Case Study: Darex achieves 30% efficiency increase with Universal Robots cobots

Cobots Take Over Undesirable Tasks, Optimize Assembly and Packaging by 30%

Darex, a fourth-generation family-owned manufacturer of drill and knife sharpeners, needed to increase output without adding staff or expanding its small production area. Facing a labor shortage and repetitive, ergonomically unfriendly work in assembly and packaging, the company turned to Universal Robots cobots, including the UR3 and UR5, to automate screw driving and box erecting directly on its existing line.

Universal Robots implemented collaborative automation that handled screw driving, box forming, carton loading, closing, and taping, while also enabling Darex to control multiple stations through the UR interface. The result was a 30% efficiency increase, less than 12 months ROI, improved product quality, and production capacity that doubled from two products per week to four, all without safety caging and with employees reassigned to higher-value work.

Darex

John Griffin

Director of operations