Smart automation without budget overrun

In a factory environment, workers often have to travel many miles. Think about moving parts, retrieving something from stock or performing maintenance on a machine. Companies can solve this by applying robots in their factory. Problem? Those robots are often very expensive. This is where igus' Low Cost Automation solutions come in. They offer a whole product range of affordable and user-friendly automation solutions.

Igus is a German company that specializes in motion plastics, which are innovative products made from lubricant-free plastics. They include cable tracks, cables, plain bearings, wire spindle technology, intelligent sensors and robots. Most industrial robots come with a hefty price tag, so they are not cost-effective for every company. igus gets around that problem by offering affordable robotics under the name “Low Cost Automation.” This is a collective term for robots and automation devices that are a lot cheaper than similar products on the market. 

Low Cost Automation range

The latest additions to the Low Cost Automation range, are the ReBeLMove and the ReBeLMove Pro. Both are autonomous devices, and thus can drive around completely on their own. “The main reason the devices are deployed in factories is to absorb time losses,” says Joren Kestens, product manager at igus in East and West Flanders. “Employees can now be for other tasks and don't have to walk around.”

Beyond the fact that the new products can save time, they also save on labor. The ReBelMove Pro can carry up to 200kg and pull up to 900kg. It is even possible to attach a cart to it. “We are aware that both the ReBeLMove and the ReBelMove Pro cannot handle extremely large weights,” Kestens says. “But often companies don't need all that machine power either. After all, why pay so much extra money for unnecessary carrying or pulling power?”

40 percent cheaper

Of course, Low Cost Automation must also effectively remain “low cost.” That's where they have a very clear vision at igus. “We really want to differentiate ourselves from the competition by offering cost-effective products,” says marketing manager Tim Küsters. “The Return on Investment has to be achieved quickly. We do this by making our products about 40 percent cheaper than comparable products released by other manufacturers on the market.”

In addition to affordability, igus is also strongly committed to user-friendliness and easy integration. The ReBeLMove and ReBeLMove Pro are designed to be quickly deployable in a variety of environments. The devices can navigate completely autonomously thanks to built-in sensors and are controlled via an intuitive app. This makes them particularly interesting for companies without in-depth IT or robotics knowledge. The plug-and-play nature allows the robots to be quickly activated without complicated configuration
or installation infrastructure.

What makes this solution especially attractive is its modular design. The ReBeLMove Pro can be expanded with extras such as a cobot arm, enabling pick-and-place applications. Furthermore, the customer can also link the robot to transport carts or custom carrier systems, depending on the customer's needs. This flexibility allows companies to build their level of automation incrementally, and at a very economical price.