The town of Witry-les-Reims, located just a few kilometers from Reims, is at the forefront of innovation with the introduction of “Cobots” – a new type of robot designed for collaboration. These machines are capable of performing a variety of tasks such as screwing, welding, installation and packaging, and are designed to work alongside humans.
Recently, Universal Robots and its distributor Sysaxes organized a demonstration for business leaders from the Marne to showcase the capabilities of Cobots at the company Carbody. Equipped with an articulated aluminum arm and sensors, these machines can adapt to various industries including medical, agri-food, and plastics. They are designed to assist operators with repetitive tasks and can be easily adjusted or reprogrammed as needed.
Although they come with an initial cost of 25,000 to 50,000 euros each, Cobots are seen as a valuable investment in addressing labor shortages and increasing productivity. At Carbody, their use has completely transformed the work environment by allowing for increased productivity and reduced physical strain on employees.
Despite their success in industries worldwide, there is still some resistance to their adoption in France due to concerns about potential job displacement. However, a report by the International Federation of Robotics shows that between 2021 and 2022 there was a 42% increase in the number of Cobots in France – indicating growing acceptance of this technology.