Interactive Robotic Demonstrations at K 2022

At K 2022, robotics supplier Sepro Group will present several examples of injection molding automation that give visitors a hands-on experience with novel human-machine interfaces (HMI), total-system integration and artificial intelligence. Attendees will be encouraged to take control of the robots and peripheral equipment and be offered the opportunity to compete in K’s Challenge. Open to anyone, this game seeks to demonstrate how the robot controls of the future can be designed for use even by untrained operators.

Building off the company’s introduction of its Simple-Pick-and-Place concept almost 20 years ago, K 2022 will mark the debut of a new modular software architecture that enables the control of multiple pieces of robotic and auxiliary equipment via a single central control. In one molding cell, the system will not only control a Sepro 5X-25 Cartesian robot and a 6X-140 six-axis articulated-arm unit, but also manage all additional peripheral devices, including a conveyor, inspection equipment and an ink-marking machine.

The system also can gather production data used to calculate Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and provide other operational insights. In the fully automated cell described above, these data will be displayed continually on a large video screen for visitors to see. In addition to the five robots operating in Sepro’s booth, the company’s equipment will be seen in the booths of nine separate injection molding machine manufacturers around the halls of the K.