One of the greatest benefits of using hydraulic manipulators is their versatility. When compared to robots – and other fully-automated systems – their ability to adapt to changing circumstances is unmatched. While robots are great at what they do, they are typically designed to do one thing and one thing only. Manipulators, on the other hand, can be repurposed and adapted to new sets of instructions and, as a result, they can be made to address the ever-shifting needs of the factory floor.
For an example, let’s take a look at cargo loading. While a robot can be designed to very efficiently load cargo onto a ship or truck, it’s going to have a difficult time repositioning pallets and containers outside of those very narrow instructions. Pick up a pallet, put it on a platform… that’s what the robot is designed to do and that is all that the robot can do. A hydraulic manipulator from TDA Buddy, on the other hand, acts on input provided by its operator. As a result, if your needs change, your approach can change.
By relying on operator input, hydraulic manipulators afford you a greater level of flexibility than robots. Rather than putting pallets onto a truck, maybe you want to move them to a new spot on the factory floor. Or, maybe you’d like to stack them near a loading zone. All of this is possible with hydraulic manipulators because they aren’t being guided by a narrow, unchanging set of instructions. Because of this, they can be utilized in a wider range of applications and can help eliminate the need for costly – in both time and money – reprogramming.
At TDA Buddy, we’ve been manufacturing custom hydraulic manipulators since 1985. As a leader in the industry, we’ve helped thousands of companies reduce their costs, streamline their processes and raise their profit margins. If you’ve been looking for a cost-efficient, versatile solution to your manufacturing, shipping and material handling needs, contact us today to discuss how we can help.
