Job shops typically have short runs of different, small batches of custom products. Production typically involves performing repetitive tasks, like moving and assembling sections of pipe, typically an ideal job for a robot gripper.

However, making the use of robotics in these situations is an expensive proposition because the jobs change frequently, meaning changing servo-grippers on electronic devices, leading to downtime and lost productivity, according to Guillame Robert, director of marketing for Robotiq, Quebec City, Canada. “People need this flexibility, but it’s very costly to change over.”

Getting a grip on change overs

As a result, many companies…