KEBA North America

When is a standard industrial robot no longer sufficient for your machines and systems? And what does it mean when robotics suddenly becomes an integral part of your overall solution? In the following article, we show you the path to greater flexibility.

Software features can influence the load capacity of wind turbines during a feathering run by reacting intelligently to the respective situation. In addition, larger wind turbines bring new requirements that can be optimized by software enhancements.

In industrial automation, precision, efficiency, and user-friendliness are crucial. Innovative control concepts, especially in the machine tool industry, enhance productivity through optimized human-machine interfaces.

With the KeDrive D5 series of single-axis servo drives, we are expanding our KeDrive product family specifically for drive applications with a small number of axes. KeDrive D5 is our multi-tool that can be easily integrated into your application.

The advancement of digitalization and automation in industrial automation has fundamentally changed the way machines are operated. A key trend is the shift from physical hardware buttons to software-based solutions. This development offers numerous benefits, which you can discover in this blog article.

At this year's SPS, we will be showing booth visitors that combining components from the KEBA product & service portfolio is just as easy as putting together individual ingredients to make a burger.

The modern packaging industry demands flexible and open automation solutions. SACMI benefits from our robotics platform that optimizes complex packaging processes. Read how our platform enables teams to work more efficiently without having to think like automation experts.

In their search for the perfect robot controller, the Swedish company Cognibotics came across KeMotion. The task was to solve the challenge of automating item picking in intralogistics with a new revolutionary robot with unsurpassed combination of speed and reach.

When it comes to automation, the Berger Gruppe uses solutions from Siemens and KEBA - and thus consistently pursues a multi-supplier strategy. Now the Andronic series will be equipped with KEBA's Kemro X, the automation platform consisting of hardware and software. From 2025, Kemro X will be installed as standard in the CNC grinding machines.

The selection and customization process for human-machine-interface (HMI) solutions is often complex and time-consuming. A 3D online configurator can simplify this process considerably by making products customizable and visualizable in real time. Read how a configurator saves time and avoids errors.

Constantly changing consumer habits require flexible and adaptable logistics systems. Mobile robots are a promising solution. In this article, we will explain how intelligent fleet management and innovative technologies can help conquer the current challenges in intralogistics and thus significantly increase the efficiency of AGVs or AMRs.

In the past financial year, the strategic fundament of the KEBA Group, namely the diversification of the business into different markets and industries, once again proved to be a solid and stable basis for the international company.

We are pleased to announce our partnership with RoboDK, a leading simulation and programming company. RoboDK has successfully integrated our robotics solution KeMotion into their software package so that you can now combine the benefits of Kemro X and Robo DK.

In electric and hybrid injection molding machines, unsynchronized movements can lead to costly damage. This article discusses how KEBA’s smart functions and control technologies ensure precise synchronization, protecting machinery and enhancing efficiency.

The automation industry is looking for a way to integrate WinCC Unified on mobile handheld devices. With the mobile HMI devices of the KeTop series by KEBA, this search is now over. We explain how easy this integration works in this interview.

Find out in this article how KEBA successfully supported the Italian producer of bag packaging, Mobert, on its way to industrial automation and why the core of production has remained unchanged for more than ten years.

The KePlast Smart Movement, is a simple AI assistant that ensures the highest movement accuracy of an injection molding machine´s mold without using an expensive method of active braking.

In an injection molding process, it's essential to avoid mold damage, prevent breakage and prolong the mold's life. Therefore, the Automatic Ramp Calibration feature as part of the KePlast Software provides a solution: it will look for the optimal moment to open and close the mold in an injection molding process.

The selection and design of HMI solutions is often complex. Our new online configurator for KeTop operating devices now makes this process child's play: it not only offers a comprehensive selection of standard devices, but also enables easy customization for individual needs. Discover how this configurator simplifies the decision-making process and opens up new possibilities for customized HMI solutions.

In this article, we unravel the untapped potential of pressure closed loop technology in revolutionizing injection molding processes. Join us as we explore how this innovation promises to enhance control precision, particularly in full-electric and hybrid machines, shaping the future of manufacturing excellence.

