Your cobots all have seven axes, what advantage does that offer?
Pletscher: The seventh axis allows ultimate flexibility in the movement of the tool and you need less space to perform certain movements. This means that I can perform desired movements even in tight spaces, for example when operating machine centers. Another example where the seventh axis has a major advantage over a six-axis robot is in applications where precise paths need to be followed. For example, our seven-axis cobot can follow a specified path with a repeat accuracy of plus/minus 0.1 millimetres and maintain the specified speed regardless of the type of movement. A human cannot achieve this level of precision. In gluing applications where, for example, a part has to be glued to a pane, the application of an exact amount of adhesive is a basic requirement in order to reduce errors and rejects, and therefore costs, to a minimum. And the robot is also faster.

Are you planning further models?
Pletscher: Indeed, but we can't and don't want to reveal any details yet. We have only just launched and are already very proud to have presented three robots at the start - all with seven axes and all with joint speeds of up to 225 degrees per second: the KR 810 with a reach of 850 millimetres and a payload of ten kilograms, the KR 1205 with a reach of 1,200 millimetres and a payload of five kilograms and the KR1805 with a reach of 1,800 millimetres and a payload of five kilograms. Production is currently starting on the first two models, with the KR 1805 to follow at the turn of the year. But what is particularly important to me when it comes to the product family is that our cobots are really related; Kristian Kassow and our engineers have developed them modularly so that we can cover the entire model portfolio with just four joint sizes.

Why are your cobots so easy to operate?
Pletscher: We use intuitive and user-friendly tablet technology to program and use the robots. For our teach counterpart, we use standard tablets with an easy-to-understand graphical user interface with the familiar drag and drop principle, just like everyone is familiar with from using tablets or cell phones at home. This considerably reduces the inhibition threshold for employees to get to grips with operating a robot for the first time.

Do you see opportunities for cobots to prevail against robots?
Pletscher: That's not our point. There will continue to be a large number of applications for traditional robots, for example when payload and speed need to be particularly high. Our cobots, on the other hand, also open up completely new possibilities in production for smaller and medium-sized companies that are looking for flexible and safe robot solutions - and at a low cost. In addition, applications with cobots often require less space than applications with conventional industrial robots.

Can any company automate its production with cobots?
Pletscher: I don't see many limits. Our cobots enable companies to produce more flexibly; on the one hand, because the cobots can be used in many different ways and can be quickly moved to a different location in production, and on the other hand, because programming is so easy and companies are not dependent on in-house robotics engineers. A cobot also pays for itself quickly, with an average ROI of less than twelve months. Last but not least, the issue of safety: users who are using cobots for the first time should be aware of this: If a deviation from the predefined safety parameters is registered, our safety system stops the robot immediately. Therefore, it can also be operated in the vicinity of employees with no or limited safety measures - following an appropriate risk analysis.

Mr. Pletscher, thank you very much for the interview.