- Foundry Plus and Foundry Prime robot protection versions for maximum reliability and efficiency in extreme working environments
- ABB showcases the new IRB 6790 robot for high-pressure water jet cleaning applications, reducing maintenance by up to 60%
High temperature differences, steam, particles and dirt: the harsh conditions in foundries and forges call for particularly robust systems. At GIFA 2019 from 25th until 29th June (Hall 16, stand A23) ABB will present the industry's most comprehensive and leading robot portfolio with protected versions for extreme working environments and will showcase the new IRB 6790 robot for high-pressure water jet cleaning applications.
Foundry Plus - optimal protection of the robot
ABB robots prove themselves in foundry environments not only through their performance and flexibility. The Foundry Plus and Foundry Prime protection versions ensure durability and robustness under the harshest conditions. In foundries and forges, robots are exposed to extremes, with coolants, lubricants, dust, metal particles and -splashes, stressing the robot far beyond the norm.
With ABB Foundry Plus, the entire robot has IP67 protection, to ensure reliability and to keep downtime to a minimum. The surface of the robot is treated with two-component epoxy resin paint for corrosion resistance. Cabling and electronics boast additional protection while improved seals prevent the penetration of particles and liquids into electrical areas.
Foundry Prime – Use in the most demanding environments
Foundry Prime is the first protective system that can handle heat, moisture, dirt and chemical cleaners without the need for an elaborate protective cover. The design has been specially developed for applications where a robot is exposed to extreme working environments, such as washing and cleaning. Robots with Foundry Prime can withstand 100 percent humidity or water vapor, ensuring a long service life even in the aggressive environment of a cleaning cell. In addition, they can come into contact and be used with industrial cleaning agents up to a maximum pH value of 10. Foundry Prime enables a completely new flexible production concept in which a wide variety of parts can be cleaned by a robot integrated into the wet cell. The protective version is available for the IRB 4600, IRB 6640 and IRB 6790 robots.
IRB 6790 – New foundry prime robot with protection class IP69
The IRB 6790 is the latest foundry prime robot in ABB's portfolio offers IP69 protection with all robot surfaces coated or stainless steel to prevent corrosion. This makes it suitable for washing and cleaning applications with 100 percent humidity. Seals made of the highest quality poly and elastomers protect the robot from alkaline cleaning agents. The high flexibility of the IRB 6790 enables the cleaning of different part geometries in the same cell without changeover times, which supports individual series production for automobile manufacturers as well as for original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers.
In addition to increased flexibility and productivity, the IRB 6790 reduces valuable and typically time-consuming maintenance in harsh environments by up to 60%, helping to minimize total cost of ownership. In addition, the robot enables a higher speed, a cycle time that is on average 5 percent faster and energy consumption that is 15 percent lower. The robot will be available in two versions - with a payload of 205 kg and a reach of 2.80 m, and with a payload of 235 kg and a reach of 2.65 m.
At GIFA, both the IRB 6790 in foundry-prime version and the IRB 4600 in foundry-plus version will be on display at the ABB booth. The presentation will be rounded off by the demonstration of digital solutions such as the offline simulation and programming software RobotStudio® and services for predictive maintenance, which help to reduce unplanned downtime.
Pioneer and market leader in robot-based foundry applications
As a pioneer in foundry applications, ABB brings with it many years of know-how. "ABB was the first supplier to automate the foundry and developed many robust applications and robots suitable for this challenging and harsh environment," says Daniel Pintar, Product Manager at ABB. "The quality and flexibility of the robots, the ease of programming and operation as well as specially developed protective designs form the basis for the most comprehensive and globally leading robot portfolio for foundries and forges. In the future, we will continue to expand our portfolio and market position to provide our customers with the latest technologies and innovations to meet their challenges".
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader with a comprehensive offering for digital industries. With a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB is today a leader in digital industries with four customer-focused, globally leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, supported by its common ABB Ability™ digital platform. ABB’s market leading Power Grids business will be divested to Hitachi in 2020. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 147,000 employees. www.abb.com
ABB Robotics is a pioneer in industrial and collaborative robots and advanced digital services. As one of the world’s leading robotics suppliers, we are active in 53 countries and over 100 locations and have shipped over 400,000 robot solutions in a diverse range of industries and applications. We help our customers to improve flexibility, efficiency, safety and reliability, while moving towards the connected and collaborative factory of the future. www.abb.com/robotics
