Universal Robots doubles distribution network to meet growing demand for collaborative robots

By Digital News Asia June 5, 2017

Demand for robotic automation solutions in the country has increased by 40% from 2010 to 2015
Deployment of robots in Malaysia increased by an average of 8% annually between 2010 and 2015

Universal Robots doubles distribution network to meet growing demand for collaborative robots

UNIVERSAL Robots (UR), a collaborative robotics company, has doubled its distribution network in Malaysia. The company now has a growing network of distribution partners in three main regions – the Klang Valley, Johor Bahru and Penang to meet the growing demand for robotic automation solutions in the country, which has increased by 40% from 2010 to 2015.

Since its entry into the Malaysian market in 2013, Universal Robots has expanded its distribution bases. In Malaysia, its collaborative robots (cobots) are distributed by DF Automation, EPCO Precision, PBA Systems, and TMS Collaboration, and are deployed in industries such as electronics, automotive, metal, medical, pharmaceutical, plastics & polymers and consumer products.

Universal Robots Southeast Asia and Oceania general manager Shermine Gotfredsen (pic) said, “Malaysia is a key market for Universal Robots in Southeast Asia due to its active interest and high demand for automation. While we have experienced growth across the region, Malaysia has seen significant growth due to the diversity of the country’s industries. This means there is a wide spectrum of potential applications of UR cobots across different sectors.

“We recognise the importance of the Malaysian market, and have doubled our distribution network, consisting of distributors and system integrators, since 2016 to provide our automation solutions across the country. This comes at a time when businesses are increasingly investing in innovative automation technology to stay competitive amid macroeconomic challenges.”

TT Vision Technologies, a system integrator in Malaysia, uses UR cobots to develop customised automation solutions to address its customers’ needs. It offers end-user organisations high performance PC-based vision system solutions using UR cobots for a wide range of industries such as semiconductors, PCB assembly, lead frame, pharmaceutical and medical.

The company has been working with UR cobots since 2016 to create automated solutions used by end-users in high speed production lines; performing a 100% visual inspection in critical production processes with real time feedback to minimise defects and improve overall production yield.

TT Vision Technologies leverages on UR’s cobots due to the company’s technology, track record, price, regional sales and services and support channels.

TT Vision Technologies director Goon Koon Yin said: “Our projects are mainly focused on enhancing operations in small part assembly works for electronics manufacturing clients with the aim of allowing them to achieve higher quality, consistency and higher return on investment.

“Universal Robots’ extensive experience in automated and collaborative assembly operations convinced us that they are the right choice for us to enable our clients to achieve their automation objectives. Their support channels have been very effective in helping us offer better automation solutions to the end-users.”

Growing demand

There is growing demand for robotics and automation in Malaysia. Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry is spearheading the adoption of smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 in the country. In line with the new 30-year transformation plan, the 2050 National Transformation (TN50), the government is transitioning industries towards the adoption of automation and smart manufacturing concepts and technologies. Among the initiatives to encourage the transformation of the manufacturing sector is the Automation Capital Allowance (ACA) programme.

“Businesses, especially those with tight operating margins like SMEs, need to look for ways to maximise their resources without compromising production quality. We believe our state-of- the-art cobots are the right tools to achieve this goal. Malaysia and Southeast Asia, like much of the world, is seeing rapid growth in the demand for industrial robots. Manufacturers are turning to automation to improve product quality, productivity, and profits through long-term enhancement of reliability and cost reduction in overall industrial operations,” added Gotfredsen.

Last year, the World Robotics Report found that the deployment of robots in Malaysia increased by an average of 8% annually between 2010 and 2015. The adoption of automation has enabled Malaysian companies to increase production volume by as much as 300% on average, without significant payroll expansion. Some companies have also reduced defects by as much as 90% by automating operations.

The global surge in demand for robots across industries in the last five years is reflected in UR’s business growth. The company has been widening its distribution channels in multiple markets; currently it has over 300 distributors in more than 55 countries worldwide, and continues to gain market share.

UR generated revenue of DKK662 million (US$99.65 million) in 2016, a 58% increase from 2015.

The company expects revenue growth of 50% or greater in 2017, keeping the company on track to reaching DKK1 billion revenue by the end of the year.