Read this success story to find out how Fives, together with KEBA, succeeded in solving the challenges of intelligent automation in the field of sorting and conveyor technology.

PROFINET, the leading Industrial Ethernet version, basically permits manufacturer-neutral solutions. But in practical terms, it is still important for users to ensure compatibility among components. Drive technology is one example: Making full and flexible use of the available broad range of motors requires the right kind of drive controller.

Our KEBA robotics experts Markus Winter and Christian Leng reveal what the long-awaited update of the ISO 10218 robot standard will bring, what the most important changes are and what measures can be taken now.

Openness, interoperability, modularity and the ability to integrate 3rd party components, such as industrial flash memory cards in controllers, are common requirements for modern and scalable automation platforms such as Kemro X from KEBA. In addition, security, standardized interfaces, field-proven solutions, robustness and availability are essential for economic and sustainable success.

Circular Economy is undoubtedly the only option for a sustainable future, and EREMA is constantly pushing the limits of currently available technologies. Plastics recycling plants, machines, and system components, therefore, require state-of-the-art hardware and software concepts that take the recycling process to a new level. And that's where KEBA comes in.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the key technologies of digitalization that is capable of changing all areas of society and the economy. It offers new possibilities for solving complex problems, optimizing processes and developing innovative products. But how can AI be used in industry? And what challenges need to be overcome?

For the successful implementation of a modern automation system, the simple integration of hardware into a higher-level system is no longer sufficient. What is needed is a shared and software-based "ecosystem" that must be flexible, transparent, scalable and, above all, open.

The partnership between EUREKA SYSTEM, a system integrator to industrial companies focusing on automation, and KEBA Industrial Automation GmbH is a relatively young one. Only four years ago, both companies started cooperating in order to develop a special solution for an OEM customer. In spite of this rather short time span, though, both companies have managed to seamlessly merge their expertise to drive groundbreaking advancements in the industry.

"This is not just about industrial automation - this is also about turning your ideas into reality" is written on KEBA's invitation to SPS 2023. Like last year, the full-range supplier for industrial automation headquartered in Linz, Austria, is strongly focusing on exchange and dialog.

Find out when it is not recommendable to build your own mobile robots for intralogistics and the factors that play a role in this.

In recent years, reports about disrupted supply chains and raw material bottlenecks have increasingly dominated the international media. Global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the semiconductor crisis hit the industry particularly hard. Confidence in promised delivery dates and the ability to reliably plan production in advance suffered accordingly.

When working with difficult-to-machine high-alloy steels, conventional machining methods reach their limits. Bosch and KEBA show how it can still be done in large-scale series manufacturing in the automotive industry using a sustainable, safe and cost-effective approach.

The freedom to optimally display individual features and develop individual screens and layouts, a solution from one single source – and an innovation that sets the business apart from the usual standard. Such was the framework for the development of a future HMI at SW. The company wanted to bring its entire machine operation “under glass”. Not as a vision – but as a competitive advantage. Read this article to find out how SW is interpreting HMI – and the role played by KEBA Industrial Automation in the implementation of the concept.

The KEBA Group, headquartered in Linz, increased its sales from 537.7 million € to 553.5 million € in the past business year (April 2022 - March 2023). This corresponds to a sales growth of approximately 16 million € or 3% . Looking at the last five years, the average annual growth is around 17% (CAGR).

Industry 4.0 and Smart Factories, IIoT and data-based business models are significant trends for which the machine engineering sector must find a response. Greater intelligence and flexibility for machines and systems can only be realized with comprehensive data exchange, which in turn is only possible with uniform standards. While OPC UA does provide an important key, it does not solve all problems.

The OPC UA standard provides the industrial sector with a powerful tool that can be the basis for realizing the Smart Factory, for the flexible production of small batch sizes, as well as for process optimization.

The current trends in industrial automation would not be possible without strong standardization. At the same time, however, the I4.0 platform and the Smart Factory are more than just based on standards—they also increase the pressure to drive standardization forward. For suppliers staying on the sidelines, the niche is getting smaller and smaller.

