Speaker 0 00:00:00 A robotic, we make tooling for collaborative robots, applications.
Speaker 1 00:00:08 Hello everyone. And welcome to the robot industry podcast. My name is Jim Beretta and I'm your host. And I am thrilled to have Sam Bouchard from robo teak in, as my guest, Sam is the president and Sam, uh, maybe you can introduce yourself to the audience. Um, how did you get started at <inaudible>?
Speaker 0 00:00:26 Yeah, we started in oh eight and we're a grad students at the time, my co-founders and IGP and Vincent, and we're in that lab. We saw a lot of great people, a lot of great technologies. We saw a lot of needs for robots in the future of the workforce. Uh, so we decided to get started.
Speaker 1 00:00:42 And, uh, what was your motivation? Was it just to make things better?
Speaker 0 00:00:47 It was a, a mix of, uh, seeing problems and knowing that we could probably do things better. Uh, but it was also for personal reason. Again, we really loved robotics. We believed that we could bring something different. And back then, for those of you who were in the robotics industry, it was a, not a great time. So we're in a, in a difficult environment to today, but in 2008, 2009, it was also a challenging environment for robotics. Uh, the, the, the sales were pretty much down. Um, so it was, uh, one of the last financial crisis. So we started there and the goal was just to get started. I get to know the manufacturing set sector and try to bridge their needs with the technologies, the ideas that we had.
Speaker 1 00:01:26 And this was at the very front of when collaborative robots started, correct?
Speaker 0 00:01:31 Correct. Correct. It was at, uh, the first cool bus arrived almost at the same time on the market. So what we had in mind at the beginning was just the idea of flexible tooling. So grippers that could pick many different things. The usual way of doing things in industrial robotics was to do a lot of custom work. So we wanted to have something that was more flexible, so we don't need to do a re-engineer all the time and at the same time, cool bus entered the market. So we, uh, we combine these two ideas and since then we've been working on, uh, bringing flexibility, bringing ease of use and ease of deployment for cobalt applications.
Speaker 1 00:02:07 And what was the first product that you introduced? And I think I know the answer to this question.
Speaker 0 00:02:11 Yeah. The first product that we introduced, it was a, a technology that had been developed at the level, a university robotics lab where we, uh, where we're studying. So it wasn't technology, it was pretty mature. It was a flexible gripper, a three finger gripper that had been developed for the nuclear industry. So nuclear recycling ups, uh, there were also some projects to, uh, to adapt it, to go on the Canadarm on the international space station. So it was that mature technology that we adapted for industrial applications. And, uh, we get started with this, but realize that it was not the right fit, uh, for the customer problems. So, um, we, uh, we did a step back and went with a simpler version. And then at the same time, as you said, the cobots also entered the market. Uh, so that's really when things took off and from this, we built the sensors and now we combine them to build a more broader applications.
Speaker 1 00:03:04 And do you do a lot of customer and distributor listening? What applications are popular from your perspective?
Speaker 0 00:03:11 So we have the usual suspects, obviously the machine, that thing has always been a big application for cobots. Now we're getting more into, uh, palletizing, uh, I believe assembly has huge potential as well, but we're really just scratching the surface for this one. And as technology evolve, it's going to be one of the big applications I'm sure for cobots.
Speaker 1 00:03:31 And so you have a wide array of robot accessories, as you mentioned, you've cameras, you've got vacuum grippers, you've sand and kits, vision, and communications. And where, where do you see the ones that are in growth mode? And what do you see are the ones that are most popular?
Speaker 0 00:03:45 Yeah, so, well, if you look at the data from the robotics industry, I think the cobalt space is, is a little bit the same. So there are various applications for robots, and most of them are also, uh, prevalent in cobots. Um, so there's a bit of what's happening in the market and a bit of what's his history. So our history products are still big sellers for us, but where we see the biggest growth is really on the application front. So we really feel now with the interaction with the customer, with the interaction, with the, uh, with, with the partners and with the customers that we're entering more of the mass market. So while early, let's say five years ago, people were really, uh, picking and choosing different components and kind of, uh, uh, building their own solution. Now people want more, a complete solution, more of a turnkey solution. And that's why we believe a more complete applications is really where the growth is going to be coming from in the coming years.
