Rockwell Automation and Comau collaborate to simplify robotics integration for manufacturers

Rockwell Automation and Comau collaborate to simplify robotics integration for manufacturers

Win-win cooperation to provide industrial customers with simpler, smarter and more efficient design, configuration and robotic applications

MILWAUKEE, USA and TURIN, Italy, April 21, 2021 – Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), one of the world’s largest companies in industrial automation, information and digital transformation, and Comau, a leading global manufacturer of industrial automation and robotics, today announced that they will work together to provide global companies with important tools to maximize manufacturing efficiency through a unified robotic control solution.

“Industrial companies are looking for efficient ways to integrate robotics into their operations to optimize processes and achieve agility,” said Blake Moret, chairman and CEO, Rockwell Automation. “Rockwell Automation and Comau’s collaboration will help customers accelerate time to value by simplifying robotics programming and lifecycle management.”

Moret said the expansion of robotic applications is rooted in Rockwell Automation’s larger strategy to help industrial companies save time, improve performance and ultimately bring long-term value to the business through unified robotic control. The co-development and sales model provides customers of both companies with a unified robotic control offering.

“Comau’s robotics and industrial automation expertise and reputation for performance, reliability and quality, combined with Rockwell Automation’s global capabilities and experience in automated material handling, food and beverage, home and personal care, and life sciences, will add even more value to the integrated robotic solutions we offer our customers,” said Paolo Carmassi, CEO of Comau. “Comau is very much looking forward to collaborating with a company that is a global market leader across all industries.”

Engineers can now program the entire machine from the same environment, including direct control of the Comau robot arm through a Rockwell Automation Logix-based controller. Rockwell Automation's Studio 5000® automation system design software provides a solution to the time-consuming and difficult task of using two different software tools to get the machine control and robotic systems working together.

Equipment manufacturers, system integrators and other companies will be able to improve development and deployment efficiency by leveraging digital engineering tools such as Rockwell Automation’s digital twin software Emulate3D™, which creates a digital model of the production line and automatically generates machine control code with built-in capabilities for Comau robots.

In addition to enhanced integration capabilities, the joint solution from Rockwell Automation and Comau will also provide other benefits. For example, end users can use analytics and digital twin tools to gain a deeper understanding of machine performance and potential factors for optimizing production. In addition, they can use safety and security solutions to reduce business risks.

With the help of Rockwell FactoryTalk® software suite, operators on the manufacturing floor will be able to see both the production line and the robotic control system on a single interface. In-plant and remote technicians only need to learn and maintain one architecture to monitor both systems. They can also use Rockwell Automation's augmented reality (AR) tools to improve lifecycle and service cycle maintenance.

Automazioni Industriali Capitanio (AIC), a well-known system integrator that designs, manufactures and commissions automation systems for the metals industry, is an early adopter of the joint solution. Marco Capitanio, General Manager of AIC, said that the collaboration between Rockwell Automation and Comau enables the company to provide customers with seamless robotic solutions, which is a key advantage for equipment manufacturers.

“We valued the simple and flexible programming environment, the complete robot monitoring and diagnostic parameters, and the ability to leverage existing automation panels and standard control equipment,” Capitanio said.

Rockwell Automation products and technologies are critical to robot integration, including:

• Allen-Bradley ControlLogix® control system

• Kinetix® 5700 Servo Drive Platform

• Studio 5000® Automation System Design Software

• FactoryTalk® View human-machine interface (HMI) software

• FactoryTalk® InnovationSuite™, powered by PTC Digital Transformation Software Suite

• Emulate3D™ Digital Twin Software

• PTC Vuforia AR tools for remote collaboration and information capture

At the same time, Comau's extensive robot product line also meets the needs of various industries, such as automotive, logistics, food and beverage, packaging, etc. Comau has more than 40 different industrial robot arms with load capacities ranging from 3 to 650 kg.