SVIA, headquartered in Jönköping, Sweden, builds automated solutions for machine tending processes, using robots to feed components to lathes and mills, and to secondary processes like assembly, washing and part marking. The company has a portfolio of over 800 machine tending cell solutions which integrate robotic automation to increase the productivity, flexibility and quality of manufacturing.
Together with ABB’s expertise in the Internet of Things, Services and People (IoTSP), the acquisition is set to provide a distinctive set of value propositions to industrial customers globally.
ABB will integrate SVIA into its robotics business in its Discrete Automation and Motion division, and will make the latter its global application centre for machine-tending.
The acquisition expands ABB’s machine tending portfolio with a wider variety of advanced and vision-integrated applications for industries including automotive, plastics and electronics.
SVIA’s machine-tending cell systems, combined with ABB’s software, will significantly reduce engineering costs pertaining to installation of new machines. The expanded offering is beneficial for both machine OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and established CNC (Computer Numeric Control) machine users as well as ABB’s global network of channel partners.
“SVIA’s pioneering automation solutions fit perfectly into ABB’s leading global robotics business unit. SVIA already uses ABB robots across its innovative portfolio of machine tending solutions. We co-developed ABB’s FlexMT robot automation cell which can increase machine tool utilisation by up to 90 percent, compared to 50 percent utilisation with manual machine tending,” said Pekka Tiitinen, president of ABB’s discrete automation and motion division. “Together, we will enhance growth through our strong commitment to customer focus and by providing integrated, complete solutions based on the IoTSP. This approach has been the cornerstone of SVIA’s success and is a key part of ABB’s next level growth strategy.”
The growing interest in robotic machine tending automation is being driven by the need to enhance productivity and flexibility as production moves towards smaller quantities of more diverse products. Robot automation can improve safety by protecting workers from fast-moving machinery.
