company
Profatec Inc.
industry
country
Switzerland
staff
5-25
Why does Profatec AG use cobots?
Founded in 2003, Profatec AG offers specialized injection molding solutions for industries ranging from automotive to pharmaceuticals. In light of its growth, the company was faced with a choice: relocate production to cheaper countries or strengthen its location in Graubünden through innovation. Profatec opted for the "Swiss way" and invested in automation. The aim was to keep basic costs low in Switzerland, secure jobs in Malans, and free the team from monotonous tasks.
What challenges had to be overcome?
The biggest hurdle for Profatec was to make production flexible enough that even the smallest batch sizes could be manufactured economically. Conventional linear robots were too rigid for the requirements. The company needed a solution that could be quickly adapted to new injection-molded parts and efficiently cover different processes—from removal to cutting. In addition, the systems had to be so easy to operate that staff could make adjustments themselves without long production stoppages.
What does Universal Robots' solution look like?
In collaboration with a certified partner, Profatec implemented a flexible fleet of cobots, which are now used on various injection molding machines.
Test phase & integration
First, a UR5 cobot was introduced for a test phase, which, unlike linear robots, could be used on five different machines.
Simple programming
The Profatec team quickly learned how to program the cobots independently, which significantly reduced setup times.
scaling
Due to its success, Profatec invested in two additional UR10 cobots to expand its capacity.
Diverse tasks
Today, cobots perform complex tasks such as assembly and the precise cutting of plastic parts directly after injection molding.
Why UR5 & UR10 were the ideal choice for Profatec AG
High flexibility
Every Universal Robots cobot can work on any of the existing injection molding machines, which greatly increases process flexibility.
Different ranges
While the UR5 is ideal for compact tasks, the UR10 cobots with a 1300 mm reach and 10 kg payload offer the necessary scope for larger components.
Secure collaboration
The collaborative nature of the robots allows for safe operation in the existing production environment without the need for major modifications.
“Without our robots, we would have had no chance against the lower prices from China. We are therefore all the more delighted that we have succeeded in taking a different approach, securing jobs in Malans and relieving our employees of monotonous tasks.”
Chris Battaglia
CEO of Profatec AG
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Precise automation for the highest quality standards
Universal Robots' cobots enable Profatec AG to achieve a consistent and reliable manufacturing process that would be virtually impossible to maintain manually with this level of precision. By automating the removal and processing steps, orders are completed much faster, which has massively increased the company's profitability. This not only secures the trust of demanding customers in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries, but also proves that Swiss quality remains competitive worldwide thanks to intelligent automation.
