Specifically, the Pilz Group generated sales of 338 million euros in the past financial year 2017 - an increase of 10.6% compared to the previous year. "We have exceeded our economic targets, increased the number of employees and invested in the future by expanding our research and development activities at our headquarters in Ostfildern and building a new software development center in Cork, Ireland," says Susanne Kunschert, Managing Partner of Pilz. As of December 31, 2017, the company employed 2,346 people in 40 subsidiaries worldwide.

Europe remains the largest sales region for Pilz - almost three quarters of turnover is generated here. However, according to Kunschert, the further increase in the export share to 71.9% (+0.7% compared to 2016) underlines the strong international focus of the automation solutions provider. The strong demand for products and services on the Asian market played a key role in the good result. At over 30%, Asia was Pilz's fastest-growing region in 2017 and shows great potential for the future.

At Automatica, Pilz is launching modules for service robotics, including a robot arm developed in-house.

© Mushroom

Modular system for service robotics

The control and drive segment remains the largest sales driver at just under 70%. With a further 13%, services have long since established themselves as a strong sales pillar. In 2018, Pilz now wants to further strengthen a third pillar - robotics - and accordingly expand the portfolio with new modules for service robotics in the industrial sector. The new range will be presented to the public for the first time at Automatica in Munich (June 19-22). It initially consists of a mobile operating module, a control module and a manipulator module, i.e. a robot arm developed in-house. Pilz is thus addressing pick & place applications and modular, semi-automated "small robot cells".

The robotics kit in detail

"The manipulator, control module and operating module together form a package certified by the DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance) in accordance with EN ISO 10218-1 'Industrial robots - Safety requirements' and therefore meet all the requirements for implementing safe robot applications," says Thoms Pilz, Managing Partner of Pilz . This makes it easier to achieve the mandatory CE marking.

The PSIR manipulator is a robot arm developed by Pilz on the basis of the highly integrated "Powerball modules" from Schunk with a payload of 6 kg. With its 6 axes, a weight of 20 kg and a 24 VDC power supply, it can be used very well for mobile applications, for example in combination with an automated guided vehicle (AGV).

In the PRCM control module, Pilz drive and control technology takes over the movement and safety control of the robot. Users can connect the modules according to the plug-and-play principle and use them immediately. The control module supports open industrial communication protocols such as CANopen, Ethercat or Profibus. Pilz RCM can be programmed both with the PLC languages to IEC 61131-3 and via the open source framework ROS (Robot Operating System), thus offering openness for functional extensions. Pilz has developed software modules for the robot controller based on the ROS framework previously known from the research environment.

The PRTM operating module (the hardware comes from Keba) allows the robot to be operated via a graphical user interface on the basis of operating and visualization software developed by Pilz. The panel offers the functions operating mode selection, emergency stop and diagnostics. It allows simple set-up and teaching of the robot arm via a sensitive touch display.