Thanks to low-cost automation (LCA) and the RBTX robotics marketplace from igus, companies of all sizes can find a complete solution that fits their requirements and budget - starting at just €2,000. The plastics company is now honoring the projects with the fastest return on investment (ROI) with the ROIBOT Award for the third time. Users can apply now and win low-cost automation products worth 5,000 euros as well as international recognition.

In times of a weakening economy, both corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are looking for cost-effective and easy-to-implement automation solutions. It is precisely this need that igus serves with low-cost automation. The Cologne-based plastics specialist offers everything interested parties need for low-cost process automation from a single source: from individual components and robots with peripherals to complete solutions for individual applications. The average investment costs here are around 12,000 euros. By comparison, an industrial robot, including control system, software and licenses, can easily cost over 100,000 euros. "We are always amazed at how imaginatively companies use our components. From automated earthworm farms to robots that serve beer," says Alexander Mühlens, Head of the Low-Cost Automation division at igus. However, many of these inventions receive too little attention. "That's why, with the ROIBOT Award 2024, we are now offering a stage for the third time to LCA projects that demonstrate courage, creativity and out-of-the-box thinking." igus organizes the competition with an international focus every two years. In 2022, 110 projects from 20 countries applied.

Starting signal for the application phase

Users can apply for the ROIBOT Award with their automation projects until June 30, 2024 - at www.igus.de/roibot-anmeldung. igus offers support on request. A team of experts will create video and image recordings of the application free of charge and supervise the staging. Participants thus skip the application process and are direct candidates for the competition. The prerequisite is that the LCA solutions work with components purchased from igus or via RBTX.com. These include, for example, articulated arm robots, Cartesian robots, Delta robots and Scara robots.

Winning low-cost automation products worth 5,000 euros and international attention

A jury of representatives from the trade press and industry experts will select the three best projects that are characterized by originality and a low return on investment. The winner receives low-cost automation hardware worth 5,000 euros, the runners-up 2,500 euros and 1,000 euros. "The competition also offers participants international media attention and the opportunity to network with other automation enthusiasts, exchange experiences, gain inspiration and perhaps even explore new career opportunities. For example, investors were found for a young start-up at the last ROIBOT Award," concludes Mühlens. The winner of the ROIBOT Award 2022 also benefited from this: MFG Technik & Service GmbH. The company from Kranzberg near Munich impressed the jury with its Label Monkey, a low-cost automation solution that labels industrial pallets from three sides using the robolink DP robotic arm from igus.