Global robotics manufacturer ABB Robotics has announced a new contract to supply robots to Nobia – a European kitchen specialist – as part of the development of its new factory in Jönköping, Sweden.
ABB Robotics hopes to use this opportunity to increase its reach into new industry segments and to make production more efficient and sustainable.
“ABB’s contribution to Nobia’s new state-of-the-art factory clearly illustrates how we can help companies unlock flexible automation to transform their business, supporting with unique global industry expertise and innovative, tailormade products,” said Andrea Cassoni, managing director, general industry, ABB Robotics.
“Here, our robotics solutions are enabling fast mass-production of customised kitchens, meeting consumers’ increased demand for tailored and personalised product choices.”
Nobia plans to use the ABB solutions to automate more of its manufacturing processes and to support the production of customised products at scale.
The automation of repetitive, dirty and sometimes dangerous tasks was another key motivation for Nobia.
Some of the solutions ABB will be supplying include the IRB 7600, for heavy applications, IRB 4600, a general-purpose robot, and the IRB 6700, which it describes as the ‘highest-performing robot’ in the 150–300-kilogram class. The main application of the bots will be the building of customised cabinets.
According to ABB, automation of this process will see 75-80% increases in efficiency compared to non-automated processes.
What’s more, in the local area, ABB Robotics will help upskill and educate Nobia’s existing and future employees, as well as students at Jönköping University and neighbouring Linköping University, through ABB Robotics’ local training centre.
“We are very excited about this partnership with ABB,” said Jon Sintorn, CEO, Nobia. “We are building a future-proof, high-capacity factory that will support our leading position.
“It is a real game changer for the whole industry. The factory will manufacture customised, made-to-order kitchens at the highest speed and at the same time highest possible quality.
“The unique combination of technique solutions combined with our expertise will enable us to offer kitchens with leading design and sustainability performance to customers in the Nordic region. To achieve this we will utilise ABB’s market leading technology for highly automated and flexible processes, and extensive logistics consolidation.”
The factory is expected to be fully operational in 2024.