Pfiffner develops, manufactures and sells rotary indexing machines. This article describes the challenges the machine manufacturer is facing in the markets, how the cooperation with KEBA came about, and which KEBA solution approaches have become a unique selling point.

drag and bot GmbH has been a part of the KEBA Group for more than a year. Now, the company is launching “drag&bot OS”, their first joint product, on the market. This makes the entire scope of drag&bot technology available to KEBA customers as a built-in component of the Kemro X platform.

Our wireless HMI solution KeTop Safe Wireless wins the vote for Product of the Year 2023 in the category "Operating and Monitoring".

In principle, technical standards are supposed to improve the efficiency and interoperability of technical devices and components. But frequently we find competing standards, in particular in the industrial sector. This becomes even more problematic in the era of Industry 4.0 and increasingly networked machines and systems. Enter OPC UA, a platform that is poised to overcome the old rivalries.

Since the advent of wind turbines with active pitch control, KEBA has been supporting leading wind turbine manufacturers in the optimization and development of their systems.
This article answers the most frequently asked questions from new customers about our drive solutions for wind turbines, in particular KEBA pitch control and yaw systems.

The cooperation between the Austrian robot manufacturer igm and KEBA has existed for about 25 years. In the course of time, KEBA has become an important partner, also because the company is broadly positioned: robotics, controllers, drives, powerful robotics safety and all this in an open platform.

SPS 2022 was a special trade fair for KEBA with many highlights. One of them was the new "Darts Challenge" - a joint project between KEBA and the French injection-molding machine expert SEPRO.

The digitization and automation in the industrial sector have led to massive changes in the requirements for machine operation and consequently, in what is expected of machine operators. It used to be that stationary solutions such as pushbuttons, switches and simple display screens directly on the housing were sufficient; but today, we need full HD monitors with touchscreens and cloud-based high-performance HMIs (human-machine interfaces). As a result, operating a machine is not dissimilar from using a smartphone.

The increasing automation of machines and applications has changed the way systems are operated. Human-machine interfaces (HMIs) have seen a dramatic evolution.

Requirements for robots are undergoing dramatic changes. Mass production is being abandoned more and more in favor of small batch sizes, and customizing for individual needs is the order of the day. Automation in areas previously dominated by manual work as well as the collaboration between humans and robots—these are the watchwords in robotics today.

Because power outages can be expensive and time-consuming, the Swiss company NETSTAL started looking for a solution for PET manufacturing that would be able to handle such outages in a cost-effective manner while affording protection from damage. Together with KEBA, such a solution was developed.

In addition to solar power and hydropower, wind energy plays a central role in achieving the desired transition away from fossil fuels and towards regenerative, sustainable energy generation.

HMI visualization solutions enable users to efficiently monitor complex processes and operations, to view and interpret data, and thus to operate the machine efficiently.

For KEBA, the trade fair motto 2022 is "It is All About Listening. And Understanding". Because only those who listen attentively and understand can translate the requirements of customers or industries into unique, concrete solutions.

On October 14, this year's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award was presented in Austria. In the category "Sustainability & Greentech" Gerhard Luftensteiner, CEO of KEBA Group AG was awarded.

The logistics industry is facing major challenges, especially due to the boom in e-commerce. "More speed, precision, compactness and flexibility" also applies to TGW Robotics and its business partners - such as KEBA. Together, they have already been able to successfully implement several projects to optimize the logistics process and thus solve essential pain points in intralogistics.

Precision applications, 3D printing or the assembly of miniature electronics push robots to the limits of their accuracy. Mechanical improvements of high-precision robots are not enough – what is needed is additional optimization of the control and calibration systems.

In recent years, the degree of automation in the industrial sector has increased significantly. Today, it has reached a remarkable level. This trend will continue into the future.

