Leading the Way at FabTech 2025: Güdel’s Innovations in Automation

At FabTech 2025, Güdel will showcase groundbreaking automation solutions at Booth #B15015, including the exciting debut of the CoboMover, a seventh-axis linear track designed specifically for collaborative robots (cobots) and lightweight robots. With the cobot market poised to account for nearly 25% of the total robot market in North America, these innovations are a testament to Güdel’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of automation engineering.

The CoboMover: Expanding Cobot Capabilities

Güdel’s CoboMover is engineered to significantly enhance the versatility of cobots in various applications. As highlighted by Brenda Courim, head of sales at Güdel, this product isn’t just a linear axis; it’s a “game changer.” The CoboMover extends a robot’s operational range up to an impressive 5 meters (16.4 feet), allowing it to seamlessly support multiple workstations while executing various tasks without the need for frequent manual adjustments.

This innovative track system is compatible with over 60 types of cobots and traditional small robots, providing flexibility through mounting options at 0° and 180°. It can handle a maximum payload of 78 kg (172 lbs), which includes the weight of the robot itself, and operates on a drive system featuring a toothed belt and Güdel’s HPG045 angular gearbox. Users can choose from stroke lengths of 1,000 mm to 5,000 mm, achieving a maximum speed of 2 m/s and a repeatability of ± 0.05 mm.

Revolutionizing Mobility with Air Bearings

Güdel’s reputation for robust automation solutions continues with a newly developed modular track system showcased at FabTech 2025—one that utilizes air bearings to transport heavy loads effortlessly. By using just 5 psi of air pressure, this system can levitate and maneuver the TMF-4B track along with a heavyweight Fanuc M900iB/280L robot, which altogether weighs over 7,000 lbs, with the grace of floating on a cushion of air.

Originally designed for aircraft painting applications, this air-bearing solution eliminates the need for heavy machinery like cranes and forklifts, addressing two significant constraints: mobility in expansive workspaces and layout limitations of facilities. Mike Peek, Güdel’s marketing manager, elaborates on this custom solution, emphasizing the unique challenge it solves: moving a precision paint robot without the hassle of installing embedded tracks in the floor.

Engineering Excellence: Power and Precision

Güdel is renowned in the fabrication industry for its innovative tools and comprehensive solutions that support productive operations. The company’s gantry and track motion products incorporate a sophisticated guideway and roller block system, enhanced with sealed cartridge bearings. This CAM follower approach to linear motion is notably resilient, ideal for harsh environments such as welding applications plagued by spatter, debris, and thermal stress.

An advantage of the Güdel system is that its bearings can be replaced or serviced without dismantling the entire linear motion setup, drastically reducing maintenance time. Where traditional systems might require days for repairs, Güdel’s system can often be serviced in a matter of minutes or hours.

Güdel’s gantry robots come with 1 to 20 axes of motion and are indispensable in various manufacturing processes, including tending press brakes and machine tools. Their payload capabilities range from 16 kg to an impressive 3,125 kg, maintaining exceptional repeatability of ± 0.02 mm even at maximum loads.

Versatile Track Motion Solutions

Güdel’s track motion units are designed for both floor and overhead configurations, making them incredibly versatile for applications like machine tending, welding, and cutting. Their TMF (Track Motion Floor) and TMO (Track Motion Overhead) units enable expansive robot work envelopes, facilitating service to single large components or multiple stations along a production line.

The TMF-6 track, built to support the largest industrial robot, the Fanuc M2000iA/2300, can handle payloads of up to 22,000 kg with a repeatability of ± 0.05 mm. For overhead tasks, TMO solutions can manage up to 2,500 kg, ensuring robust performance in complex manufacturing settings.

Advanced Metal Sheet Handling Capabilities

In addition to their robotic solutions, Güdel also offers specialized metal sheet handling systems that cater to industries such as automotive and appliances. These solutions encompass high-speed transfer systems and end-of-line stackers capable of handling large sheet metal parts at speeds up to 21 pieces per minute, effectively enhancing workflow efficiency and reducing downtime.

With these advanced technologies, Güdel continues to demonstrate its prowess in addressing the evolving challenges within the automation landscape, ensuring that integrators and end-users can achieve their operational objectives with reliability and efficiency. As FabTech 2025 approaches, the industry anticipates the impactful solutions Güdel will present, solidifying its role as a leader in automation innovation.