5 Reasons to Consider a Work Cell for Your Facility

Automation doesn’t have to be difficult. With a robotic work cell, manufacturers can automate their production lines specifically designed for their manufacturing process. 

Work cells are an all-in-one solution to automate your company. No matter if you want one robot or five—NRTC Automation can build it for you. 

Need some encouragement? We list 5 reasons why you should consider adding a robotic work cell to your manufacturing line. Read more about work cells and how they can benefit your company below! 

Robotic Work Cells for Manufacturing 

What is a robotic work cell? 

A robotic work cell is a self-contained unit consisting of one or more robots, a turntable, a controller, and other equipment as needed, such as an HMI or automatic tool changer. 

Work cells are an excellent way to automate your business without having to pick and choose equipment down the production line. A work cell will complete one or more tasks as directed and only require maintenance and repair when necessary. 

Are work cells pre-manufactured or custom-made? 

There are work cells that are already manufactured that you can buy and make changes to the design to suit your company. 

Alternatively, you can have a customized work cell made specifically for the needs of your company. NRTC Automation can design, build, and engineer a work cell for you all from our warehouse.  

Our work cells are covered under our NRTC Assurance Warranty Coverage. This means you’ll receive technical support and repairs for free with our warranty coverage. We aim to give you peace of mind over your purchase and allow you to automate with ease. 

5 Reasons to Consider a Work Cell for Your Facility 

We believe that a robotic work cell is a cost-efficient and simple way to ease into automation, especially for small- to mid-sized businesses. 

To prove it, we’ve listed 5 reasons why you should consider adding a work cell to your manufacturing facility. 

1. COST-EFFICIENCY 

A work cell is cost-efficient for several reasons: 

• It replaces expensive labor that is difficult to find. 

• A work cell works quickly and produces more product. 

• Work cells are less expensive than buying new equipment individually. 

You can save money by adding a work cell to your production line and let the robots do the work for you. 

2. IMPROVED PRODUCTION RATE 

As mentioned above, work cells work quickly. They improve your production rate by seamlessly doing each job with high repeatability compared to labor with human error. 

With an improved production rate, you can satisfy your customers with more and higher-quality products, retaining your customer base and increasing your revenue over time. 

3. REDUCED DOWNTIME 

A robotic work cell reduces downtime by increasing productivity with constant workflow.  

If you get a work cell with automatic tool changers and more than one end of arm tool, the robots will be able to quickly change applications and move on to the next part of the production process without delay. 

Since downtime can cost an average of $260,000 per hour in manufacturing, cutting down wasted production time with a work cell is essential. 

4. BETTER-QUALITY PRODUCT 

Robots produce a better-quality product because of their high repeatability and precision. A work cell contains your product within one unit while assembling, welding, dispensing, and more. 

With a well-planned robotic work cell designed to fit your production needs, you can enhance your product quality. 

5. ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTION 

Last but not least, a robotic work cell is an all-in-one solution to your automation needs. From one robot to many robots, you can design your work cell according to your manufacturing process and automate with ease. 

How to Order a Work Cell for Your Company 

For small- to mid-sized manufacturers, a work cell is a painless and effortless way to automate your company. 

If you want to order a custom-built work cell, contact NRTC Automation. We will discuss design plans and deliver a quote to you. Once you are happy with the design, we will build and engineer the work cell to meet your demands. 

NRTC AUTOMATION IS YOUR SOURCE FOR AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS. 

NRTC Automation is dedicated to providing high-value industrial automation and manufacturing equipment solutions to all our customers.  

From decommissioning and tear out to industrial robotic training services to custom flexible work cells, NRTC is the key to integrate your workplace. With personalized training and custom-built designs, NRTC Automation is the destination for all your industrial automation and manufacturing equipment services. 

Contact NRTC Automation today to find out how we can help you automate your business. 

How to Design Your Own Custom Robotic Work Cell

Robotic work cells are a great addition to any manufacturing line that has a specialized job. Learn more about work cells and how you can design one to increase productivity and reduce costs at your manufacturing facility. 

What is a robotic work cell? 

A robotic work cell is a complete system composed of one or more robots and a controller. A work cell may also include other equipment depending on the purpose and production method of the cell. 

How will a work cell benefit you? 

Work cells are an excellent way to improve speed and efficiency in your production line. Not only that, but increased production also means increased profit.  

If you have a job that standalone robots are unable to complete, then a work cell may be the solution. Customized work cells are pre-engineered to produce according to your specific manufacturing needs, allowing you to increase productivity and get the job done right. 

How to design your own custom work cell: 

STEP 1: DETERMINE WHAT JOB THE WORK CELL WILL BE DOING. 

The first step is finding out exactly what the work cell needs to do. Is your work cell going to be assembling a standing desk for home offices, or building doors for a sports car? Each job is unique in the programming required for a robot to complete the job. Be as specific as possible. 

STEP 2: DEVELOP AN OUTLINE OF THE TASKS. 

Like step one, you should be detailed in mapping out the tasks required to complete the job. Each task will need to be accounted for in the work cell so that the product is manufactured correctly. You’ll also need to establish the inputs and outputs for the job. 

STEP 3: CHOOSE ROBOTS WITH THE RIGHT APPLICATIONS TO DO THE JOB. 

When choosing robots for your work cell, consider the robot’s reachability, payload, precision, and EOAT. You will also want to know the cycle time of the robot. These factors will determine if you need one robot or multiple robots within your work cell. 

STEP 4: SELECT A POSITIONER TO MOVE THE PRODUCT DOWN THE LINE. 

The positioner will contain your product while the robots are manufacturing. The positioner should either be fixed or mobile, and the weight capacity of the positioner should be examined as well. You can also decide if the height of the positioner will be fixed or adjustable. 

STEP 5: CREATE A LAYOUT TO EFFICIENTLY (AND SAFELY) COMPLETE THE TASK. 

The layout is the most important aspect of the work cell and will be the key to its success. For maximum efficiency, you want to find the best placement for your robots and positioner. Some work cells complete a task in a linear fashion, some may keep the product in one place, and others may require the robots to swivel and change direction. 

Make sure you consider spacing for human workers, if necessary, and leave ample room for the robot’s base and motions. Larger work cells may have a greater cost, but ensuring the safety of your employees and protecting robots from damage is worth the expense. 

Increase productivity with a custom-designed robotic work cell. 

With the steps above, you can design a customized work cell that will improve your production line’s speed and efficiency. 

DO YOU WANT TO ADD A WORK CELL TO YOUR MANUFACTURING FACILITY? 

NRTC Automation creates turnkey flexible robotic work cells to fit your unique production line. We have over a decade of experience in providing solutions to automation and manufacturing needs for all manufacturing companies, including top automobile manufacturers across the globe. 

Contact NRTC Automation today for a quote on your customized robotic work cell.