Speaker 1 00:04:41 Yeah. I agree with you. I think it's very interesting part of automation industry a few years ago, you introduced DOF and can you tell the audience what is DOF and how, how has that impacted your business?
Speaker 0 00:04:53 Yeah, so DOF is, it stands for degrees of freedom, which is an important term. If you've studied the kinematics and robotics, um, and DOF, the idea of the S is to have an online community. So obviously we have two goals in everything that we do. We want to automate the manual task because it's difficult to find the manual worker. Um, but we also want to automate the automation so that the whole process of designing system installing system, it's still very long and custody. And, uh, now that we're recovering from the pandemic, we're getting back to our old habits and it is difficult to find people to design, deploy these systems. So that's the second problem want to solve is really automate the automation. So the idea of DOF is we won't be able to solve everything with our products, the human skills, the human know-how has got to be important for a long time ahead. So why don't we build that community so people can share ideas, know how and help each other at solving their problem? Uh, many of our customers, the a there's one automation engineer in the factory, maybe two, uh, so they might feel alone then. And sometimes the, the, they have a hard time finding their answers. So Duff is really a place where they can find other people who have similar challenges, similar expertise, and it's really a place where they can build their know-how and accelerate their projects.
Speaker 1 00:06:11 And so I would, I would say to anybody out there that is interested in collaborative robots and tools go to <inaudible> dot com and check out the DOF section. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:06:20 So the app is one area where you can interact with other automation professionals. Uh, similar to that idea. We also have the e-learning section on the website where it's more of a formal training, but it's still pretty hands-on in terms of, uh, how to build the cohort applications. Uh, and some are really more around the lean robotics methodology and some are really around our products. So there's a lot of great material for those interested in deploying cobots. There's a lot of great new how to be, uh, to be gained by visiting the e-learning section as well.
Speaker 1 00:06:50 How do you innovate and add new products to your product line?
Speaker 0 00:06:54 It really starts with the customer, uh, all the time. So we, uh, we really try to understand the customer's problem. So we interact a lot with our partners, with our end users, and though we, and then we try to leverage our strength. So our expertise and the, again, flexibility, ease of use, go about applications and always try to bring a solution with the robotic touch. Uh, so really, uh, making it easy, uh, to program, easy to deploy. Um, so the, the process is, uh, is around the, the methodology of customer development or the lean startup where you, you, you talk to your customer and you try to validate your hypothesis in terms of what are their problems, what are their current alternatives and what are the ideas of solution? We present concepts resent, mock-ups we present prototypes, and then we iterate with the customers and with the partner, that's, that's really the process that we've put in place a long time ago. And, uh, and that served us very well. Uh, and, and now with the application, it's, um, it's, it's even more important because, um, we can iterate and add a lot of functionalities on the software side that can have a big impact for the customers.
Speaker 1 00:08:03 Are there any countries or areas that are doing really well with cobots? Cause I imagine you, you must see a lot of this. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:08:10 So, you know, it's cycles some, uh, some regions, uh, for some period do better than others. Um, so to, to capture the benefits of cobots, uh, so again, it's about flexibility. It's about having people around, but it's also about, uh, being able to automate on your own more of a bottom up approach. So these areas where, uh, the labor is expensive, but also where there is some good know how of automation. So people that are a little bit more technically savvy, it's a very good, uh, fertile ground for cobots. And, uh, and right now, uh, Europe and the Americas are definitely a good, good places for this. And I think obviously the long-term potential, uh, in Asia is, is enormous. Uh, but right now the riotous blood that we're seeing is, is probably the U S
Speaker 1 00:09:00 And Montreal is kind of a hotspot for robotics and automation. I think of, uh, I think of robotic and invention. And <inaudible> lots of going on in Montreal too. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:09:11 Oh, that's right. Then I think we we'd benefit from a lot of investment that happened a long time ago in the, in the robotics, uh, research show in the universities. Um, so we kind of, uh, pretty much all, uh, spun off from these, uh, these labs are that, that network of technical expertise. And now the next phase is really, uh, building and growing businesses on, on top of this. And that's exactly what these people are doing. I think it's the same thing in Ontario as well, uh, around Kitchener and other areas with ClearPath for instance. Yes. Um, so that's, that's kind of the next phase, just leveraging that thing called expertise and really building great businesses on top of it.
