2007年6月15日消息，ABB機(jī)器人降低了美國injection molding公司的生產(chǎn)制造周期，使其周期縮短了23％，于2006年在少于8個月的反饋時間內(nèi)幫助推動實現(xiàn)2百萬美元的收入。 　　Injection Technology Corporation （Itech）在2004年10月在加利福尼亞的30,000平方英尺的工廠里安裝了六軸IRB 4400機(jī)器人，在隨后的不長時間內(nèi)就獲得了收益。 　　Itech提供模塊定制精度型塑料零件如線軸，電度表蓋和牙科用具蓋。公司擁有23個噴射模塑機(jī)器，95名員工，年收入約1千萬美元。 Itech總裁Carl Morris說：“在沒有安裝機(jī)器人之前，完成一個拖拉機(jī)掛車需要2天到1天半時間才能完成，加工一個15英寸的塑料線軸，使用機(jī)器人，只花費27個小時，可節(jié)省人工時間33個。” 　　安裝機(jī)器人后制造周期已被減少了23％，還可以完成制造過程中的連貫性，可以顯著提高生產(chǎn)力。 Morris說：“通過降低線軸時間，我們可利用機(jī)器人可塑造更多的產(chǎn)品?！? Morris估測安裝機(jī)器人的回報時間僅為7.8個月，在他的經(jīng)歷中像類似的安裝有用2年或是更久的。 　　機(jī)器人除用于工作外，他被收藏在一個保護(hù)性盒子里，幫助Itech保持其安全操作獲獎記錄，這是該公司引以自豪的地方。 　　操作員Robert Hudson：“對于我來說，我覺得使用機(jī)器人非常我感覺非?？煽?，步調(diào)一致。安裝機(jī)器人有九年了，它從不報怨，沒有出錯的焊縫，每天都到崗。在以前，焊縫都是人工用膠水進(jìn)行操作的?！? 　　公司的員工稱呼其機(jī)器人為Abby，ABB機(jī)器人幫助Itech在2004年達(dá)到了9％的增長率，2005年增長率為12％，在2006年實現(xiàn)了顯著的25％。 　　Carl Morris說：“我們非常喜歡他，最近第二臺ABB六軸機(jī)器人將在同一時間服務(wù)兩臺噴射模塑機(jī)器?！? original text [COLOR=#708090]ABB robot boosts revenues for U.S. company 2007-06-15 - A single ABB robot reduced the manufacturing cycle of a mid-sized U.S. injection molding company by a massive 23 percent and helped boost revenues in 2006 by an estimated $2 million – all for a payback time of less than 8 months. By Editorial services Injection Technology Corporation （Itech） installed the six-axis IRB 4400 robot at its 30,000-square-foot plant in North Carolina in October 2004 and immediately began to reap the benefits. Itech supplies custom-molded precision plastic parts like spools, electric meter covers and dental appliance covers. The company has 23 injection molding machines, 95 employees and annual revenues of about $10 million. “Before the robot, it took two and a half days to fill a tractor trailer,” says Carl Morris, president of Itech, describing the manufacturing process for one of the company‘s products, 15-inch plastic spools. “With the robot it takes 27 hours – a saving of 33 man-hours.” The cycle time has been reduced by an impressive 23 percent which, along with the manufacturing consistency made possible by the robot, has brought about a dramatic increase in productivity. “With the reduced molding time for spools,” says Morris, “we are able to mold additional products and use the robot for these too.” Payback Morris has calculated that the payback time for the robot is just 7.8 months, which contrasts markedly with the two years or more that in his experience it takes to recoup this type of investment. In addition to these benefits the robot, which is housed in a protective cage, has reduced worker fatigue and helped Itech maintain its award-winning safety record, one that the company is very proud of. “For me, the robot is very reliable and very consistent,” says operator Robert Hudson, who has been with the company for nine years. “It doesn‘t complain, there are no missed welds, and it‘s here every day.” Previously, welds were made by hand with glue.996..25965 Nicknamed “Abby” by the company‘s employees, the ABB robot has helped Itech achieve growth rates of nine percent in 2004, 12 percent in 2005 and a phenomenal 25 percent （estimate） in 2006. “We love it,” says Carl Morris, so much that he recently ordered a second ABB six-axis robot that will serve two injection molding machines at the same time.[/COLOR]