• AUTOMATION 21XX
Navigation : EXPO21XX News » Automation & Robotics » Bundled innovative power: igus acquires majority stake in Commonplace Robotics

Bundled innovative power: igus acquires majority stake in Commonplace Robotics

Photo by igus GmbH

The motion plastics specialist igus is investing in the expansion of its activities in low-cost automation and has now acquired the majority shares in Commonplace Robotics, based in Bissendorf near Osnabrück. Commonplace Robotics is an integrator specialising in intuitive control and software as well as power electronics for robotics, both in the industrial and educational sectors. The two companies have already been working together intensively for six years and have, among other things, jointly developed the igus Robot Control, which complements igus’ low-cost kinematics made of high-performance plastics.

11 years ago, Dr. Christian Meyer, until then working at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation, founded the company Commonplace Robotics. The name was the programme: to make the integration and operation of robots so cheap and simple that they become “commonplace” – i.e. can be used everywhere. The first products with control and their own power electronics were robots for didactics. In 2016, Christian Meyer approached igus because he realised that the robot kinematics from igus fitted his vision of “commonplace”: cheap, simple, suitable for industry. In the meantime, the two companies have jointly developed products such as the iRC igus Robot Control and the ReBeL Cobot, as well as an actuator. Thanks to Commonplace Robotics’ high vertical range of manufacture – from firmware and software to control cabinet construction and PCB assembly – new developments can be implemented quickly.

Advancing low-cost automation with strengthened innovative power

“Many customers are surprised that they can implement simple robot tasks in as little as 30 minutes without any programming knowledge,” says Frank Blase, Managing Director of igus GmbH. “We are very pleased that after the intensive cooperation of the last six years, an even more focused approach to low cost automation is now possible.” With the acquisition, Commonplace Robotics and igus are combining their innovative strength. Dr. Christian Meyer says: “We are looking forward to exciting technological projects with igus. Especially via the RBTX platform for low-cost robotics operated by igus, new requirements from customers from all areas of industry come into our laboratories every day. Much of this can be implemented quickly, especially as we will expand with the investment.” The latest product of the cooperation is the ReBeL Cobot for 4,970 euros including control. The actuator, also available as a single component, combines igus’ plastics expertise in the gearbox with the power electronics and software from Commonplace Robotics. With six axes, the ReBeL can handle payloads of up to two kilograms with a reach of 664 millimetres – and that with a dead weight of only 8.2 kilograms. Enquiries and orders come on the one hand from classic application areas such as quality control and pick and place applications in mechanical engineering, and on the other hand from new application areas such as restaurant automation or urban farming.

For more information, please visit: https://www.igus.de/