ABB-Vention tie-up will bring cobots to more SME manufacturers
11 September 2024 
ABB Robotics is collaborating with the Canadian cloud-based robotics developer Vention to bring cobot (collaborative robot) automation to more small and medium sized manufacturers. ABB’s GoFa cobots are now compatible with Vention’s Manufacturing Automation Platform (Map), including its MachineBuilder (design), MachineLogic (robot programming), MachineAnalytics (operations monitoring and data) and Remote Support applications.
Vention says the development will give ABB access to more DIY automation users, while ABB’s cobots will be available on Vention’s marketplace, enhancing its offering. Users will benefit from the integration of the technologies from the design stage of robotic cells, to eventual factory-floor operation. The relationship will also expand the two companies’ market reach and innovation.
ABB’s GoFa cobots, with payloads from 5–12kg, are designed to work alongside humans in applications ranging from assembly and welding, to material-handling and inspection.
“We are thrilled to welcome ABB to the Vention ecosystem,” says the company’s founder and CEO, Etienne Lacroix. “ABB and Vention have a multi-year track record of collaboration across Europe and North America, spanning multiple business areas from electrification to robotics and discrete automation.”
“Partnering with Vention represents a significant step forward for both companies,” adds Andrea Cassoni, ABB Robotics’ head of collaborative robots. “By merging our hardware and software capabilities, we are making robotic automation more accessible and easier to integrate for businesses of all sizes. Our joint efforts will address key industry trends and help companies improve their operations, making workplaces safer and more efficient.”
Vention’s manufacturing automation platform allows users to design, automate, deploy and operate automated equipment from a Web browser. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Vention has 300 employees and more than 4,000 customers on five continents.
