June 8, 2007

Welcome to the June 2007 issue of Motoman Direct, containing news, product information, and updates from Motoman Inc.

Featured Products

NEW! SSA2000/SSA2000F "Super Speed" Welding Robots
Motoman introduces the world's fastest arc welding robots that can reduce welding cycle times 15%, greatly enhancing productivity. Motion speed of robot axes is increased up to 40%. Other enhancements, such as minimized ARC ON/OFF time and up to 30% less air-cut time, also reduce cycle time...

NEW! EH130 High-Speed, High-Payload Robot
Nearly 22 percent faster, the EH130 "Expert Handling" model is ideal for high-production, higher-payload machine tending and other handling applications...

NEW! EP4000N "Expert Press" Robot
Shelf-mounted six-axis EP4000N robot provides high-speed, powerful press tending and handling solution...

NEW! EPH130 "Expert Press Handling" Robot
Floor- or shelf-mounted, the EPH130 sets a new standard for high-speed, high-payload performance for press tending, machine tending and material handling applications...

Yes, I would like a member of Motoman's sales team to contact me about the above product(s).

Corporate News

Motoman's Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey Results. Motoman is thrilled to receive the highest Customer Satisfaction score in our history, a 4.55 rating out of a 5.0 possible scale. Each Motoman employee's goal is to exceed our customers' expectations. Accomplishing this goal benefits all Motoman employees, since a portion of each employee's compensation is based on the results of our annual Customer Satisfaction Survey.

We pledge to continue our mission to deliver the highest level of Customer Satisfaction in the automation industry. We will follow up on all feedback we received from the 598 customers that returned the survey and strive to deliver even better Customer Satisfaction in 2007, with the hope of receiving even higher ratings next year.

Motoman had planned to randomly draw one winner per 100 responses to receive an electronic "business tool" - their choice of a Palm Theo 680 Smartphone, Palm Tungsten E2 Handheld or 4Gb iPod nano. In appreciation, Motoman decided to double the number of winners. The 12 deserving winners are: Austin Bainter, Keihin IPT Mfg., Inc.; John Craig, Agri-Fab, Inc.; Frank Deley, Taylor Winfield; George Frost, Buckeye Automation Inc.; Agapito Gonzalez Garcia, Industrias G.W., S de R.L.; Andrew Hearsum, General Atomics; Mike Hodges, Jay Mid-South LLC; Tammy Mays, Jay Industries Inc.; Blas Rodriguez Zanotelli, Pullman de Mexico; Paul Simmons, TNT Sales, Inc.; Andrew Vissicchio, Sargent Manufacturing Company; and Eddie Wielgus, Faurecia Exhaust Systems.

Motoman Solution Provider Forum -- March 27-29. Due to the number of companies that joined the Motoman Solution Provider Network in 2006, Motoman expanded its MSP Spring Forum from two to three days, including a Thermal Day, a Material Handling Day, and a "cross-over" Controls and Software Day. During the three-day period, Motoman hosted nearly 125 attendees, representing more than 75 companies. The Motoman Solution Provider Network now totals more than 100 companies. Feedback on this year's Forum included the following comments from attendees:

"I would like to take a little time to inform you and all those involved that the forum you put on was top-notch."
"You and your colleagues did an exceptional job."
"I just wanted to let you and everyone who took the time to speak know that the forum was the most professional robot vendor event I have ever attended."

Click on the following links to see Motoman's latest ads:
"Motoman Points the Way"
"EPL-Series Palletizing Robots"
"Customer Satisfaction"
"ArcWorld V"
"Push Your Presses"

Editorials, Case Studies, & Articles

"Robots Make Victor a Champion" - Assembly - May 2007 (Cover article). Injection molder Victor Plastics Inc. uses Motoman robots and vision to automate a variety of secondary operations, improving productivity, quality and safety.

"Robot Programmer" - Business 2.0 Magazine - April 2007. Matt Zeigler, one of Motoman's Senior Application Techs - was interviewed as part of a series of articles on "The New New Careers."
Additionally, CNN Money did a companion video feature that can be found at the following link:
http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/business/2007/04/26/b2.best.jobs.robot.cnn&source=money

"Automation Overhaul: Nearly Doubles Tandem-Line Throughput" - Metalforming - April 2007.
Ten six-axis Motoman HP50 robots replace older 5-axis models tending a tandem press line at Yorozu Automotive in Morrison, TN, improving productivity 40%...
Also see the companion video posted on the MetalForming site:

"Pouring Soon at an Event Near You?" - Associations Now - March 2007. Article tells how Motoman's RoboBar "...delights its operators with its efficiency as it draws the curious and thirsty for cocktails, soft drinks, or even lattes..."

