TM Robotics opens new training and demonstration facility

Councillor Kim Morris, the Deputy Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, performed the opening ceremony by initiating the six-axis robot to cut a ribbon. Approximately 40 guests, which included distributors, system integrators and members of the trade press, then attended workshop sessions to find out more about the TV800 robot, the TH180 ('Micro SCARA') Starter Pack and the ABOT (automatic box opening robot).

Earlier in the day there were speeches by Nigel Smith, managing director of TM Robotics (Europe), Mr Suzuki and Mr Takeda from Toshiba Machine in Japan, and Mike Wilson, President of BARA. Mike Wilson said: "It is great to see such positive investment from a robot company in the UK. It is particularly pleasing because, while it is now showing real potential, the UK robot market has been static for some time. My feeling is that this is due to an under-appreciation of the potential for industrial robots by companies across the board. However, those firms that have embraced the technology have consistently demonstrated efficiency, productivity and profitability improvements as a result."

According to Mike Wilson, the European market for SCARA robots is growing, with this class of robot being particularly suitable for handling (eg picking and packaging), machine tending and dispensing applications. Toshiba Machine's stated aim is to become the number-one supplier of SCARA robots in Europe.

Nigel Smith said: "The move to new premises is a crucial part of the TM Robotics strategy, which is focused on getting closer to our distributors and integrators and providing them with improved training and support facilities."