After many years of use, the subject of maintenance and repairs and the associated cost comes up even for the robust KeTop hand-held operation devices (HMI). As the provider of one of the world’s leading HMI solutions for mobile operation as well as robot teach-in and programming, our goal is to communicate with our customers transparently and honestly and to give the best advice for every case.

The planning of the new KEBA site in Leonding/Pasching (AT) is progressing rapidly. The winning project by the Viennese office Franz&Sue was selected from ten submissions.

The KEBA Group, headquartered in Linz, increased its sales from € 415.4 million to € 537.7 million in the past business year
(April 2021 - March 2022). With a jump in turnover of around 122 million € and a turnover growth of almost 30 % , the KEBA Group repeatedly achieved the highest turnover in its history. Looking at the last five years, the average annual growth is 22.7 % (CAGR).

KEBA Industrial Automation GmbH (Linz Austria), received the supplier award by RORZE Corporation on May 13, 2022, for RORZE Supplier Award 2021 under the manufacturer category.

The Upper Austrian automation specialist KEBA continues to grow. In the last year alone, the internationally active company has grown by 225 employees, the majority of them in Austria. KEBA has thus reached the 2.000-employee mark.

Different requirements of industrial customers are on the one hand driving the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in production. But on the other hand, they inhibit the development of AI solutions directly in the machine because it has been practically impossible to combine state-of-the-art computing power with long-term platform stability. KEBA has been looking for solutions to this dilemma for several years.

The need of the industrial sector for greater flexibility in production is growing faster than the possibilities offered by classic automation engineering. For this reason, machine manufacturers and automation specialists have been developing more and more “smart” machines with enhanced capabilities based on artificial intelligence (AI). This is a trend that practically nobody can afford to ignore. But how to get started with this new technology?

Robot manufacturer Comau and KEBA succeeded in solving several customer problem areas at once with a joint development in the field of integrated robotics.

Automation specialists and machine manufacturers have been driving industrial automation for decades, relying on technical innovation, a broad know-how in the programming of applications and operating systems as well as an in-depth understanding of their customers’ processes. But still, the advent of artificial intelligence presents a whole new world of challenges. Is the industry ready to face them?

Ever greater variety in the product portfolio, still greater flexibility in production, but the same efficiency as in mass production—today’s machines need to meet ever increasing demands.
This is the reason why besides classic automation technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is used more and more often. But what can this technology do, and how will it change machine engineering?
Thomas Linde, AI expert at KEBA, provides some answers.

Smart robots, predictive maintenance systems or dashboards that recommend how to adjust the settings for active processes in order to save resources or improve production quality—these are just some of the new developments that have come in with Industry 4.0. All these examples have one thing in common: They all rely on artificial intelligence (AI). What effect does the use of AI have on control and automation technology today?

“It is All About Listening. And Understanding.” KEBA would like to proudly present the new motto to our visitors of iREX2022. One may think, “What does listening and understanding have to do with automation?” More that you can imagine! Come and take a look at the highlights of KEBA at Tokyo Big Sight East Hall 5, Booth 38.

In December 2021, KEBA acquired the Stuttgart / Germany-based software company drag and bot. The start-up develops an innovative operating system for robots. As a 100% subsidiary, drag and bot GmbH is part of KEBA Industrial Automation GmbH, one of the three business areas of KEBA Group AG. With this new acquisition, KEBA strengthens its position in industrial automation and strategically expands its product portfolio with flexible automation software.

Be a little more like Apple— that’s what many brand-conscious companies aspire to. Whether hardware or software, Apple fans admire the sleek design and love the intuitive operation. Read now which 7 points you should consider as an industrial company if you want to generate real fans for your HMI. This is how you establish your product as a popular brand in the B2B sector:

Imagine the following scenario: You are getting ready for work in the morning, pack your things, put on your coat and shoes, eat a quick breakfast and finally, you put on your socks. Does that sound like an odd sequence of events? Well, it is! It’s not just your everyday routine that needs structure and proper processes—these are also needed for the implementation of a comprehensive HMI (human-machine interface) operation concept for machine manufacturers. Before you start thinking about icon colors and keyboard layouts, you should first consider your HMI technology because it forms the foundation for all steps and decisions that follow.

