Automated Surface Finishing Cell

ABB Robotics launched its OmniVance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell April 30. In a company statement, ABB leadership said the OmniVance Cell can automate surfacing processes like sanding and polishing. The company also said the surface finishing cell features improved throughput and quality compared to manual finishing.

The OmniVance uses a GoFaTM cobot to apply surface finishes. According to ABB, robotics expertise is unnecessary for operation: The company says it designed the OmniVance as a “plug-and-play” solution aimed at small and medium manufacturers. In an email, an ABB spokesperson told American Machinery ABB is targeting the cell for the aerospace, automotive, woodworks, luxury yacht interior, rail interior, defense components, and general industries using materials like plastics, composites, and light metal.

The cell is operated using a tablet interface and does not require custom programming, ABB said. Common operational features like 3D path recording, 2D preset path creation and intuitive path editing are programmed into blocks of prewritten code for users to execute as necessary.

In a statement, ABB Robotics’s Managing Director of Business Line Industries, Craig McDonnell, said the cell is accessible to companies without dedicated roboticists.

“A growing number of companies are looking to automate processes such as sanding and polishing, but many smaller businesses lack in-house robotics expertise – so while they need to deliver perfect quality every time, until now, many have not had a solution that fits their needs,” McDonnell said. “Many businesses are wary of investing in complex, bespoke automation, while off-the-shelf tools lack the scalability and capability they require. With our new OmniVance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell, we’re introducing industrial-grade robotics in a simple, affordable, and scalable solution.”

For more information on ABB Robotics' OmniVance Surface Finishing Cell, see their website.