Strategically planning and aiming for "10,000 lithiums"! STEP unveils its new SCARA robot specifically designed for the lithium battery industry.
2022-11-17
In 2008, Zhongweixing, a subsidiary of STEP, entered the SCARA robot market as a domestic pioneer. Since then, its products have steadily gained momentum in the market, consistently demonstrating the brand’s attitude and strength, leading innovation and transformation in the industry, and truly delivering tangible value to customers by unlocking an ever-expanding range of application scenarios.
Against the backdrop of the global energy transition, in 2021, STEP made strategic plans and laid out its approach for the lithium-ion battery industry by launching a 50-kg heavy-duty SCARA robot. This move prompted other brands to follow suit and garnered positive market feedback. Today, as we continue to witness the rapid transformation and upgrading of manufacturing industries and the explosive growth of lithium-ion batteries in new-energy vehicles and energy-storage applications, STEP is once again taking the lead and driving forward. We are announcing an upgrade and expansion of our SCARA product family, adding new models to the AR, YR, and FR series. Meanwhile, the WR series side-mounted SCARA robots will also make their debut.
This update introduces a total of 20 SCARA models, with arm lengths ranging from 350 mm to 1,200 mm and maximum payloads of up to 20 kg. These models offer three installation options: upright, inverted, and side-mounted. These new models further enrich STEP comprehensive SCARA product lineup. Thanks to the diverse selection of models and installation methods, STEP SCARAs can efficiently handle material handling tasks across various process stages—including cell stacking, assembly, electrolyte injection, nail insertion and removal, chemical capacity grading, and module-level inspection—in the lithium-ion battery sector. This provides users with more efficient and cost-effective robotic solutions for intelligent manufacturing across all scenarios and throughout the entire lithium-ion battery production process, helping them effectively enhance both production efficiency and product quality.
Modular design, flexible and effortless.
From integrated drive and control to integrated vision and control, STEP has been present at almost every pivotal moment of technological transformation in China’s SCARA industry. This time, STEP’s SCARA product team is once again leading industry trends. The body of the new SCARA robot adopts a highly modular structural design. Disassemble the core components—such as the base, machine cover, lead screw cover, and large and small arms—into individual parts. SCARA models that can be quickly customized to meet user requirements for arm length and installation method.
Specialized R&D, Rigid Upgrade
In product R&D, STEP consistently focuses on addressing industry pain points, driving continuous innovation in lithium-ion battery manufacturing processes and bringing about groundbreaking value breakthroughs to the industry. For this project focusing on the double-station adhesive application machine for coil materials and the small-surface adhesive application process, STEP has launched a special R&D initiative targeting a pre-stacking module segment process. By adding two guide rod accessories to the robot’s ontology, we have enhanced its rigidity, thereby meeting the process requirements for robot cycle time, stability, and adhesive application accuracy.
YR81030 SCARA robot
Firmly committed to “fast, precise, and stable.”
In terms of product performance, we continue to benchmark against top international brands. The brand-new SCARA robot pays close attention to even the smallest details: its enclosure volume has been reduced by 35%, effectively lowering operational drag. At the same time, we’ve optimized and upgraded the rigidity of the arm, J4 axis, and J3 axis. With the support of integrated drive-control technology and advanced dynamic algorithms, this robot has significantly improved key performance indicators such as cycle time, positioning accuracy, ability to handle eccentric loads, and overall stability. The repeat positioning accuracy of the XY axes has been improved by 50%, while the repeat positioning accuracy of the Z axis has been improved by 100%. The rated inertia torque for the J4 axis has been increased by 300%, and the maximum allowable inertia torque for the J4 axis has been increased by 120%.
Protection and Cleanliness Upgrade
In sensitive industries such as lithium batteries, food, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, glass, and photovoltaics, production requires cleanroom environments to prevent foreign particles from reducing product yield and compromising safety. To meet these stringent requirements, the newly launched SCARA robot features a cleanroom version that achieves an ISO Class 5 cleanliness rating, effectively preventing the leakage of oil stains and particulate contaminants. Notably, Shinetech has also developed a protective system for this new SCARA model that rivals a “golden bell shield” in its level of protection. By upgrading the protection rating to IP65, the robot has achieved a significant leap forward in handling harsh, complex, and ever-changing working environments.
Under the guidance of the “Dual Carbon” goals, new energy is “riding the waves and overcoming obstacles,” and intelligent manufacturing has become the biggest driver of industry advancement. STEP will continue to rely on its comprehensive robot and motion control product lines as well as its robust technological foundation to provide partners with smarter solutions that offer higher precision, greater efficiency, and enhanced stability, thereby continuously paving the way for a new era of high-quality development in the new energy sector.
Contact Us
Email:
market@stepelectric.com
Address:
No. 1560, Siyi Road, Jiading District, Shanghai Municipality