Mid-sized companies in Germany right now are struggling with challenges presented by the lack of skilled professionals, difficult terms of delivery and high costs of energy. According to an international survey by the Manpower Group, 75 percent of companies are struggling with a lack of workers. However, using industrial robots could be part of a future solution. “It is growing more difficult to find new employees especially for physically demanding and, at the same time, monotonous tasks. The fluctuation of skilled workers in such areas is especially high,” says Gerhard Müller, responsible for the regions Germany, Austria and Switzerland within the robotics section of KUKA.
The company’s offer has come to target small and mid-size companies, but has long been observing a certain hesitation in this sector: “Many company owners have until now hesitated to use robots. Automation was viewed as too complex, too expensive and there was too much scepticism on part of the team,” says Müller.
Right now, this attitude however is changing. More and more small and medium-sized companies are recognising the chances inherent in this technology. “In times where skilled labour is scarce, the concern that employees used to feel so often, that they would be replaced in production by a robot, is hardly an issue anymore. We also receive feedback from talks with customers that indicate that many are happy to delegate tasks that stress their backs, wrists or nerves,” says Müller. Already today robots offer support with the palletising, loading and unloading of machines, in quality control and in welding – even outside the already highly automated automotive industry.
“A robot like that is readily accepted and can be a very good addition to a practised team. Many users even give names to our robots,” says Müller. And there is another effect: Companies using robots are more attractive for new applicants as this is seen as a sign of readiness for the future and innovative thinking.
A calculation also reveals that the use of robots can quickly pay off. A solution in which a robot carries out welding tasks costs approx. 110,000 euros. Included in this price: a project-specific fixture for welding, the welding technology, the robot’s programming as well as set-up on site and operator training. The costs for an employee to take over this task are approx. 40,000 euros per year. With a two-shift operation mode, the personnel costs amount to 80,000 euros. The usual return-on-investment calculation shows the following result: After about 17 months, investment into a robot solution pays off.