Typically, machines and robots have at least one interface – the human-machine interface (HMI) – that allows operators to communicate with their machines. The HMI supports the operator when starting up the machine or system, when switching processing jobs, and during troubleshooting.

For the production of its high-quality turning and grinding systems for the manufacture of printing rollers, the Swiss company Daetwyler Graphics has relied on KEBA components for years. Hansjörg Michel, Head of Technology at Daetwyler Graphics, appreciates not only the quality of KEBA components, but also the open, cooperative and customer-oriented collaboration at eye level.

HMI – three letters that stand for the interface between the human and the machine. This is where the communication between these two entities takes place. Usually, it is implemented in the form of a control console with a touch screen and some additional controls. In order to improve the understanding of the machine’s behavior, a graphical display provides the user with self-explanatory feedback. Performance charts and individual process steps, too, are presented to the user in an easy-to-read format.

For many machine manufacturers, automation is a real challenge. Most of them have focused on the hardware for a long time – even though the software is playing a more and more important role. The component software, which is at the center of automation, is highly complex: All modules must slot together and be compatible and at the same time be future-proof and scalable so that they can adjust to plans for growth. In addition, single-source solutions are preferred, but the resulting relationship should not become too close – and turn into dependence. There are many different solutions from different manufacturers on the market – how can you keep the overview and take the right decision?

Why use industrial panels or an HMI if the machinery at a plant could just as well be controlled from a smartphone app? A smartphone or tablet would be a lot more compact, more light-weight, and probably initially also more popular with users as we use them in our daily lives.

Let’s be honest: Receiving an innovation award is nice. However, it does not necessarily confirm that a company is really innovative. Starting at what point do customers perceive a product as innovative? And why do many people think that small steps in the continuing development of a product are what leads to innovation?

Over the last 15 years, our communication skills have undergone rapid changes – including those of machine operators. Consumer devices such as smartphones and tablet computers have opened up a whole new digital world of device operation. This is having an impact on industry, too: A new generation is joining the workforce, and they have much higher expectations of what HMI software design should look like.

KEBA entered the wind power generation market in the mid-1990s, expanding globally ever since. Daniel Geißbauer, Vice President | Wind Power, shares his insights about KEBA’s main product in that field, the Pitch Servo Drive, a control device that changes the angle of wind turbine blades, which boasts a 30% two-digit share of the global installations.

The international Best Managed Companies programme, which is already established in more than 30 countries and awards outstandingly managed companies, was carried out in Austria for the first time this year. KEBA is one of the first Austrian award winners.

With a turnover of 415.4 M€, which corresponds to an increase of around 11%, the KEBA Group once again achieved the highest revenues in its history. Considered over a period of 10 years, the company thus quadrupled its sales. In a dynamic year characterized by Corona, KEBA benefited from its different pillars, which operate in different industries and markets and are therefore subject to different cycles and triggers. With a new structure, KEBA strengthens its growth course.

The list of nominated companies was long and all of them are top companies in Upper Austrian industry. Therefore, we are particularly pleased that we were awarded the Pegasus in bronze in the category "Lighthouses" this year at the most important business award in Upper Austria.

KEBA Japan K.K. (Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo; Masakazu Murakami, President), the Japanese subsidiary of KEBA headquartered in Linz, Austria, will celebrate its 10th anniversary on April 25, 2021.

For the first time, Chinaplas 2021 took place in Shenzhen, as one of the few physical fairs since the beginning of the pandemic an absolute highlight! Although, as expected, not with as much international participation, almost 150,000 visitors joined the fair. This picture reflects the increase in Chinese economic performance – the economy is growing more than ever. The KEBA team proudly presented the full range of KePlast systems for perfectly controlling plastics machines, including new controls, modern multitouch panels, and other innovative technology features – because technology matters.

KEBA plans an additional location at the Technologiering in the municipalities of Leonding and Pasching and announced this in a joint press conference with the mayor and mayoress of the respective municipalities.

