Develops and manufactures sensitive robotic end effectors for automated grinding, polishing, deburring, bonding and handling.
FerRobotics Compliant Robot Technology GmbH
Linz, Austria · Tempe (AZ), USA · Gilberts (IL), USA · Taicang, ChinaNew on Amplifa
About FerRobotics
FerRobotics is an Austrian technology company based in Linz that develops and produces sensitive robotics elements. The end effectors (end-of-arm tools) equip industrial robots and cobots with contact intelligence and automate material removal and surface treatment such as grinding, polishing, deburring and brushing, as well as contact-sensitive joining, bonding and handling. Based on the patented Active Compliant Technology, the systems autonomously compensate for workpiece tolerances and keep the contact force constant, thereby eliminating manual rework. The portfolio includes, among others, Active Contact Flange (ACF/ACF-K), Active Orbital Kit (AOK), Active Angular Kit (AAK), Active Sensitive Kit (ASK), Active Belt Grinder (ABG) and Active Taping Kit (ATK) plus accessories such as abrasive changeover stations. The solutions are used, among others, in the automotive and aerospace industries, in MedTech, in plant engineering, mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and rail vehicle construction, and in the electrical, glass and furniture industries. Founded in 2006 as a spin-off of Johannes Kepler University Linz, the company has subsidiaries in the USA and China and delivers worldwide.
- Site
- Linz
- Processes
- Grinding, Polishing, Deburring, Brushing, Cut-off cutting, Bonding (adhesive tape application), Joining/assembly with force control (e.g. plug insertion, fitting sealing plugs), Handling of delicate workpieces (stacking, pick & place)
- Materials
- Cobalt-chromium, Solid surface (composite), Mineral material, Glass, Ceramics, Carbon (composite), Plastic, Aluminium
- Founded
- 2006
- Industries
- Automotive, Aerospace, MedTech, Mechanical engineering, Plant engineering, Shipbuilding
- 01
Consulting/process analysis
- 02
Engineering and development
- 03
On-site feasibility testing
- 04
Manufacturing and system integration
- 05
Training by product trainers
- 06
After Sales and accessories
Materials and Applications
Aluminium
Machining of aluminium structural parts, e.g. in automotive body manufacturing.
Metal (steel)
Grinding, polishing and deburring of metal parts as well as post-processing of weld seams.
Cobalt-chromium
Automated grinding and polishing of knee implants together with Croom Medical.
Carbon (composite)
Contact-sensitive surface treatment of carbon parts with autonomous tolerance compensation.
Solid Surface / mineral material
Automated grinding of bathtubs and sanitary parts made of mineral material, e.g. at Marlan B.V.
Plastic
Grinding, deburring and paint repair (spot repair) on plastic and composite parts.
Glass
Sensitive handling and stacking of glass workpieces.
Ceramics
Sensitive handling of delicate ceramic workpieces (pick & place).
Wood
Grinding of wood and interior parts, e.g. guitar bodies and automotive wood interiors.
Concrete
Robotic surface treatment of concrete components.
Locations
Linz
ATHeadquarters, development and production
- Materials
- Aluminium, steel/metal, cobalt-chromium, carbon, plastic, glass, ceramics, solid surface, wood, concrete
- Active Contact Flange (ACF/ACF-K/ACF-XS)
- Active Orbital Kit (AOK, AOK XS, AOK 501/601/905, E-AOK XS)
- Active Angular Kit (AAK, AAK HD, AAK 501)
- Active Sensitive Kit (ASK 201, ASK 401 Brush)
- Active Belt Grinder (ABG)
- Active Taping Kit (ATK)
- Abrasive changeover station
- Lightweight robot ROMO 3.0 (pneumatic, 7-axis)
Tempe
USSubsidiary FerRobotics Inc. (Arizona)
Gilberts
USOffice FerRobotics Inc. (Illinois)
Taicang
CNSubsidiary FerRobotics Taicang
Products and End Effectors
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GrindingSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal, Wood, Plastic, Carbon, Solid surface (composite), Mineral material, Glass, Ceramics, Concrete, Cobalt-chromium |
| PolishingSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal, Plastic, Carbon, Cobalt-chromium, Clear coat/paint |
| DeburringSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal, Plastic, Sheet metal parts |
| BrushingSurface | – | – | – | – | Metal, Galvanized surface, Electroplated coatings |
| Cut-off cuttingMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bonding (adhesive tape application)Joining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Joining/assembly with force control (e.g. plug insertion, fitting sealing plugs)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Handling of delicate workpieces (stacking, pick & place)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Glass, Ceramics |
| Quality controlTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Paint repair / spot repair (sanding/polishing paint defects)Surface | – | – | – | – | Plastic, Composite, Clear coat |
| Post-processing of weld seams (grinding/brushing/scale removal)Surface | – | – | – | – | Steel, Galvanized surface, Electroplated coatings |
| Consulting/process optimization for contact-sensitive automationEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
9 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End effector Active Contact Flange (ACF) | FerRobotics ACF / ACF-K / ACF-XS | – | – | – | Linz, Austria |
| Random orbital sander end effector | FerRobotics Active Orbital Kit (AOK, AOK XS, AOK 501, AOK 601, AOK905, E-AOK XS) | – | – | – | Linz, Austria |
| Angle grinder end effector | FerRobotics Active Angular Kit (AAK, AAK HD, AAK 501) | – | – | – | Linz, Austria |
| Grinding/brushing system | FerRobotics Active Sensitive Kit (ASK 201, ASK 401 Brush) | – | Stroke 35.5 mm, max. disc diameter ø 200 mm, force 160 N (ASK) / 95 N (Brush) | – | Linz, Austria |
| Belt grinding tool | FerRobotics Active Belt Grinder (ABG) | – | – | – | Linz, Austria |
| Adhesive tape applicator | FerRobotics Active Taping Kit (ATK) | – | – | – | Linz, Austria |
| Abrasive changeover station | FerRobotics | – | – | – | Linz, Austria |
| Lightweight robot (pneumatic, 7-axis) | FerRobotics ROMO 3.0 | – | – | 2008 | Linz, Austria |
| Pneumatic Stewart platform | FerRobotics | – | Height 0.5 m, diameter 0.4 m, 20 kg, max. 6 bar, 6000 N/muscle | – | Linz, Austria |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 2006
Founded as a spin-off of Johannes Kepler University Linz.
- 2008
Development of the flexible, pneumatic lightweight robot ROMO.
- 2011
Market launch of the Active Compliant Flange (world innovation).
- 2012
Entry into the Asian market.
- 2013
Entry into the US market.
- 2014
Product expansion with ASK, AOK, AAK and ABG.
- 2016
Foundation of the US subsidiary FerRobotics Inc.
- 2018
Positioning as a global provider of sensitive robotics components.
- 2020
ACF kit expands the product portfolio; more than 70 patents.
- 2021
AOK XS sets a new standard in fine grinding.
- 2022
Market launch of the adhesive tape applicator ATK and the 501 series; Econovius nomination.
- 2023
New robotic grinding machines (AAK) and E-AOK XS.
- 2024
Joint venture with Bosch Power Tools.