. Its torque sensors and high repeatability allow for delicate tasks, such as handling drug vials or assembling medical devices, where accuracy and cleanliness are paramount.
Enhanced Palletizing with YASKAWA HC30PL Collaborative Robot at Granta Automation Ltd
Problem
Granta Automation Ltd faced challenges in optimizing their palletizing operations to be safe yet efficient, needing a solution that could seamlessly switch between collaborative and industrial modes based on the presence of human operators.
Solution
The YASKAWA HC30PL was introduced, equipped with intelligent force sensing and three safety configurations—no guarding, guarded with light curtains, and safety area scanners. These features allow the cobot to adjust operational modes from full-speed industrial actions to slower, safer collaborative movements, ensuring both efficiency and safety in the workspace.
Outcome
The deployment of the HC30PL has significantly improved the speed and safety of Granta's palletizing operations. The cobot's ability to operate in different safety modes allows for flexible adaptation to varying operational needs, enhancing productivity while ensuring safety. Granta Automation praises YASKAWA's robust technology and exceptional customer support, solidifying their choice in the HC30PL as a leading solution in the automation industry.
Automation of Vial Handling in Pharmaceutical Production with Yaskawa HC30PL Cobot
Problem
Handling fragile vials in pharmaceutical production has traditionally required manual labor due to the challenges posed by their small size and fragile glass material. The vials, often transported in disordered plastic hollow boxes, are prone to breakage when using conventional vacuum grippers. Additionally, these processes must comply with strict clean room standards and require frequent format changes depending on vial size, increasing complexity and inefficiency in the production process.
Solution
Goldfuß Engineering developed a mechanical gripper that can reliably and safely handle fragile vials. Combined with Yaskawa’s Motoman HC30PL cobot, the system automates the entire process of removing vials from plastic boxes, loading them onto machines, and disposing of the empty boxes. The integration of a 3D camera system ensures precision in handling, while the gripper’s mechanical design accommodates various vial sizes with quick format changes. Additionally, an optional quality control step counts vials and reconciles the data with production records.
Outcome
The automated solution significantly improved the efficiency and safety of vial handling in pharmaceutical production. With the Yaskawa cobot’s high IP67 protection class and simplified programming interface, the system can operate in clean room environments with minimal human intervention. The cycle time of 50-60 seconds can be reduced with a second robot, offering further productivity gains. This automation has resulted in enhanced process reliability, reduced labor costs, and minimized the risk of vial breakage, ultimately leading to improved operational efficiency.