Simplicity, modern operation, and strong performance are particularly important in controlling injection molding machines. With KePlast, you can rely on innovative automation solutions with the highest service quality. We have been developing cutting-edge solutions accustomed and optimized to the needs of the plastics industry – because technology matters! Read more about our innovative solutions in this technical article, published in the current issue of the ACMT Smart Molding Magazine, and be ready for Industry 4.0!

Direct current plays a key role in the future industrial power supply. With direct current, a higher energy efficiency and energy flexibility is realized in industrial production. In the DC-INDUSTRIE2 research project and its predecessor DC-INDUSTRIE, more than 40 partners from industry and research have been working since 2016 to implement the energy transition in industrial production.

The bundling of our business into the three business areas Industrial Automation, Handover Automation and Energy Automation is now also shown in the new and compact navigation of our KEBA home page www.keba.com.

The KEBA AG Supervisory Board has appointed Andreas Schoberleitner (43) to the Management Board as of April 1, 2021. As Chief Financial Officer (CFO), he is now the third member of the Management Board of the internationally active technology company, together with Gerhard Luftensteiner (CEO) and Franz Höller (CTO).

Our subsidiary KEMAS – handover automation expert – which has been part of the KEBA Group for five years, is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.

From now on you will find the entire industrial automation product portfolio united on one website. Click through and see for yourself: Choose your industry – whether mechanical engineering, machine tools, plastics, robotics, wind energy, turbo blower or sheet metal processing – the portfolios of KEBA and the former LTI Motion complement each other perfectly.

The KEBA showroom shines in new splendor and presents itself in a new contemporary look.

The new event format allows immersion in the world of KEBA industrial automation with the help of state-of-the-art technology. A 300 m² trade fair stand was set up at the headquarters in Linz. In keeping with the motto "Our trade fair stand comes to you", this allowed hundreds of trade fair discussions to be held via live video conferencing over the last four weeks, even though the very important trade fair for KEBA, the SPS in Nuremberg, did not take place as usual this year.

KEBA was awarded with the ALC Special Award 2020 in the category "Special achievements and sustainable innovations in economically challenging times".

The cycloidal gear specialist Nabtesco and the controller expert KEBA are among the technology leaders in their industries. Now the two robotics experts are bundling their expertise, experience and know-how. The goal: Industrial robots with the highest precision available on the market.

It's not only taste that counts - but also special service: our customer Eureka System realized an innovative robot capable to follow even G-code toolpaths, fully controlled by KeMotion - our ready-to-use robotics solution.
Eureka System was ready to invite you to its stand at MECSPE in Parma. Unfortunately, the fair was cancelled on Monday, October 26th, due to the new Covid19 measures of the Italian government. It can only take place virtually. When, where, and how will be announced at a later date. In the meantime, watch this great video of the robot demo.

Japan had already made it a priority to increase automation, artificial intelligence, and digitalization in a variety of sectors, due to its aging population and shrinking workforce. But after the coronavirus upended the world of work, many now see these as necessary factors in helping the country recover from the economic impact of the pandemic - and a number of firms are well-positioned to aid in this transformation.

From now on you will find the entire industrial automation product portfolio united on one website. Click through and see for yourself: Choose your industry – whether mechanical engineering, machine tools, plastics, robotics, wind energy, turbo blower or sheet metal processing – the portfolios of KEBA and the former LTI Motion complement each other perfectly.

Extraordinary times demand innovative ideas: KEBA Industrial Automation set up an in-house exhibition booth at the KEBA headquarters in Linz, Austria, to meet with customers and interested parties at the KEBA Live Dialogue, an exclusive real-time video conference for discussing exhibition topics.

With a sales increase of €70 million and sales growth of 23% in revenue, the KEBA Group has once again achieved the highest revenues in its history and looks back on a successful decade.

With KEBA KeMotion, standard industrial robots can be used for HRI tasks. At the SPS 2019, KEBA presented an exciting practical solution for human-robot collaboration. Read now in the current Robotics & Production how it works.