“Integrated Product Policy” project of the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment - English  company wins KUKA used robot

Reducing environmental impact through the concept of Integrated Product Policy (IPP): this is the aim of a project carried out by the Augsburg Environmental Institute bifa on behalf of the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (StMUGV), in which KUKA Roboter GmbH participated. bifa carried out a survey on the topic of second-hand machines for KUKA Roboter GmbH. A used robot worth 20,000 euro was raffled among all the participants. The award ceremony, together with the presentation of the project and the results of the survey, will take place in the presence of State Secretary Dr. Otmar Bernhard on Wednesday, 20 June 2007 at the KUKA College in Gersthofen.

The survey was part of a project carried out by bifa for the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment. In this project, guidelines of the Ministry of the Environment are being tested in practice, with the aim of helping companies to work more easily with the approach of the Integrated Product Policy. The Integrated Product Policy has as its goal the systematic and continuous reduction of the environmental impact arising from products throughout their life cycle.

As one of the world’s leading suppliers of industrial robots, KUKA Roboter GmbH is aware of its responsibility for the environment and wants to make its contribution to environmental conservation. The cooperation with bifa offered KUKA Roboter GmbH an ideal opportunity to put this into practice through consideration of the entire product life cycle with the aim of making constant improvements.

Through the resale of overhauled robots after rigorous testing, the life of valuable materials such as steel and electronic accessories can be extended, representing an active contribution to the conservation of resources and the avoidance of waste. At the same time, the company benefits from the reuse of its products, since it can offer the same high KUKA quality in the used-machine sector, too. The survey carried out by bifa aims to help companies respond better to the requirements and needs of their customers; the survey included questions about customers’ reasons for employing used robots and their experience with such applications.

The project and the illuminating results of the survey will be presented jointly by bifa and KUKA Roboter GmbH at an event which will also be attended by State Secretary Dr. Otmar Bernhard from the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection. The highlight of the event will be the awarding of an unusual prize: a KUKA used robot has been raffled among all the participants in the survey. The winner, the British company Albon plc, will receive its prize at the event and will then be able to experience KUKA quality and service for itself.

About the KUKA Robot Group

KUKA Roboter GmbH, Augsburg, is a member of the IWKA Aktiengesellschaft Group and ranks among the world’s leading suppliers of industrial robots. Core competencies are the development, production and sale of industrial robots, controllers, software and linear units. The company is the market leader in Germany and Europe, and the number three in the world. The KUKA Robot Group employs about 1,850 people worldwide. Of these, 1,200 are employed in Germany, either at the KUKA Robot Group headquarters in Augsburg, or at various subsidiaries. In 2006, sales totaled 375 million euro. Over 20 subsidiaries provide a presence in the rest of Europe, the US and Asia.