New solutions centre and robot training centre deliver the “ABB experience”

Citation

(2004), "New solutions centre and robot training centre deliver the “ABB experience”", Industrial Robot, Vol. 31 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2004.04931cab.001

New solutions centre and robot training centre deliver the “ABB experience”

New solutions centre and robot training centre deliver the “ABB experience”

Keywords: Robots, Training, ABB

ABB has invested over £300,000 in key new customer service facilities at its Automation Technologies Division operations centre in Milton Keynes, as part of a strategy of continuous development of services to users of its industrial robot technology (Plate 1).

Plate 1

The facilities incorporate ABB's new Solutions Centre, a new dimension in customer service concepts, providing a centre of excellence for robots and their applications-based capabilities, set within a spacious, air conditioned environment. The centre's unrivalled portfolio of automation- based products, complemented by a vast “knowledge pool” of ABB engineers, is set to provide solutions for the most complex manufacturing applications, while pushing back the boundaries in automation technology itself.

Regarded as “an experience of ABB” rather than a demonstration of its products, the Solutions Centre allows customers access to a comprehensive portfolio of products. These include six-axis robots, from the compact IRB140 right through to large handling and power robots such as IRB6600; and application specific products such as the FlexPicker picking robot, and FlexArc, a dedicated robot-based arc welding facility. Customers can also familiarise themselves with ABB's vast range of productivity enhancing software tools, such as RobotStudio, WebWare and PickMaster.

The Solutions Centre also includes one of the most advanced surface coating development plants in Europe. Installed at Milton Keynes only last year, the plant is used for both customer-training purposes and to optimise paint spray systems before delivery to customers.

Co-located and fully supporting the Solutions Centre is a new, fully networked Robot Training Centre. The centre provides both customised and broad-based training on an upgraded range of robotic products, within an extremely comfortable, air-conditioned, learning environment.

Setting new standards in industrial training facilities with a capacity of 30 students, the centre incorporates purpose-built lecture rooms adjoining fully operational robot applications, allowing theoretical concepts to be quickly reinforced with practical demonstrations. All 14 robots are networked and incorporate the very latest web-based tools including web cam, and new advances in controller and software products.

For more information, contact: David Marshall, ABB Automation Technologies Division, Auriga House, Precedent Drive, Rooksley, Milton Keynes MK13 8PQ. Tel: +44 (0) 1908 350300; Fax: +44 (0) 1908 350301; E-mail: david.marshall@gb.abb.com