Smarter and more efficient production with cobots
The labor productivity in Limburg is still 15% below the Flemish average. In the long term, this could affect the competitiveness of our companies, particularly in the manufacturing sector. Deputy for Economy and POM Limburg Chairman Tom Vandeput emphasizes: “The manufacturing sector remains a cornerstone of Limburg’s economy. It can only continue to create prosperity and jobs if our manufacturers can compete with their counterparts in Europe and beyond. Producing smarter and more efficiently is the challenge. As part of our SALKturbo economic growth strategy, 27 projects have already received €28.5 million in support to strengthen competitiveness and drive the digital transition.”
Launch of COBOTASSIST
The new COBOTASSIST project will guide SMEs in automating their post-processing operations. Approximately 70% of plastic and steel products require post-processing to achieve the desired final quality, accounting for 20% of total production time and 10-15% of production costs. “Cobots can provide significant benefits here,” explains Vandeput. “With COBOTASSIST, we will inform companies about the technical possibilities of automated post-processing, train employees, and provide financial support through a voucher system. We will also develop three mobile cobot cells and a learning network.”
This initiative brings together expertise from both Limburg and international partners. POM Limburg, the technological industry center Sirris, and SyntraPXL are collaborating with Fontys University of Applied Sciences, High Tech NL, Avans University of Applied Sciences, and Breda Robotics. The total project budget is €2.8 million, with half funded by the Interreg Vlaanderen-Netherlands program. The provincial government is contributing €370,000.
Customized production demand
There is a growing demand for customized production. Clients expect high-quality, personalized products at low cost and with short lead times. Traditional production and post-processing methods struggle to meet these demands, causing companies to miss out on opportunities. Currently, 80% of post-processing is still done manually, often involving dirty, monotonous, and physically taxing tasks that pose health risks to employees.
“Collaborative robots, or cobots, can minimize these risks and make post-processing more efficient and profitable. Cobots are particularly useful for custom work, smaller production batches, and repetitive, physically demanding tasks,” says Walter Auwers, Business Unit Manager of Advanced Manufacturing. “Cobots assist operators, increasing precision and consistency without replacing them. Unlike fully autonomous robots, cobots are designed to work alongside operators, especially for smaller series. Investing in a cobot can cost between €70,000 and €100,000, but if it triples productivity, the investment pays off over time.”
Understanding the benefits
SMEs can be hesitant to join projects without immediately seeing the financial benefits. To address this, an initial survey will identify companies’ needs and challenges related to post-processing, training requirements, and practical support. Early adopters who have implemented cobots will share their experiences in a digital casebook to inspire other Limburg businesses.
Three mobile demonstrators will also be developed at the application labs of Sirris, Fontys, and Breda Robotics. “Our cobot focuses on sanding workpieces and includes a manual tool changer, a pneumatic spindle, integrated dust extraction, and advanced 2D Lidar safety technology. This versatile unit can be deployed on-site at companies to demonstrate multiple use cases,” explains project manager Walter Auwers from Sirris.
Voucher system
Deputy Vandeput states: “With this project, we want to lower the barriers for companies to start using cobots in their production processes. The voucher system provides businesses with two weeks of access to a mobile demonstrator, along with support and coaching from project partners. This hands-on experience helps companies assess the ROI potential of a cobot investment. That’s why the provincial government is providing €370,000 in financial support.”
Companies must meet several criteria to qualify for the program, including being an SME, geographic distribution, willingness to share results, and commitment to making employees available for training with the demonstrator.
Training and long-term planning
Proper training is crucial, as cobots do not operate autonomously. Skilled operators are needed. SyntraPXL is developing a specialized training program for “cobot-assisted post-processing,” with modules on cobot programming, human-robot collaboration, technology adoption, and more. “We will also integrate AI where applicable,” says project manager Roald Swerts from SyntraPXL.
During and after the project, a long-term action plan will be developed by POM Limburg. Vandeput concludes: “Through an intensive program of workshops, visits to demonstrators, roadshows, speed-dating events, and mini fairs, we aim to reach as many companies as possible and connect them with cobot technology providers. The learning network we are building will ensure that cross-border expertise remains accessible to Limburg businesses even after the project ends.”
