With the ending cell, ABB mentioned it hopes to bridge the hole between custom-made automation and entry-level software kits. | Supply: ABB Robotics
ABB Robotics final week launched its first totally automated sanding and sprucing cell. The Zurich, Switzerland-based firm mentioned the OmniVance Collaborative Floor Ending Cell can automate key floor ending duties, corresponding to sanding and sprucing.
Floor ending is a important step in manufacturing throughout nearly each business. Nevertheless, companies are dealing with twin pressures of extra complicated manufacturing calls for and a scarcity of expert labor. Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute have predicted that 1.9 million manufacturing jobs will likely be unfilled by 2033.
“A rising variety of firms wish to automate processes corresponding to sanding and sprucing, however many smaller companies lack in-house robotics experience – so whereas they should ship excellent high quality each time, till now, many haven’t had an answer that matches their wants,” mentioned Craig McDonnell, managing director of business-line industries at ABB Robotics.
“Many companies are cautious of investing in complicated, bespoke automation, whereas off-the-shelf instruments lack the scalability and functionality they require,” he adde.d “With our new OmniVance Collaborative Floor Ending Cell, we’re introducing industrial-grade robotics in a easy, inexpensive, and scalable resolution.”
OmniVance designed to be self-contained, straightforward to deploy
With the OmniVance Collaborative Floor Ending Cell, ABB mentioned it hopes to bridge the hole between custom-made automation and entry-level software kits with its turnkey resolution. It makes use of a GoFa cobot to execute high-quality, precision floor ending.
The cell is completely self-contained, delivered as an entire plug-and-play providing together with GoFa and security parts. The totally CE-certified cell doesn’t require any extra engineering to change on and start manufacturing, famous ABB. The corporate claimed that it’s straightforward so as to add new instruments and equipment, making the system extremely adaptable for high-mix environments.
By automating repetitive sanding and sprucing duties, the cell can improve throughput and scale back conventional scrap and rework, saving time, effort, and prices, ABB mentioned. Built-in mud extraction readiness helps keep a clear, wholesome work atmosphere whereas additional enhancing completed product high quality. Automation additionally reduces bodily pressure and frees expert employees to focus on extra precious duties, mentioned ABB Robotics.
The corporate mentioned it developed its software program to be intuitive for straightforward deployment and to control your complete ending course of. A tablet-style interface is user-friendly for these with out robotics experience and desires no customized programming, in keeping with ABB.
Options corresponding to lead-through 3D path recording, 2D preset path creation, and intuitive path enhancing, built-in into Wizard Straightforward Programming blocks, can scale back programming time by as much as 90%, it asserted.
Ending cell joins rising ABB Robotics portfolio
ABB is likely one of the world’s main producers of robots. The firm‘s portfolio contains industrial automation, collaborative robots, and autonomous cellular robots (AMRs) for a spread of industries, together with automotive, electronics, and logistics.
In October 2025, ABB Group introduced plans to promote its robotics unit to SoftBank Group for $5.3 billion. ABB Robotics has about 7,000 staff, and its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility are in Auburn Hills, Mich.
Final month, ABB launched its new PoWa household of force- and power-limited robots. PoWa extends ABB’s cobot capabilities with industrial-grade efficiency, together with six totally different payload classes, from 7 to 30 kg (15.4 to 66.1 lb.), and it could possibly attain a high pace of as much as 5.8 m/s (13 mph).
