At a time when the global industrial landscape is characterized by economic, geopolitical and resource uncertainty, manufacturers need increasingly flexible solutions that balance efficiency, adaptability, and sustainability. We asked Pietro Gorlier, CEO of Comau, to explain how the company is driving transformation across industries.
How is Comau responding to today’s industrial challenges?
Comau is committed to delivering the tools and know-how that will help define processes and technologies to respond to these challenges. From the high-volume precision of automotive manufacturing to complex, heterogeneous applications for a variety of different markets,our scalable robotics and embedded intelligence are empowering customers to adapt, grow, and lead within their industries.
What role does Automatica 2025 play?
Automatica is a timely opportunity to engage with these transformations. We’re here to demonstrate how our systems empower companies to adapt and grow. Robotics must work safely with people, mobile platforms must autonomously manage changing environments, and systems need to be scalable without long downtime. We’ve a concrete response to these needs, represented by the products that we’re launching at Automatica.
How is Comau addressing these needs in logistics and intralogistics?
Due to the growth of e-commerce and reshoring strategies, logistics automation is growing fast. With our advanced vision recognition systems AI based, advanced robotics, the new MyMR autonomous mobile robot family we’ve just launched and the intelligent warehouse systems we are working on, Comau is enabling customers to redesign material flows and reduce reliance on manual handling; both of which are effective responses to labor constraints and throughput variability. We’ve also announced the binding agreement to acquire Automha, an Italian industry leader at international level in the warehousing and intralogistics sectors.
Why is the concept of distributed automation a game changer?
Distributed automation means moving the technology to the task. We launched our Hyperflex mobile factory for solar installation and the MR4Weld mobile welding robot at Automatica 2023. This year, we’re presenting the MyMR family, which handles loads from 300kg to 1.5 tons and adapts to layout changes without fixed infrastructure. Similarly, the MyCo collaborative robots ensure human-machine collaboration with ease of installation, flexible redeployment, and reduced complexity.
Does Comau have an energy transition strategy?
Energy is a key focus as the renewable infrastructure needs to scale faster and more efficiently. In the hydrogen market, we are developing a proprietary portfolio of solutions that can automate key production steps of both electrolyzers and fuel cells, as well as the technologies necessary for its large-scale adoption. This will allow companies to increase their production volumes, while improving product quality and decreasing costs. Our Hyperflex mobile factory automates solar panel installation, significantly reducing both time-to-market and installation costs while improving quality and safety. These are two ways we are helping our customers optimize project economics and business targets, in addition to our strong presence in EV.
Comau is also active in e-Mobility. How is your offer evolving?
In the automotive and e-Mobility arena, we are moving up the value chain. Beyond battery module and pack assembly, we now support cell formation, dry room operations, and even battery recycling. For e-transmissions and e-manufacturing, our proprietary Hairpin assembly solution grants end-to-end manufacturing of hairpin stators while ensuring maximum efficiency, flexibility and accuracy. Whereas the single-body modular design of our patented N-WG spot welding gun delivers rapid reconfiguration between welding types and forces, which reduces costs and improves efficiency across the board.
Are you working to address the global shortage of skilled labor? What about professional skills development?
The widening skills gap and aging workforce are real concerns. For example, by introducing our mobile robotized solutions for unstructured environments, MR4Weld (Mobile Robot for Welding), developed with Fincantieri, we intend to automate for the first time several parts of the current production processes. It also ensures better safety and well-being during labor-intensive welding activities, allowing us to requalify workers to perform value-added activities such as operating the machine. This is a concrete example of our positive response to the global shortage of welding professionals. Welder labor is among the top 3 shortage occupations.
Training is equally essential. Through our Academy, we provide multiple programs to help workers transition from manual to digital processes. With Comau’s e.DO robot we offer simulated welding training, as well as robotics programming courses for young professionals. Upskilling is another important tool to let operators grow alongside our innovative automation solutions. We have specific internal projects in this sense.
What about human-machine collaboration?
We focus on making automation intuitive and safe. Our in.Grid solution allows real-time diagnostics across different equipment vendors, helping customers manage uptime and quality. The TPX teach pendant lets operators program and control robots without prior programming experience. These tools are critical for reducing time and costs. Our MyCo cobots enable side-by-side collaboration, optimizing floorspace and improving safety. We also develop wearable robotics, like the MATE-XT and MATE-XB exoskeletons, to support operator well-being and protect them during physically demanding tasks.
Do you have any final messages to share?
Automatica 2025 is an opportunity to explore how Comau’s approach to automation helps customers thrive amid volatility. This is backed by a continued investment in innovation, as evidenced by the launch of our new products. With intelligent solutions that can respond to disruption, dynamic environments, and change, and the strategic integration of robotics with people, data, and ecosystems, we are enabling companies of all sizes and sectors navigate the transformation and convergence that is happening around us, because Next is automated – our motto at Automatica.
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