ABB has linked up with Castle Bromwich-based specialised automation company, RNA Automation Ltd, and Svensk Industriautomation AB (SVIA), to supply six-axis robots for a new collaborative venture between the companies.
The agreement, signed and sealed at the recent PPMA Show at the NEC, establishes RNA Automation as SVIA’s authorised UK agent. RNA will not only source new applications within the UK for the Swedish company’s robot-based material handling solutions, but provide its own blend of expertise and professionalism in integrating the SVIA systems into customers’ production set ups. SVIA’s range provide a perfect complement to the full range of bowl feeders, linear feeders, conveyors, bulk hoppers, centrifugal feeders and tray loading/palletising equipment manufactured by RNA.
For its part, Milton Keynes-based ABB Manufacturing Automation will advise on the most suitable ABB robot product to use, before sourcing and preparing the robot for each application from its large stock of six-axis robot products, then supplying it to SVIA for incorporation into the cell.
RNA managing director, Stuart Brettell, comments: “The SVIA product range of autofeed systems and its expertise in vision-based technology dovetail well with our own portfolio of high volume materials handling equipment. Thus, the combined RNA and SVIA product ranges, backed by the reliability and technical excellence of ABB’s robot-based products, will place us in a pre-eminent position in the supply of materials handling systems to the UK marketplace.”
SVIA technical manager, Ari Kesti, says: “As a channel partner of ABB we have worked very closely with them in developing robot-based automation systems. This work, and the development of our world-leading PickVision® technology, has helped deliver to the market an advanced range of platforms for efficient and versatile components handling. Marketing these products in the UK sector is another challenge and I am delighted with the tie-up with RNA. We are confident that RNA’s unrivalled technical expertise and experience will help us gain a sizeable foothold in the UK marketplace.”
ABB segment manager - consumer industries and packaging, Alan Spreckley sums up: “We are very pleased that two of ABB’s channel partners have teamed up in this way. Though the UK market is very competitive, the technical expertise of RNA combined with the technological excellence of the SVIA range of material handling systems will have major impact.”