Thinking About Robotics Together—A Case Study from a Small-to-Medium-Sized Business
Demographic change, a shortage of skilled workers, and rising cost pressures are posing challenges for small and medium-sized businesses. To remain competitive under these conditions, companies must increase productivity without sacrificing flexibility. It was also clear to the Burger Group early on: Manual tasks can only be sustained regionally in the long term if they are intelligently automated.
“We are an innovative company with a clear vision,” says CEO Thomas Burger. “The key question for us was how to implement automation in a way that truly works in everyday operations.”
The connection with Hochschule Offenburg arose from existing networks and developed into a close collaboration. With a clearly defined industrial task, Burger turned to the Work-Life Robotics Institute. The goal was to further develop the assembly of an actuator from the automotive sector: moving from a semi-automated solution to a significantly higher degree of automation.
The project was implemented in stages. Initial feasibility studies under laboratory conditions were followed by further development phases leading up to practical implementation at the company. The technology-neutral approach was crucial here.
“When I talk to a traditional automation provider, they try to sell me a ready-made solution,” says Burger. “With the University, we were first able to discuss which solution really made sense for our process—regardless of specific products.”
The focus was not on maximum automation at any cost, but on robustness. The new solution was designed to run stably, avoid malfunctions, and operate autonomously over extended periods. “Automation only provides a real advantage if it functions reliably in day-to-day production,” emphasizes Burger.
The result is a fully automated assembly solution with higher productivity and lower labor costs. At the same time, the company developed new expertise. About ten years ago, the Burger Group launched its first robotics project. Today, it has an in-house, highly qualified automation team and deploys around 150 cobots and traditional robots.
For Thomas Burger, the key to this approach lies in the concept of networking. “Small and medium-sized businesses need networking. Collaboration with Universities opens up new ways of thinking and lowers barriers to entry.” On this basis, initial projects have given rise to an ongoing exchange. Or, as Burger puts it: “Only when people and institutions are a good fit can something truly good emerge.”
Interested in working with us?
Would you like to take automation, robotics, or human-machine interaction to the next level in your company? We’d be happy to help you explore the possibilities.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Thomas Wendt,
Director of the Work-Life Robotics Institute,
Hochschule Offenburg
thomas.wendt@hs-offenburg.de
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