TM Robotics open day demonstrates investment despite the downturn

~ Event is held to mark major product launches and inaugurate new head office ~

TM Robotics (Europe) Ltd held an open day on November 27 to officially mark the launch of its new offices in Welwyn Garden City. Also unveiled at the event were Toshiba Machine’s first ever six axis robot, the TV800 EZcell, and a range of IP65 SCARA robots, for use in harsh environments or industries that demand sealing as standard – such as food and pharmaceuticals.

The launch of the TV800 EZcell represents a significant development in the automation market, because Toshiba Machine is now one of the only major players in the industry to offer a complete range of robot technologies - SCARA, Cartesian and six axis. The TV800 has a total arm length of 800mm, a reach of 892mm and a composite maximum speed of 8.06 metres per second. The robot has a maximum cycle time of 0.4 to 0.5 seconds, repeatability of ±0.02mm and a maximum payload of six kilograms.

The day was attended by representatives of TM Robotics’ distributors and integrators, from across Europe, as well as Toshiba Machine officials from Japan. Also at the event were the deputy mayor of Welwyn Garden City, Councillor Kim Morris, and Mike Wilson, the president of BARA (the British Robotics and Automation Association), who both delivered short speeches.

“It’s great to see such positive investment from a robot company in the UK,” said Wilson. “It’s particularly pleasing because, while it’s now showing real potential, the UK robot market has been static for some time. My feeling is that this is due to an under-appreciation of the potential for industrial robots by companies across the board. However, those firms that have embraced the technology have consistently demonstrated efficiency, productivity and profitability improvements as a result.”

“The move is a crucial part of the overall TM Robotics strategy, which is focused on getting closer to our distributors and integrators and providing them with improved training and support facilities,” explained Nigel Smith, managing director of TM Robotics.

“Welwyn Garden City was a natural choice for our new location. It offers outstanding international transport links, thanks to its proximity to the major airports, and is ideally located in the UK to help us easily reach and service our British partners. The flexibility the new location provides mirrors the provision we are making for our partner companies,” he concluded.

"We are pleased to welcome TM Robotics to Welwyn Garden City. In challenging times for business and industry, it is exciting for the town that TM Robotics and Toshiba Machine have the confidence and ability to expand into our borough," said the deputy mayor, Councillor Kim Morris.

A copy of this press release is available to download at http://www.tmrobotics-pr.blogspot.com/.

Ends — 454 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from TM Robotics, paste the following link into your RSS reader http://tmrobotics-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package Sharp Reader.

For further information contact:
Nigel Smith - TM Robotics (Europe) Ltd
Unit 2, Bridge Gate Centre, Martinfield,
Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL7 1JG
Telephone: +44 (0)1707 290370
Fax: +44 (0)1707 376662
www: http://www.tmrobotics.co.uk/ and www.abot.eu.com
e-mail: sales@tmrobotics.co.uk

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4BT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About TM Robotics: TM Robotics (Europe) Ltd is responsible for the sales, marketing and support of Toshiba Machine's Industrial Robots throughout Europe. The two companies offer an extensive range of SCARA and Cartesian robots, sold with the aid of a comprehensive network of system integration partners and distributors. Toshiba Machine’s SCARA robots find applications in industries ranging from food and pharmaceuticals to electronics, packaging and automotive component handling.

Ref: TRE105/10/08

Robots save space at Motek ‘08

~ TM Robotics, Elmotec and ICS will show a series of space saving industrial robots at this year’s show ~

TM Robotics will be exhibiting at this year’s Motek, the international trade show for assembly and handling, in Stuttgart’s Neue Messe between September 22 and 25. The company can be found on two stands, the first of which is shared with ICS Industriedienstleistungen GmbH and can be found on stand 1229, in hall one. Here TM Robotics will be showing two of the smallest robots in the company’s range – the TH250A and the TH180. The second exhibit, which is shared with Elmotec, is in hall seven on stand 7438, and features a ceiling-mounted Toshiba Machine SCARA.