"Welding Cell Smooths the Way for Volvo" Canadian Metalworking Production & Purchasing - January/February. (Pages 1, 6) Volvo Motor Graders (Goderich, Ontario) added a fifth Motoman welding cell that significantly increased their frame welding capability by more than 30%. The new frame cell uses an extended-reach six-axis Motoman HP50-20 robot mounted on a shuttle track between two heavy-duty positioners to perform heavy-deposition welding on large frame parts using a tandem arc process...

"Robots...A 'Butter' Way to Palletize" - Robotics Online - Mid-March 2007. California Dairies implements a robotic palletizing system with two Motoman EPL160 "Expert Palletizing" robots to handle 275,000 lbs of butter a day. This highly flexible palletizing system handles more than 170 SKUs in case sizes ranging from 8-55 lbs...

"In a Pickle" - Food Engineering - April 2007. Motoman palletizing robot helps Aliment Putter's Foods meet peak demand...

Helpful Hints

Each issue of Motoman Direct includes "helpful hints" designed to provide bits of practical advice and programming tips that will help our customers maximize the productivity of their Motoman robots.

When the NX100 is configured for Arc Welding Application, many features open up for process control. One of which is the ARCSET command. This command allows you to change the arc conditions in the middle of a weld. After establishing an arc, the ARCSET command can change one or all conditions such as voltage, current, analog outputs 3 and 4, and speed, (if speed priority is set to the arc start file). For other NX100 arc welding features, please see section 11 of the Operator's Manual for Arc Welding.

Did you know, that by entering the mass and center of gravity values to your tool file, your robot can operate much more efficiently? When these values are entered correctly the software adjusts the acceleration and deceleration curves. This saves unnecessary wear and tear on the gears with heavy loads and allows the robot to accelerate and decelerate faster with small loads. Please reference section 10.11.3, page 10-58 of your operator manual for setting details.

For more helpful hints, click here.

Customer Satisfaction & Training

Updated and enhanced in February 2007, Motoman's new on-line Customer Care Center offers enhanced E-commerce functions and much more. Available 24/7, the new site enables you to order spare/replacement parts, software, and manuals; check order status; and register for training at the Motoman Technical Education Center or for our growing offering of web-based training. It also features product information, technical resources, and tools to help you manage your Motoman products. Please follow the link below to complete your registration and begin using the site!
https://ecommerce.motoman.com/opencms/customercare/motoman/index.html

NEW! SES Virtual Robot Training Simulator -- Motoman's new Simple Education System "SES" is a PC-based training simulator that allows customers to learn to operate and program Motoman robots in the virtual world while keeping their actual robots in production...

Register Online for Motoman Training Classes
You can register for all Motoman training classes in the U.S. and Canada on-line through Motoman's website.

Trade Shows

Motoman products and services will be exhibited at the following trade shows and expositions in 2007. If you plan to attend, please visit our booth!

Robots & Vision - June 12-14 - Donald E. Stephens Convention Center - Rosemont (Chicago), IL - Booth #1423.

Clinical Laboratory Expo (American Association of Clinical Chemistry - AACC) - July 15-19 - San Diego Convention Center - San Diego, CA - Booth# 1649.

FIN-X - September 18-20 - Indiana Convention Center - Indianapolis, IN - Booth #819

PackExpo - October 15-17 - Las Vegas Convention Center - Las Vegas, NV - Booth #3543.

G2E - November 13-15 - Las Vegas Convention Center - Las Vegas, NV.

Fabtech - Nov. 11-14 - McCormick Place - Chicago, IL - Booth 5017.

MOTOQUOTE PUZZLE

Decipher the following encrypted "MotoQuote" phrase and e-mail the answer, along with your name, company name, company address, and work phone number to marykay.morel@motoman.com. On June 18, we will draw a winner from eligible respondents who correctly solve the puzzle. The prize, a Motoman ball cap OR a sleeve of golf balls with the Motoman logo, will be sent to the lucky winner.

Clues: Our company's name appears somewhere in the following phrase. If you need more help, G=U and Y=P.

"YLMDDMH" CJ HMOPXML EJLM YLJHGNCPXPCS TLJE SJGL DCREYPIK OPIM?

"DYLPIK" RBMRH JT SJGL NJEYMCPCPJI FPCB IMF RYYOPNRCPJI-DYMNPTPN

EJCJERI "MUYMLC" YLMDD-CMIHPIK LJQJCD.