Industrial Automation and Motion Control Blog | The Knotts Company

When we seek Partners, we have some qualifiers. They must:

• Solve an automation or manufacturing challenge
• Offer solid, sturdy technical equipment 
• Have excellent customer service and offer warranties
• Be user friendly and quick to install

With Robotiq, we were impressed in all these areas. 

Most recently, we've appreciated their efforts on the customer education front. In these videos, Robotiq shares how to get started with their Gripper. It's well worth a few minutes to watch these, especially if you're considering acquiring one. These will show you how easy it can be to set the gripper up, then program it to your specifications.

We all tend to humanize robot technology by using terms like "arms" and "wrists," and today we are adding "eyes" to the conversation! Knotts is proud to be the newest US partner for Belgium-based Pick-it. Their technology literally allows the cobots to see their workspace in 3D and to select needed items with accuracy. We have been admiring their technology as it became more sophisticated in recent years and are excited now to introduce it to our clients. 

Absolutely! This is a strength that Bimba's Vaccon products have over its competitors. They are designed for messy environments.

Mobile Industrial Robots recently announced that its MiR500 is taking a big road trip in 2019. Like many people who drive across America, we're assuming MiR500 is eager to hit the wide open road and make new friends along the way!

Another stamp in our passports as Suzanne Tracey (Business Development), Matt Howe (Robot Specialist), and I headed north to Canada for the Robotiq User Conference. Robotiq gave us a memorable experience, filled with learning, testing, networking, and eating, with a look towards the future while we spent our days in the beautiful 1887 Voltigeurs de Québec Armoury!

We returned home exhausted (we’ll why explain later), but we’ve recovered and can share the following: 

With so much emphasis (and fanfare) on the machines that are powering and revolutionizing the manufacturing environment, we're glad to devote this blog to our Partner Unitronics' new products that make programming and controlling these machines possible! 

Introducing the UniStream® Remote I/Os and a PLC + HMI + IO (with a 7" screen).

We're really impressed with what our new Partner, ROEQ of Denmark, brings to the market. Its products integrate with MiR™ Robots and can serve in a variety of environments to transport items from place to place. 

This is the age of nanny cams and front porch video monitoring. While one need not worry that a cobot will let the kids watch too much TV nor could it steal an Amazon package, there is much to be gained by monitoring cobots. And, we have just the tool for you! 

Universal Robot hosted an event for its Partners recently in San Diego. Knotts' Sales Manager, Mark Howe, was fortunate to be invited. We were eager to hear all about this summit:

Set the stage for us. Tell us about who participated in this event and its purpose.  
There were 300+ attendees at the 2018 partner summit, including 48 Distributors, 29 UR+ Developers, 98 CSIs, 65 UR Employees and 6 special guests. The event focused on individuals and companies from North America.

T-Slot Provides Flexible Solutions

From cycle time to throughput to changeover metrics, there’s no end to the daily concerns and issues that you deal with in an industrial marketplace. You’re tasked with continually improving key metrics as well as complying with evolving regulations, which means change is the only constant.

The structure of 80/20 profiles and accessories allow infinite positioning along the T-slot which equates to reduced set up times and faster changeover rates. With T-slot profiles you don’t need to compromise between strength, appearance and flexibility.