Both the implementation process and operation have been further simplified. Many manufacturers offer robotic arms as plug-and-play kits that include actuators, control units, control pads and hubs for cable connections. Cobots can perform onerous tasks with a hugely reduced error rate. The use of robotic arms also enables consistently high-quality production, as they do not make careless mistakes or tire out. The benefits are felt in the production costs, as there are generally fewer rejects. This increases efficiency and opens up new opportunities for innovation and growth, allowing German SMEs to produce goods at internationally competitive prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How collaborative robots can optimise your business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Robotic arms help employees and remove the burden of tasks that are hazardous to health, tedious and repetitive. They lift heavy loads, take over quality control, package products, carry out assembly and manufacturing tasks, prepare various surfaces (e.g. painting or grinding) and automate laboratory test series. Advances in gripper technology mean that robots can handle a wide range of objects safely and efficiently, increasing their ability to adapt in various work environments. They also work in hazardous environments that would pose a high risk for people and free up employees to focus on more complex tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is important that the collaborative robots always work in close cooperation with humans. Unlike industrial robots, they are designed in such a way that they do not require a secure area of activity in which to move. They can typically perform movements similar to the human arm, and depending on the number of axles, they can even exceed the human range of motion. This means that they can move freely around their working environment and complete precise tasks. For example, new image processing technologies such as RGB-D cameras have the ability to interpret visual information in real time and perform complex tasks such as accurately placing components or sorting objects without errors. New sensor technologies are also being deployed to provide support, including particularly sensitive touch sensors or force-torque sensors. These ensure that robotic arms can move and handle objects with increased fine motor sensitivity, widening the scope of tasks that these helpers can undertake and enabling companies to automate additional production or work steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Robotic arms carry out tasks based on their programming and can interrupt that programming even at short notice as soon as a person approaches within a certain distance. The continuous advancements in sensor technology mean that robotic arms can accurately perceive their surroundings and detect and respond to human movements in real time. For example, state-of-the-art depth cameras equipped with LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) can detect the position of objects and people in the environment of the collaborative robot and track their movements, even if a person slows down or stops moving unexpectedly. This feature is particularly important in dynamic work environments and ensures that employee safety is a top priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The decision as to whether acquiring a collaborative robot makes financial sense depends on the usage scenario within the business in question and the degree of utilisation. As cobots can affect an entire business, it is advisable to carry out a strategic assessment in advance that goes beyond a simple cost analysis. Key questions include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is there a practical application scenario? What does the company hope to achieve? For instance, the goal might be to reduce the number of rejects and improve quality. Of course, every business wants to save money. Once this has been determined, the following question must also be clarified: What tasks can the robot arms perform, and what tasks will the employees then be freed up to do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s also important to consider whether the financial outlay is justified. There are a variety of ways to do this. The manufacturer Universal Robots has some examples for calculating amortisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Labour savings: <\/strong>When assessing the benefit of investing in a cobot, the savings in labour or unit costs are calculated \u2014 but with the goal of freeing up time rather than creating redundancies. There are two different calculation approaches:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Savings on reworking: <\/strong>Cobots improve process and product quality, which eliminates rework and manual work. The calculation of savings on an hourly basis or as a percentage reduction in total costs is carried out as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Increase in production capacity: Cobots take over the monotonous and hazardous tasks, and this creates new capacity with qualified professionals \u2014 which in turn improves stability and makes it possible to process additional orders. Consider this: What if a business could ensure optimum utilisation of machines through automation or accept orders it has previously had to decline. The calculation is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a company or a business has decided to purchase a cobot, this rule generally applies: the acquisition, installation and commissioning costs are roughly double the purchase price of the robot. And if there are still doubts, thinking about this may help: Collaborative robots are highly flexible universal tools and can be easily converted. They can provide continuous support in the right places over many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/212.184.1.90\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/adobestock-259213726-1024x502.png\")
Decision-making and measurable results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Reduction in volume of rejects:<\/strong> Cobots significantly increase quality, meaning that fewer products need to be scrapped and fewer raw materials are wasted. The savings are calculated based on the unit costs or a general increase in quality:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nRobotic arms are versatile and can be found nearly everywhere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As a packaging robot<\/h4>\n\n\n\n