The new European Yaskawa headquarters in Hattersheim near Frankfurt am Main is also home to an academy with robots and cobots, to which various SMC solutions are exclusively connected. The intensified cooperation between SMC and Yaskawa Europe thus highlights the importance of industrial partnerships and the benefits of customized solutions.

SMC, specialist for electric and pneumatic automation, and Yaskawa Europe, expert for drive and robot solutions, have further intensified their cooperation:
Five collaborative robots at Yaskawa Europe's new Academy in Hattersheim have been exclusively equipped with "End-of-Arm Tools" (EoAT) from SMC. The "students" (or training participants) of the Robot Academy will thus be trained on vacuum units, pneumatic parallel grippers and magnetic grippers as well as sponge suction cups from SMC. The simple design and easy operation of these SMC EOATs not only simplify handling, safety and performance, but also make them the ideal training tool for future operators in combination with the robots and cobots from Yaskawa.

The following installations can be found in the Academy:

• The ZXP-X1 series vacuum gripper on the Yaskawa Motoman MH24 series
• The parallel gripper of the JMHZ2 series on the Yaskawa Motoman of the HC10DTP series
• The MHM series magnetic gripper on the Yaskawa Motoman HC10DTP series
• The prototype of a ZP2-200120A-X2245 series sponge suction cup with the ZK2 series vacuum unit on the Yaskawa Motoman HC20DTP series
• The parallel gripper of the JMHZ2 series with the solenoid valves of the VV061 series on a multiple connection plate on a Yaskawa Scara robot

The ZXP-X1 series vacuum gripper, for example, offers high performance thanks to its maximum payload of 7 kg, maximum suction volume flow of 17 l/min (ANR) and maximum vacuum of -84 kPa and is ready for immediate use thanks to the simple connection of the compressed air supply line and the electrical wiring using a plug-and-play configuration.
The parallel gripper of the JMHZ2 series and the magnetic gripper of the MHM series also require only a short installation time thanks to their plug-and-play capability and can therefore be put into operation quickly. The prototype of the ZP2-200120A-X2245 series sponge suction cup, installed for the first time, makes it particularly easy to pick up uneven workpieces. This is combined with the ZK2 series vacuum unit, which can reduce air consumption by up to 93% thanks to a digital vacuum sensor with energy-saving function. The VV061 miniature solenoid valve island series is the ideal solution for end-of-arm tool (EoAT) applications thanks to its lightweight and compact design and small plug-in connections, as it only has a minimal impact on the robot payload. It controls the parallel gripper of the JMHZ2 series and could also operate 7 other tools through the narrow hollow spindle of the new Yaskawa Scara series robots.

Intensified cooperation for top-class training

There has been close cooperation between the SMC robotics groups and Yaskawa Robotics since 2018 - and SMC has been an official technology partner of Yaskawa Robotics and supplier from the Yaskawa Robotics Ecosystem since 2020. This constellation has enabled a wide range of EoAT robotics solutions, from valves to grippers, to be optimally adapted to the requirements of robots and cobots in recent years. When initially considering an application, the sequence and design of the combination of workpiece, EoAT and robot or cobot plays a decisive role. This is the only way to harmonize performance, energy consumption, safety and handling and to develop an ideal solution.

This also applies to operator training at the Yaskawa Academy: the EoATs provided by SMC make it easier for technicians to learn how to install the robot tools and handle collaborative robots correctly, especially with Yaskawa cobots. It's not just the installation that is a breeze. The subsequent operation is also intuitive, which means that learning success is achieved very quickly. This basis helps technicians to tap into new application potential with the help of cobots and ultimately improve productivity and efficiency in their own company. Thanks to the combination of SMC EoAT and the Yaskawa cobots, the Yaskawa Academy in Hattersheim offers a "training environment de luxe".