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ABB Robotics introduces Connected Services to improve UK productivity

ABB Robotics has introduced Connected Services, a sophisticated suite of resources enabling UK manufacturers to maximise robot uptime through fast data access and problem resolution. Delivered via ABB's single, intuitive interface called MyRobot, Connected Services will make actionable data immediately available to plant engineers, maintenance staff and managing directors via smart devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones.

Connected Services is based on ABB's Internet of Things, Services and People (IoTSP) approach, where device-level data is delivered to the right people who can decide which services to deploy to ensure that optimum performance is maintained.

Comprised of four solutions called Condition Monitoring and Diagnostics, Backup Management, Remote Access and Fleet Assessment, Connected Services provides UK manufacturers with the tools to optimise their operations and boost their productivity within an increasingly digital landscape.

Through Condition Monitoring and Diagnostics, ABB robots can be accurately monitored at all times regardless of location in order to proactively maintain performance. Rather than responding to breakdowns once they've occurred, technical issues can be resolved at the earliest indication of problems through alarm notifications sent by e-mail or SMS. As well as immediate critical alarm notifications, Condition Monitoring includes a system snapshot which enables better service preparation for on-site calls and technical support.

Backup Management provides a full copy of a robot program so that if lost or damaged, it can be re-uploaded quickly and efficiently, eliminating downtime needed for reprogramming. Automatic backups can be scheduled at any time and can be stored in the cloud or on any server.

Also part of the package, Remote Access provides quick and secure entry to robot controllers and connected equipment. This means that technical difficulties can be addressed by maintenance engineers without them physically visiting the factory floor, speeding up repairs and enabling them to manage the shop floor more productively.

Many UK companies apply fleet management through GPS to monitor vehicles and their drivers distributing goods or services across the country. Fleet Assessment applies this logic to robots on the shop floor. Through identifying the hardest working robots in a company and benchmarking them against ABB's entire population of connected robots, performance can be optimised and services applied to extend the lifetime of equipment. Collectively, Fleet Assessment could help the UK to match the most productive robots globally through the assimilation and analysis of global data.

The introduction of ABB's Connected Services suite is the latest in a series of measures aimed at UK manufacturing companies to help address the perceived complexity of operating and maintaining robots.

"The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) revised down its growth estimates for the UK for the next five years in April," says Dean Phipps, Service Sales and Training Manager - UK and Ireland. "For UK companies to compete with highly productive countries such as Germany, France and the U.S, robotic automation must be embraced and every measure taken to optimise related processes such as maintenance, customer services, logistics and production."

"The integration of robots and services into ABB's IoTSP ecosystem provides UK manufacturers with the opportunity to utilise their data to raise productivity levels and match global competition. Available via ABB's RobotCare Service Agreements, Connected Services enables our customers to realise the benefits of the factory of the future, today."

ABB Robotics