Old robots do not have to die and fade away as antiquated automatons. These machines can be refurbished by ABB to extend and expand service life in a bid to improve the environmental sustainability of robotics technology.

Robots are refurbished and upgraded instead of being scrapped with the return of peripheral equipment such as controllers and manipulators to like-new conditions. After initial inspection to ensure traceability, strict Robots are refurbished and upgraded instead of being scrapped. Source: ABBstandardized operating processes are applied. Robots or parts are disassembled, and a second inspection is conducted on all individual parts following a 152-point inspection procedure for robots and controllers. Worn parts or parts not passing inspection are recycled and replaced by original equipment manufacturer components, and remanufactured robots are tested under nominal load for a minimum of 16 hours.

Discontinued or idle robots are sourced for parts in the remanufacturing process, ensuring that older models are not being discarded prematurely. In addition to extending asset lifetime, upgrades to robotic units can maximize return on investment for the owner, reduced downtime and expand functionality for the owner.