Robots on the rise
Workers don’t need to fear the rise of robots in Cork but should be instead encouraged to work alongside them.
That’s according to Samantha Cummins-Byrne, Irish Sales Development Manager at Universal Robots ahead of its tour on Leeside next week.
The Cobot Automation Tour of 2019 is showing people hands-on experience of collaborative robots called cobots which is a term coined because of their capability to work alongside their human counterparts.
Speaking with the Cork Independent yesterday, Ms Cummins-Byrne said: “Recently, robots have been grabbing the headlines, sparking fears that they will steal our jobs. However, look beyond the headlines and it becomes apparent that this couldn’t be further from the truth.
“In my opinion, Cork people shouldn’t be concerned that robots may replace them but instead be encouraged that robots can ensure it remains economically viable to grow the manufacturing base.
“In reality, robots are engineered to add value to our lives. When it comes to manufacturing, they are simply another tool that enables businesses to make existing processes more efficient. In almost every case that I’ve witnessed, robots allow companies to enjoy greater automation by completing the most mundane or dangerous tasks. This ensures that the human workforce can be redeployed elsewhere in the production cycle and gain new skills or focus on more rewarding tasks that require creative thinking, all while adding to the bottom line.”
Cork was chosen as a destination for the tour because it has, Ms Cummins-Byrne said, a proud manufacturing heritage which is still thriving today.
“With an array of SMEs in the area, Cork is the ideal region to showcase how these businesses can enhance their operation, boost throughput and expand profit margins,” she added.
Previously, the technology was thought to be feasible only for large enterprises as industrial robots carried heavy price tags. Aside from this, they were complex to programme and their expansive safety cages required vast floor space.
She continued: “As the technology has evolved, we’ve seen an influx of cobots enter the market, making the technology a viable solution for SMEs. With the capability to seamlessly integrate into existing workflow, cobots require minimal downtime and their compact size requires minimal floor space.”
The cobot event will be taking place at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Little Island on 24 October. Visit universal-robots.com for more.