“There is a real theme of space saving in both of our exhibits this year,” explained Nigel Smith, managing director of TM Robotics. “A ceiling mounted robot can be the best way of saving space in a robot cell, while the other two SCARA we are showing have such small footprints that they can be used in the most cramped environments. We are literally talking about robots the same size as a sheet of A4 paper. This reflects both the demand from end users for ever smaller and more efficient equipment and the broadening scope of the SCARA’s appeal. It is now very common to find these robots in labs and electronics manufacture, thanks to their outstanding precision and repeatability.”

The TH250A’s small size means its ideal in test and assembly applications, secondary packaging and laboratory handling. The robot features a built in PLC and has a payload of up to 3kg and repeatability of +/-0.01mm. The TH180 is also perfect for laboratory, education, electronics and other high precision assembly applications, thanks to its 180mm reach, 2kg payload and outstanding 0.35 second cycled time.

The TH450T, featured on the Elmotec stand, is amongst the quickest SCARA robots of its size on the market and achieves cycle times of less than 0.3 seconds. Arm lengths of 450mm and a payload of 5kg complement the TH450's enhanced speed capability, while repeatability is an impressive ±0.01mm. Linear and circular conveyor synchronisation capabilities are also offered, creating a very powerful package when combined with easily integrated vision systems. At Motek, the robot will be operating hand in hand with a dual conveyor tracking vision system, using two Cognex cameras, making it ideal for end of line packing.

The TM Robotics team will be on hand at the show to answer questions about the entire range of Toshiba Machine SCARA and Cartesian robots, as well as ABOT – an innovative system for opening packages in incoming goods operations. Video of the TH450T in operation at Munich’s specialist industrial robot show, Automatica, is available here. A copy of this press release is available to cut and paste from http://www.tmrobotics-pr.blogspot.com/.

Ends — 474 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from TM Robotics, paste the following link into your RSS reader http://tmrobotics-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package Sharp Reader.

For further information contact:
Nigel Smith - TM Robotics (Europe) Ltd
Unit 15, The Weltech Centre, Ridgeway,
Welwyn Garden City, Herts. AL7 2AA
Telephone: +44 (0)1707 871535
Fax: +44 (0)1707 393959
www: http://www.tmrobotics.co.uk/ and www.abot.eu.com
e-mail: sales@tmrobotics.co.uk

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4BT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About TM Robotics: TM Robotics (Europe) Ltd is responsible for the sales, marketing and support of Toshiba Machine's Industrial Robots throughout Europe. The two companies offer an extensive range of SCARA and Cartesian robots, sold with the aid of a comprehensive network of system integration partners and distributors. Toshiba Machine’s SCARA robots find applications in industries ranging from food and pharmaceuticals to electronics, packaging and automotive component handling.

Ref: TRE087/08/08

Ceiling mounted robot set for UK launch at PPMA

~ TM Robotics demonstrates vision for processing and packaging ~

TM Robotics will be exhibiting at this year’s PPMA show at the NEC between September 30 and October 2. The company can be found on stand number C71B, where it will be showing a ceiling mounted Toshiba Machine SCARA robot with vision provided by PCS Industries. The new robot is set to find applications in the processing and packaging sectors, where it will be used for a variety of pick and place tasks.

The TH450T is amongst the quickest SCARA robots of its size on the market and achieves cycle times of less than 0.3 seconds. Arm lengths of 450mm and a payload of 5kg complement the TH450's enhanced speed capability, while repeatability is an impressive ±0.01mm. Linear and circular conveyor synchronisation capabilities are also offered, creating a very powerful package when combined with easily integrated vision systems. At PPMA the robot will be operating hand in hand with robust Cognex cameras and vision, provided and integrated by PCS. This resultant conveyor tracking function makes the system ideal for end of line packaging.

“Ceiling mount capabilities make the TH450 much more versatile,” explained Nigel Smith, managing director of TM Robotics. “The robot is already in use in a number of applications but its real potential lies in packaging for industries such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare, food and cosmetics.”

The TM Robotics team will be on hand at the show to answer questions about the entire range of Toshiba Machine SCARA and Cartesian robots, as well as ABOT – an innovative system for opening packages in incoming goods operations.

