CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Universal Robots, a leading manufacturer of collaborative robots, has signed Van Meter Inc. as a preferred distribution partner in Iowa and Nebraska. Van Meter is now authorized to sell Universal Robot’s family of collaborative robots—UR3, UR3e, UR5, UR5e, UR10, and UR10e.
According to the Robotic Industries Association, collaborative robots, or cobots, are the fastest-growing segment of industrial automation, expected to jump ten-fold to 34 percent of all industrial robot sales by 2025.
“This is an opportunity for us to expand our automation offering and help transform how our customers work,” said Jeff Spadaro, Vice President of Automation at Van Meter Inc. “Collaborative robots are light-weight, safe, affordable, simple to program, and they work in close proximity with people in a variety of production environments.”
Spadaro says there is a growing need for flexible manufacturing options and a strong interest in cobots in the Midwest. “Businesses faced with a shortage of advanced manufacturing workers can benefit significantly from cobots,” he explained. “They excel at repetitive, precise tasks and thereby improve productivity and quality for manufacturers while freeing up valuable worker time for more rewarding roles.”
From its first shipment in 2008, Universal Robots has sold over 31,000 cobots worldwide (more units than all competitors combined), positioning it first in global market share.
“Van Meter is a distributor partner who knows and understands the industrial market place extremely well, and they share in our commitment to technical excellence and service – supporting customers before, during and after the sale,” said Stu Shepherd, Director of the Americas Region at Universal Robots. “We’re confident that by joining forces, we will accelerate adoption of cobots by delivering an attractive return on investment and real competitive advantage to our customers.”
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