Case Study: GKN Driveline achieves 24-hour high-quality production with Universal Robots cobots

UR Cobots Deliver Stable Supply of High Quality Products by Automating the Professional Engineer’s Experience and Sense

GKN Driveline Japan Ltd, part of UK-based GKN Automotive, faced a chronic labor shortage as experienced operators aged and staffing became harder to maintain. The company also needed a way to automate tasks that depended on human touch and judgment, while avoiding the safety and space limitations of traditional fenced robot systems. Universal Robots’ UR5 cobots were introduced to help address these challenges.

Universal Robots implemented UR5 collaborative robots for gear assembly and front/back inspection of thin iron plates, using accessories such as Robotiq torque sensors and grippers to replicate operator feel. The result was a stable 24-hour production system capable of manufacturing 600,000 units per month, while reducing worker fatigue and overtime. Universal Robots also enabled safe human-robot coexistence without safety fencing, supporting flexible installation in narrow spaces.

GKN Driveline

Tomohiro Kikumoto

Leader Of Operations