Universal Robots has announced that it plans to operate with a two-week shipping lead time, which it claims will help US businesses take advantage of the US Section 179 tax deduction.
The deduction program was established to help US businesses stretch budgets and purchase collaborative robots (cobots) for manufacturing tasks.
Section 179 requires that qualified equipment and off-the-shelf software is purchased and in operation by December 31 2022, which Universal Robots says it can help with.
“Manufacturers simply can’t staff positions to meet their production demands, and many can’t turn to traditional automation, which is too expensive and complex, especially for small and midsized businesses,” said Joe Campbell, senior manager of applications development and strategic marketing at Universal Robots.
“UR cobots are cost-effective and easy to implement, and with the Section 179 tax deduction they can be even more affordable.
“Businesses should consult their tax expert right away to see if they can take advantage of this opportunity, and we’ll do our part to help them meet eligibility requirements.”
Global supply chains have experienced ongoing difficulties, ranging from semiconductor shortages to staffing problems. Despite this, Universal Robots claims to have seen growth in production.
The company suggests the entirety of its 150-person production team plays a role in making sure cobots are made on time, with many specifically tasked with overcoming supply chain issues. Some of their responsibilities includes dual or even triple sourcing of parts, with team members reportedly travelling to component suppliers to oversee the finalising and shipping of important components.
“Collaboration and communication have been key, with the team speaking to primary suppliers on at least a daily basis,” said Anders Lassen, vice president for operations and supply chain.
“The emphasis is on keeping everyone aligned to the shared goal–namely, the timely delivery of cobots to our customers.”
Universal Robots hopes its two-week lead time will support organisations with the challenges associated with the supply chain crisis.
Universal Robots (Stand 422) will be at Robotics and Automation 2022 on 01-02 November at the Coventry Building Society Arena. For more information, or to register to attend now, visit www.roboticsandautomation.co.uk.
