The aim is the end-to-end digitalization of a wide range of machines and systems in production, from the first 3D simulation to networking and data analysis through to the use of artificial intelligence.

Dr. Quirin Görz, Kuka Chief Information Officer and CEO of the newly founded digital division, has been working for the automation group since 2013.

© Kuka Group

"With Kuka Digital, we are expanding our offering in order to position ourselves broadly for a market with great growth potential. Our customers need products, solutions and consulting approaches to digitalize faster, more efficiently and more easily," says Quirin Görz, Kuka Chief Information Officer and CEO of the newly founded digital division. Kuka is working on expanding the digital world beyond robot and automation solutions and thus driving forward the digitalization of industry across the entire production life cycle.

Specifically, the digital division is focusing on a software and digital portfolio that is not limited to the company's robots. Regardless of machine type and manufacturer, customers should be able to use software solutions for their production machines and thus digitalize their production halls end-to-end. This involves interfaces, standards for data, cloud integration and consulting services. In line with an ecosystem approach, Kuka also relies on a partner network.

With Device Insight and Visual Components, Kuka already has independent brands in the areas of Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics and simulation software within the Group. Device Insight supports companies in digitizing their production and business processes on the basis of IoT, data analytics and artificial intelligence, thus making them more transparent and efficient. Visual Components develops 3D simulation software and offline programming of robots for manufacturing. Manufacturing companies use the software to plan production layouts, simulate processes in advance or program machines offline before commissioning.

Product launch before the end of the year

Planning, implementing and later operating a production facility is a complex process. A wide variety of machines need to be harmonized with one another. With regard to the associated software, this currently still means working with isolated solutions and a high level of manual effort. Therefore, in addition to Device Insight and Visual Components, 'mosaixx' will be added to the Kuka Digital portfolio this year. 'mosaixx' is an open, collaborative cloud platform for Industrial Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and forms the basis for end-to-end digital production with a combination of tools (software), data management, cloud computing and process understanding. The cloud platform gives system integrators and other engineering customers access to a wide range of software solutions for ECAD and MCAD programs, simulation, offline programming and virtual commissioning. This allows engineers to efficiently structure and securely link their workflows within a project in a shared and location-independent working environment with processes, workflows and cloud storage.