The FANUC M-2000iA/2300 will play a vital role in the MTC’s ongoing work with the Construction Innovation Hub, and will be used as part of research into large volumetric assembly within the construction industry. As well as handling ultra-heavy workpieces, thanks to its extensive reach, the robot can also be used for conventional crane, hoist and shuttle applications to increase output and eliminate potentially dangerous manual work.
Andy Armstrong, sales and marketing manager at FANUC UK, says: “The use of industrial robotics throughout the UK’s manufacturing industry is only set to increase, especially as more sectors realise the productivity and health and safety benefits they can offer.
“To date, the majority of industrial robots in the UK would fall into the small-to-medium size category, performing functions such as pick-and-place, welding and riveting, to name but a few,” he continues. “However, there is a huge opportunity across a number of vertical market sectors, such as the construction industry, for large robots with extremely heavy load capacities to be integrated into production applications; both de-risking operations and improving productivity in the process. We’re delighted that our M-2000iA/2300 robot is now up and running at the MTC, and would encourage anyone keen to see the UK’s strongest industrial robot in action to book a visit.”
Jeremy Hadall, chief engineer for intelligent automation at the MTC, adds: "The FANUC robot will play a major role here at the MTC, particularly in our efforts to revolutionise the construction industry. This machine, as well as being large and strong, is much faster and more flexible than a traditional crane or hoist. It will be a significant asset in our work on large volumetric assembly in the construction sector."
