Bosch Rexroth's electronic and hydraulic components at HANNOVER MESSE

And the winner is incubed IT GmbH!

For the fifth time HANNOVER MESSE teamed up with trade journal Industrieanzeiger and the Robotation Academy to sponsor the ROBOTICS AWARD that rewarded any commercial enterprise and institution developing products, projects, and technological innovations that contribute to robot-aided solutions in industrial automation and/or mobile robots or autonomous systems.

The ROBOTICS AWARD 2015 went to incubed IT GmbH from Hart, Austria. Olaf Lies, Lower Saxony Minister of Economy, Labor and Transportation and patron of the award gave away the prize that consisted a communication package for HANNOVER MESSE 2015 - 2016 to the value of € 10,000, including outdoor advertising and online communication, a roll-up banner announcing the winning placement, for use on the company's stand at HANNOVER MESSE 2015, and Presentation area in the foyer of the Robotation Academy, including advertising space for publicity all year round. The company also won a full-length feature article reporting from the show and a profile in the Industrieanzeiger.

incubed IT GmbH was convincing with a robotics solution for shuttles that move intelligently, autonomously and flexibly.

"The winners and nominees of the ROBOTICS AWARD 2015 have once again impressively demonstrated the potential of robots," says Dr. Jochen Köckler, member of the managing board at Deutsche Messe AG. Goldfuß Engineering GmbH from Balingen took second place with a two-arm robot that optimises package handling. MRK-Systeme GmbH from Augsburg rounded out third place with a robot that passes parts to workers in automotive final-assembly.

incubed IT GmbH boldly fulfilled all criteria: its solution involves transport robots (shuttles) that navigate autonomously and are able to dynamically avoid obstacles. The software covers the steering of individual shuttles as well as the overall coordination of numerous shuttles.

Goldfuß Engineering GmbH's new removal system for folding cardboard packaging makes it possible for the first time to automatically open and grip the packing material, feed it through the cartoner, and remove the empty cartons - all at a rate of 500 pieces per minute. This is accomplished by using a Motoman two-arm robot.

MRK-Systeme GmbH's submission involved human-robot collaboration: a robot with a protective shroud removes unordered parts from a load carrier and hands them to humans in an ergonomically favorable position. Human and machine interact directly with one another with optimum feedback and intuitive transfer of parts. The human dictates the cadence.

For the last five years, Deutsche Messe AG, the trade magazine Industrieanzeiger, and the Robotation Academy have presented the ROBOTICS AWARD. An independent jury of robotics experts evaluates submissions according to various criteria, especially the solution's level of technical innovation and its usefulness for industry, the environment and society. Economic benefits for users and potential sales demand are also considered.

A new dimension in hydraulics

The ground at the Hannover Messe industrial fair has turned haven for innovations. Bosch Rexroth is demonstrating how electronic and hydraulic components can be networked to interact perfectly in state-of-the-art industrial environments.

Continued to the next page