Case Study: RSS Manufacturing achieves 30% more machine capacity with Universal Robots UR5

Robotic Arms Bring Manufacturing Back To Us

RSS Manufacturing, a California-based metal and machining company, needed to meet a new monthly order of 700 valves for plumbing fixtures and fittings. Its CNC machine could only produce 400 valves per month with two shifts, so even adding a third shift would not be enough. The company turned to Universal Robots and its UR5 collaborative robot to find a flexible automation solution for its highly specialized short-run production environment.

Universal Robots’ UR5 was deployed to run 24/7, helping RSS Manufacturing fulfill the 700-valve order in just 11 days. The robot also fed tubes into a mandrel tube bender, producing 1,500 pieces in four hours and opening up 30% more capacity on existing machinery. According to the case study, the solution increased production speed, saved costs, and gave RSS a competitive edge, with a reported payback period of 2–6 months.

RSS Manufacturing

Geoff Escalette

CEO