While the new GX4-B series with arm lengths between 250 and 350 millimetres is designed for a payload of up to four kilograms, the GX8-B series covers ranges between 450 and 650 millimetres and moves a payload of up to eight kilograms. Both robot families are available in standard, ESD or cleanroom versions and can be ordered immediately.

In keeping with a long-standing tradition, Epson will also have a number of partner companies on its stand at this trade fair. Hupico France, Compar Switzerland, Economa Engineering from Austria and GM Automatyka from Poland will be presenting their products based on Epson automation solutions. Interested trade visitors to the Epson stand will see applications and workflows in the areas of 3D picking, label handling and an assembly line for battery packs.

Scara robots around the world

Epson began using self-designed robots for its high-precision production lines in Seiko watch production back in the 1960s. From 1983, the company also offered these machines to external customers, and today Epson robots can be found in production facilities around the world. In 2010, Epson achieved market leadership in the Scara robot segment (Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm) with a market share of around one third.

The GX8-Scara was honored with a Red Dot Product Design Award. © Epson Germany

Volker Spanier, Head of Manufacturing Solutions Epson EMEAR, explains: "We are delighted to be celebrating our 40th anniversary at this year's Automatica. At this trade fair, we will once again use real applications to impressively demonstrate how adaptable and cost-efficient the range of Epson automation solutions is. With the Scaras of the new GX-B series, we are also providing a convincing answer to our customers' requirements for higher speed, precision and production reliability for their automated production lines. With the new Scaras, users can make much better use of the opportunities for interaction between man and machine without having to compromise on efficiency or space requirements."

Scara robots from the GX-B series with many advantages

Epson GX8 robots increase the productivity of any production facility and reduce all tedious manual work. © Epson Germany

The devices in the GX-B series have been improved with new safety functions compared to their predecessors, the successful GX-Scaras. The GX-B robots offer advantages during their installation and production run, as they not only improve the possibility of human intervention in an ongoing work process, but also reduce the cost per cycle time thanks to their reliability and further improved performance.

The new safety function (SLS function) defines specific safety areas within the robot's workspace that can be graded according to the risk of a collision. Depending on the location of a sensitive object, such as a person's hand, within one of these areas, predefined working speeds are automatically set for the robot. If something moves in one of these areas, the machine slows down accordingly until it finally stops. The risk zones vary with the current position of the robot.

The GX8 in a suspended arrangement. © Epson Germany

Thanks to this flexible handling of the safety zones, the SLS function will shorten the downtimes of work cells with GX-B robots and speed up their setup. Individual machines and elements of a station can also be set up with smaller safety distances in this way and may even be able to operate without a safety fence.

Winner of the Red Dot Product Design Award 2023

The GX8-Scara received the Red Dot Product Design Award 2023 in recognition of the machine's efficient design, which ensures good productivity thanks to its high speed and precise movement in confined spaces. As many assembly tasks are carried out in the preferred direction of the robot arm (left or right orientation), the GX4 series with 300 and 350 millimeter reach has been equipped with a first axis arm that can be bent to the right or left, which further increases efficiency. The robot controller also uses gyro sensors in the robot arms to detect vibrations that occur during movement. This feedback loop enables the controller to make appropriate corrections to the calculated trajectory in order to dampen the vibrations. This results in a smooth, precise movement of the arm. Epson will be exhibiting in Hall B5, Stand 311.