Robotics & AI: Robots and AI are starting to enter medium-sized businesses in Saxony

Small electronic components are arranged on a pallet, which can be accurately picked up by a grasping arm. Slowly at first, after the first round he increased his speed. First, the robot dips the contact point in flux, then with the help of sensors, with millimeter precision, in 400-degree hot tin. Lastly, the scrolls were neatly placed in a box. Once moved, it only takes about 30 seconds per electronic component.

The Arnold Electronic family business in Lichtenau near Chemnitz has 43 employees. The company produces coils, transformers and chokes in various formats: from the size of a fingernail to transformers weighing 100 kilograms. The tin plating robot, known as “Robby,” has been part of the team for about a year and a half. It was developed in collaboration with the Chemnitz Mechanical and Plant Engineering Institute (ICM). “It took about 5 years from idea to implementation,” explains production manager Ulrich Morawietz. In total, the system costs around 120,000 euros.

Robotics clusters drive automation in small businesses

While the use of robots has long been commonplace in large industrial companies undertaking mass production, such automation has often been a major challenge for smaller companies. Not only because of the investment that must be made. Often production is in small quantities with great complexity, explains ICM boss Sebastian Ortmann.

“But this is urgently needed in Saxony,” said the expert. His institute supports companies such as Arnold Electronic and maintains real-world laboratories where various approaches can be tried. “The main goal is to maintain and increase added value to the manufacturing sector in Saxony.” Robotics can also help companies overcome the shortage of skilled workers – especially those related to monotonous jobs where it is often difficult to find employees.

To promote such automation, “Robotics Saxony” has been a dedicated research and enterprise network in Saxony since this year. In addition to ICM, the organization is led by the “Robot Valley” innovation center in Dresden and the mechanical engineering association Saxon Vemas. According to Ortmann, about 350 companies are included.

How can AI help small businesses?

Apart from automation through robots, in the future there will also be more focus on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in companies. Ortmann observed that employees are often less afraid of contact than robots. Because usually they already know AI from personal applications such as ChatGPT. AI can help ease monotonous administrative processes, the scientist explained. For example, creating test reports and documentation, but can also provide preparatory work for bids.

The latest applications of robotics and AI for medium-sized businesses will be presented at a project workshop this Thursday in Chemnitz. In addition to tin plating robots in Lichtenau, it is also about trading solutions, the use of robots in wood finishing and artificial intelligence to detect errors in production.

Although Arnold Electronic in Lichtenau relies on robotics, many production steps are still closely related to manual work. Some electronic components are still made by hand – especially when it comes to very small quantities and custom-made products. After all, according to Morawietz, 5,000 to 6,000 types of coils are produced here each year. Copper cable winding is also carried out semi-automatically on special machines without the help of robots, but under the supervision of experienced employees.

Robotics & AI project workshop