The 'Roibot' competition recognizes low-cost robotics applications that have led to a rapid return on investment. The robolink articulated arm robots, drylin delta robots and portal robots from Igus are used. A jury of experts from research, the trade press and manufacturers selects the winners and awards prize money of 5000 euros to first place, 2500 euros to second place and 1000 euros to third place. This year, the prize will be awarded together with the public award for the first time. Interested parties can find ideas and inspiration for their own projects at www.roibot.de, where they can also vote for their favorite until September 30. For example, for pick & place applications such as the pilot system at the VW plant in Emden, where a 'robolink D' is responsible for the automated continuous handling of components for the Passat/Arteon. In Apostore's system, a 'robolink D' handles the pick & place of medicines in pharmacies. In both cases, the cost-effective automation of monotonous and simple tasks directly reduces operating costs. Another example is the manipulation robot - a drone with a robotic arm - from the University of Seville. It can reach remote or high-altitude work areas quickly and easily, making it suitable for inspection and maintenance applications on oil and gas refineries, power lines or wind power and solar plants. The Cartesian 2-DOF manipulator consists of two lightweight and low-maintenance linear guides and three carriages.

Enabling medium-sized companies, research institutes and creative individual engineers to enter the world of automation at low cost - this is the goal that Igus is pursuing with its 'Low Cost Automation'. The range extends from various robotics construction kits to ready-to-connect gantry solutions and intuitive control software.