Video of the TH450T in operation at Hannover’s specialist industrial robot show, Automatica, is available here. A copy of this press release is available to cut and paste from http://www.tmrobotics-pr.blogspot.com/.

Ends — 305 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from TM Robotics, paste the following link into your RSS reader http://tmrobotics-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package Sharp Reader.

For further information contact:
Nigel Smith - TM Robotics (Europe) Ltd
Unit 15, The Weltech Centre, Ridgeway,
Welwyn Garden City, Herts. AL7 2AA
Telephone: +44 (0)1707 871535
Fax: +44 (0)1707 393959
www: http://www.tmrobotics.co.uk/ and www.abot.eu.com
e-mail: sales@tmrobotics.co.uk

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4BT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About TM Robotics: TM Robotics (Europe) Ltd is responsible for the sales, marketing and support of Toshiba Machine's Industrial Robots throughout Europe. The two companies offer an extensive range of SCARA and Cartesian robots, sold with the aid of a comprehensive network of system integration partners and distributors. Toshiba Machine’s SCARA robots find applications in industries ranging from food and pharmaceuticals to electronics, packaging and automotive component handling.

Ref: TRE086/08/08

Ceiling mounted TH450 at PPMA/Automatica

This ceiling mounted TH450T was filmed at Automatica in June. The same system will be on show at PPMA in September/October.

New SCARA offers more power with identical footprint

~ Mid size robot meets demand for improved pick and place functionality ~

TM Robotics has introduced a new Toshiba Machine SCARA robot across Europe. Designated the TH650A, the new robot meets the increasing speed and productivity demands placed on SCARAs by all sectors of the manufacturing industry. A replacement for the old TH650 model, this SCARA is a visual triumph of industrial design and has the same footprint as the previous version, which means more power in the same sized package.

Payload is 10kg and arm length is 650mm, both of which are identical to the previous Toshiba Machine SCARA in the range. However, compared to most competing models, the robot’s working envelope is substantially larger with axis one and two combining to provide a near 360° working area. An internal wiring harness reduces wear and tear as well as the height requirement of the cell.

The robot’s TS2100 controller uses the SCOL programming language, which is similar to BASIC. This language is used across the Toshiba Machine SCARA range, which means integrating the TH650A alongside older models is a simple process. Motion control commands include single axis motion, synchronous motion, linear interpolation, circular interpolation and arch motion. There are 31 +7 external inputs and 22 +10 external outputs. System inputs can be used for start, stop, reset and servo-on functions while system outputs are for alarm, emergency stop and status functions.

An extensive range of options includes Toshiba Machine’s TSPC programming software, for 3D simulation of the robot movement and additional IO. Ethernet and Fieldbus (DeviceNet, Profibus and CClink) communications provide advanced programming flexibility. Further options include linear or circular conveyor synchronisation, which, together with an easily integrated vision system, provide advanced pick and place functionality.

The Toshiba Machine robot range will now extend from the TH-180, which has an arm length of 180mm through to the general purpose SCARAs with arm lengths between 250mm and 1050mm.

Ends: 343 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from TM Robotics, paste the following link into your RSS reader http://tmrobotics-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package http://www.blogger.com/www.sharpreader.net.

For further information contact:
Nigel Smith - TM Robotics (Europe) Ltd
Unit 2, Bridge Gate Centre, Martinfield,
Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL7 1JG
Telephone: +44 (0)1707 871535
Fax: +44 (0)1707 393959
www: http://www.tmrobotics.co.uk/
e-mail: sales@tmrobotics.co.uk

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4BT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/
Blog: http://www.stone-junction.blogspot.com/

About TM Robotics: TM Robotics (Europe) Ltd is responsible for the sales, marketing and support of Toshiba Machine's Industrial Robots throughout Europe. The two companies offer an extensive range of SCARA and Cartesian robots, sold with the aid of a comprehensive network of system integration partners and distributors. Toshiba Machine’s SCARA robots find applications in industries ranging from food and pharmaceuticals to electronics, packaging and automotive component handling.

Ref: TRE059/05/08