Page 26 - Plastics News June 2017

FEATURES

No more Robot, Now it’s the cobot

Rebecca Kanthor
China's largest robot maker, Siasun Co. Ltd., is turning to plastics to make a lighter and more
versatile version of a collaborative robot, known as cobot.

hina's Siasun brings plastics to robot manufacturing. "We met them at an exhibition and started talking," he
CThe Shenzhen-based company have worked with BASF said. "They were looking for an application and we were
SE to replace the skin of a cobot with plastic. The two looking for a material. We finally connected the dots of
companies showed a prototype cobot at BASF's booth at our business." For the time being, Yang said Siasun is using
the recently held Chinaplas, in Guangzhou. plastics only for exterior parts."We are now doing fatigue
and hardness testing for some product parts that have
been replaced by plastics," he said. "We are focusing on
[the] exterior facade and, in the future, we will move to
interior components."
Metal was needed to reinforce some parts, he said.
"Plastics can do it but metal is cheaper." Yang sees
opportunities to use more plastics in robot design. "In the
future, we hope to improve the stiffness and hardness
with plastics." The cobot prototype at Chinaplas is not
on the market yet, Yang said, and he demurred when
asked for a commercialization timeline. "We've already
sent the pre-release to customers and they've been very
happy," he said. Siasun's cobot business is doing well, Yang
said, noting that it is in line with China's "Made in China
2025" industrial policy, which hopes to have 150 robots
"We're trying to control the weight," said Yang Luo, vice per 10,000 workers by 2025. That's triple what rate the
president of Siasun. "[Typically] a robot may weigh at country has now.
least 100 kilograms, but the robotics [prototype] we "In China, when we try to implement Industry 4.0, humans
released is only 20 kilograms. We hope to use new types cannot be fully replaced," he said. "We can replace some
of materials to make robotics more versatile. "The robots human labor work but robotics need some assistance from
are like people's arms," he said. "The trend is to have this humans." That gives collaborative robots an edge over
sensory technology, to make [cobots] more collaborative more precise industrial robots.
with human beings." The right plastics were chosen after
a lot of trial and error, Yang said."We made different trials Yang said the traditional robot industry is growing, and
using carbon fiber and nylon. Later we realized that it was the cobot industry can grow faster, "with a profit margin
impossible for us to create up to standard using legacy that's even higher." "Customers are less picky about cost in
materials," he said. cobots," Yang said. "It's clear sailing for us." Market growth
in China, of course, is driven by rising labor costs and skilled
"We needed a company to create a solution." Yang labor shortages. Yang expects annual sales growth of 40
said Siasun will keep working with BASF."They will also percent. Siasun is expanding both in China and overseas.
offer us many solutions to develop the next generation For example, a $3.48 billion (RMB 15 billion) Robotic Future
prototype cobot in future." Yang added that BASF materials City project in Johor, Malaysia, a partnership between the
allowed the company to mold and 3D print complex Johor Corp. and Siasun, will kick off by the end of year
shapes. Andy Postlethwaite, BASF senior vice president to develop the local robotics industry. "Last year we went
of Performance Materials Asia Pacific, said Siasun used to the Asian market and this year we will make inroads to
Elastollan thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, glass- the North American market," Yang said.
fiber reinforced Ultramid nylon and 3D printed nylon
6. Yang said the two companies struck up a partnership Yang downplayed news reports focusing on Siasun's interest
almost by chance. in foreign acquisitions.

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