handling award for the best start-up
Robotics for all company sizes
With the "Highly Optimized Robotic Systems Technology", or HORST for short, a young team of entrepreneurs from Constance ventured into the robotics market. The clever combination of hardware and software convinced the jury to award Fruitcore the prize for the best start-up in the competition.
Mr. Riegger, Mr. Zimmermann, why start up in Germany and not join a large manufacturer?
We started looking at the automation and robotics industry years ago. In doing so, we noticed that SMEs in particular see a lot of hurdles that prevent them from automating. Within a few months, we came together as a founding team and realized that together we have all the expertise relevant to industrial robot marketing. That's why we founded Fruitcore GmbH in 2017.
The competition for industrial robots is fierce. How do you intend to compete with HORST among the big players?
Fruitcore's goal is to make economical robotics possible for companies of all sizes. We developed HORST with this focus in mind. The completely different structure of HORST has made it possible to increase performance while reducing costs at the same time. In addition, the horstFX software reduces the complexity requirements for the operator to a minimum. This is because no specialist knowledge is required for programming. The robot system combines the advantages of collaborative and conventional systems with a unique price-performance ratio, making it a real opportunity for companies of all sizes to make a simple and affordable entry into automation.
Was today's concept already the basic idea with which you founded Fruitcore or did you first have to work your way up to today's concept over several stages? What were the most important changes from the basic idea to the current product?
We originally focused on robots for the education sector. That was a good fit because the simplicity of robot operation makes it easy for trainees and students to get started. We then realized that the need for easy-to-operate robots in industry is even greater than in the education sector. For this reason, we fundamentally redesigned HORST with a focus on optimum productivity.
The first systems have now been in use at your customers for some time. What tasks do your customers use HORST for?
The HORST six-axis industrial robot is designed so that it can be used for numerous processes in a wide range of industrial sectors such as the automotive industry, pharmaceutical and medical technology, electrical engineering and testing technology. Applications include the loading and unloading of machines, stacking, sorting and packaging, the handling of turned, milled and punched parts as well as the automation of pick & place applications for small parts. The robot system is also used as a learning station in educational institutions and companies to familiarize pupils, students and trainees with the practice of Industry 4.0.
One special feature of HORST is the drive of the two main axes via four-bar linkages, another is the horstFX software: How do you see the relationship between hardware and software in robotics today? Where can the greatest progress be made?
Hardware is playing an increasingly minor role today. Nevertheless, it is needed to realize sustainable innovations in the area of software or electronics. In some cases, a retrofit is carried out or machines are retrofitted with edge devices, for example, to make them IoT-capable. HORST already has the latest mechatronic hardware. This means that powerful software functions can be implemented.
Has the four-joint chain drive proved its worth?
The four-bar link chain drive has clearly proven its worth since the beginning. Even with one of the first robots, we were able to move several hundred grams with small drives. With the help of intelligent algorithms, we have continued to optimize the arrangement of the four-bar linkages. Today, we have a much better ratio of motor power to payload than other articulated robots. Another advantage is that the dynamically moving part of the HORST robot arm is comparatively light. This is because the motors of the main axes 2 and 3 are located in the base.
You are already working on another version of HORST, what further developments can we expect?
Fruitcore is currently working on HORST's big brother, which will be available in 2020. It will have a reach of around 1,400 millimetres and a higher load capacity. Many different functions will be released in the software in 2020 that will make it easier to program applications.
How important is the Constance location for you? Do you cooperate with the university or perhaps also with Switzerland?
We are very satisfied with the location in Constance. Thanks to the proximity to the college and university, we have already been able to attract many top graduates. Being centrally positioned within the DACH markets is really helpful, especially in sales. The Black Forest and Stuttgart are home to many automotive companies, SMEs and hidden champions with whom we work. This also applies to the numerous companies in the medical technology Mecca of Tuttlingen.
The interview was conducted by handling editor-in-chief Daniel Schilling.
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