Collaborative robots are designed to work alongside teams, interacting with humans in a shared space. They differ from traditional robots, which are designed to operate without human interaction and contact.
Hanover introduced its first cobot in September 2018, to enhance its testing capability in a partnership with Absolute Robotics. Since then, the technology has proved its worth, delivering pinpoint accuracy in the testing of processor and power supply boards, which are produced by Hanover as part of the destination display systems that it produces.
Hanover operations manager Sean Winter has led the installation process. He says: “The cobots are transforming the way we deliver our testing service. They work to 50 microns repeatability and produce a report giving Hanover full traceability, detailing when the product was tested and its test results.”
Gaurav Bijlani, production test engineer manager at Hanover, says: “The cobots have improved our efficiency and processes, thereby creating a continuous improvement culture in collaboration with quality assurance department to deliver a solution that takes us into the 21st century. The end result for our clients is even greater reliability, a faster turnaround for orders and the ability to draw on the positive benefits they have delivered for our staff, who have been freed up to operate in roles which bring even more innovation and support to the business.”
Together with its headquarters and production facility in Lewes, East Sussex, Hanover has a further manufacturing site in Illinois in the US. Both sites produce more than 45,000 units annually across the product range, and shipping to customers in over 75 countries throughout the world for a client list that includes transport authorities, fleet operators, and vehicle manufacturers.