Speaker 1 00:09:48 So what do you see as the future of collaborative robots? I mean, we see a few of the big leaders, but we also see a lot of other players coming into the market.
Speaker 0 00:09:57 Uh, yep. So I, I really think we're a re just scratching the surface of all of this. I still see a lot of, uh, manual job being done that can be automated many, uh, customers, potential customers we interact with are first time, uh, Colbert users. So again, I believe that the near future is going to be answering more the mass market with a more complete turnkey solutions. Uh, definitely. And, and it's, there, there won't be any revolution there. My, what I see is really more of an evolution and the evolution is going to be, uh, increasing the technology capabilities while reducing the cost. So improving that, uh, that, uh, price performance ratio. And as we go, we got to be able to open new use cases, uh, open the, the, the path for smaller companies to automate. So that's really what I see in the future is really that evolution in that direction where cobalt and cobalt applications can do more.
Speaker 0 00:10:53 Uh, but they get easier and easier to deploy. So more companies can use them, but also more people within the company scan can use them. It's very important for us. Uh, again, factories, they have a hard time finding the manual labor. We don't want to create a bigger problem of finding robotics experts. So we're going to solve both at the same time. And also it's great opportunities for people in the manufacturing sector, the, the, the operators, the worker in the factory to develop new skills. If we make the technology accessible enough, it's going to be great opportunity for them to contribute more and to also grow professionally.
Speaker 1 00:11:27 Yeah, I think it's very exciting. And I appreciate those comments. Are there any new areas that robotics will be venturing into that you can tell our audience about?
Speaker 0 00:11:35 We try to stick to our core competencies around manipulation and force control and again, building those applications. So the first phase of the business was really building that toolbox of tools and sensors, and now what we're, what we're doing, and maybe the latest product of palletizing is the first example where we're being app application the software on top of it. So that's really the direction we're going. And the first was palletizing, but we have many more applications that coming down the pipe.
Speaker 1 00:12:03 That's very exciting. We'll make sure to, to, uh, keep tuned. Um, how can people get ahold of you or your team and to find out more about robotics?
Speaker 0 00:12:11 Yeah. So the best is, uh, just to go to the website, uh, robotic.com. Uh, you can look at again the different products, obviously. Uh, there's also a lot of resources. Uh, you talked about the EOF, we talked about the e-learning, uh, if you're ready, you have automation projects. You want to look at just contact us through the website. If you're not ready yet, or just exploring, you can also check, uh, lean robotics solely in robotics.org or check the book on Amazon. So that's the book that I wrote a few years back that really explained how to deploy cobots in the factory, in the, in a systematic way. So even if every application is different, we can always follow the same process and try to be efficient. So if you're not ready yet to automate that's the next logical step. And if you're ready to automate, just hit the website and contact us.
Speaker 1 00:12:57 Our sponsor for this episode is Earhart automation systems. Earhart builds commissions, turnkey solutions for their worldwide clients. With over 80 years of precision manufacturing, they understand the complex world of robotics, automated manufacturing, and project management, delivering world-class custom automation on time and on budget contact one of their sales engineers to see what Earhart can build for you. That's
[email protected] and Earhart is spelled E H R H a R D T. I'd like to thank it. Acknowledge our partner, a three, the association for advancing automation. Three is the umbrella association for the RIA AIA M CMA, and a three Mexico. And these four associations combined represent almost 1300 automation manufacturers, component suppliers, systems integrators, end users, research groups, and consulting firms. And I'm one of those consulting firms throughout the world that are driving automation forward. And it also to thank our partner painted robot painted robot builds and integrates digital solutions.
Speaker 1 00:14:02 There are web development firm that offers S E O and digital social marketing, and can set up and connect to CRM and other ERP tools to unify marketing sales and operations, and
[email protected]. And if you'd like to get in touch with us at the robot industry podcast, you can find me Jim Beretta on LinkedIn. We'll see you next time. Thanks for listening. Be safe out there. Today's podcast was produced by customer traction, industrial marketing, and I'd like to thank my nephew, Chris gray for the music, Chris Colvin for audio production, my partner, Janet, and our partners <inaudible> and painted robot and our sponsor Earhart automation system.
