Gripple Automation announces commercial partnership with OMRON

Gripple Automation, which designs and builds innovative manufacturing automation solutions for industry, has announced a strategic commercial partnership with OMRON, a leading technology provider in the industrial automation space.

This partnership provides customers with end-to-end robotic and automation solutions that encompass concept design and proof of principle, technical design specification, build and machine installation, plus aftercare service.

With technology playing an increasingly critical role in every aspect of business, Gripple Automation and OMRON recognised that by joining forces they could help customers to accelerate the development of robotic and automated solutions for manufacturers around the world.

Darren Beardsmore, managing director of Gripple Automation, said: “We’re hugely excited to announce our strategic commercial partnership with OMRON. The partnership will bring together a powerful combination of knowledge, expertise and skills from both businesses in collaborating to make the best use of new and emerging technology to develop the next generation of robotic and automation solutions for our customers.

“Our team have been extensively trained on OMRON’s solutions and we receive ongoing technical support, which will enhance our service to customers.”

Omron UK and Ireland general manager Sam Tilley said: “Diversifying consumer needs, labour shortage, and other challenges to the manufacturing industry are intensifying by the day. Darren and his highly skilled team are passionate about using technology to improve productivity in UK manufacturing.

“This exciting new partnership with Gripple Automation means both companies working closely together will be able to bring innovation and market leading solutions to production sites across the UK and Europe, adding real value to OMRON technology.”

The partnership will combine Gripple Automation’s extensive engineering expertise and innovative track record of developing robotic and automated solutions for its own and other manufacturing facilities around the world, with OMRON’s technological leadership within advanced industrial automation and specific application expertise.

OMRON offers a wide variety of solutions to some of industry’s most pressing challenges. From robotics to control components, integration into existing lines and communication with factory networks is seamless, reducing deployment time, simplifying modifications and optimising asset performance.

Formalisation of the partnership will see both companies working together to develop automated and robotic assembly machines that offer guaranteed, precision accuracy and fast through-put, whilst increasing production capacity.

Central to the OMRON offer is i-Automation!, a technology that enables businesses to easily replicate master craftsmanship and create production lines where machines can continue to learn and develop on their own.

Working together, Gripple Automation and OMRON will focus on unlocking the full potential of robotic and automation solutions, with the aim of placing global manufacturers on the path to more efficient, safer and more sustainable production lines.

On a recent project, Gripple Automation and OMRON partnered to design and develop an innovative robotic picking and packing cell for a component distributor and manufacturer, which was capable of packaging 1000’s of different recipes at high speed. Equipped with a SCARA robot, two OMRON Anyfeeders and the ability to integrate a variety of third-party bagging systems, the solution delivered significant benefits to the customer.

Gripple Automation align with the OMRON core principles of using technology to improve lives and give back to society. Active in its local community, Gripple Automation proudly adds its ‘Made in Sheffield’ label to every machine it builds.