FACTORY OF THE FUTURE

Mark Gray of Universal Robots Shares how Cobots can Increase Staff Retention , Eliminate Monotonous Tasks & Uplift Worker Wellbeing

WRITTEN BY : HELEN ADAMS

Cobots are lightweight robotic arms that can automate the so-called dull , difficult and dangerous tasks that usually require the skills and manpower of human workers . They are designed to work alongside humans , can be utilised by businesses of all sizes , and in a wide variety of applications including palletising , machine tending and welding .

Mark Gray is the UK & Ireland Country Manager at Universal Robots and he ’ s responsible for helping businesses of all sizes in the region tackle their most pressing industry issues with cobot automation .

“ You can often find my team and I hitting the road on our Collaborate Roadshow events , which take place across various towns and cities in the UK and Ireland ,” he said . “ As part of these , we showcase our cobots to local businesses and demonstrate how we can help solve important manufacturing challenges .”

Gray ’ s journey to the robotics industry was shaped by over 25 years of experience in sales and electrical engineering .

“ Having this background has equipped me with an in-depth knowledge of the pain

points faced by manufacturers as well as the technical pitfalls . When the opportunity to join Universal Robots presented itself over seven years ago , I thought it was perfect for my skill set . It gave me the chance to merge my past experiences while being at the forefront of business innovation .”

Cobots can support manufacturers ’ safety and wellbeing Due to the nature of the industry , manufacturing workers often carry out monotonous tasks . For example , palletisation – the process of stacking , loading and securing goods onto pallets – traditionally requires strenuous and repetitive manual labour . Over time ,

58 February 2024