Absolute Group has expanded into automation supply, creating Absolute Robot Inc. after agreeing to become the exclusive sales and service agent in North America for Well-Lih Robotics (Yuyao, China). In 2006, Absolute became the exclusive sales and service agent for Haitian Plastics Machinery in North America.

Established in 2003, Well-Lih produces approximately 6000 robots annually from a 215,000-sq-ft facility in the Zhejiang province of China. The Well-Lih product line, which includes sprue pickers, hybrid robots, servo robots, and in-mold labeling (IML) systems, will be available for sale in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Well-Lih produces 1- and 3-axis pneumatic and full-servo robots. The take-out robot line is available in sizes suitable for injection molding machines ranging from 200 to 650 tons, with vertical strokes from 1000 to 1600 mm, and payloads up to 10 kg, including gripper. The 3-axis robots can be used on presses from 50 to 300 tons, with vertical strokes from 600 to 950 mm and max payloads of 5 kg, including gripper. The full servo line of Cartesian-style robots can be used on molding machines from 500 to 3600 tons, with vertical strokes from 1500 to 3000 mm and maximum payloads of 25 and 50 kg, including gripper.

Mike Ortolano, president of the newly formed Absolute Robot Inc. said in a release that the new robot product line extends Absolute Group's ability to "help North American plastics processors to remain globally competitive by providing access to high-quality, cost-effective robotic equipment, coupled with the superior parts and service support that North American manufacturing operations require."

Absolute Robot will provide robot product demonstration and training at the company's technical centers in Worcester, MA and Parma, OH. The Absolute Robot product line will be supported by the Absolute Group field service network and aftermarket operations based in Parma, OH.

New hires support new business
Absolute also announced that Ellen Reed has been hired as the sales and marketing manager for Absolute Robot. In addition, she will be the Southeast territory manager for Absolute Haitian, working directly with the company's sales rep network from Virginia to Tennessee and including the Carolinas, Florida and Georgia. For the past two years, Reed has directed the sales and marketing efforts for HyRobotics Corp.

In addition, Bob Shingledecker, has been named director of operations for Absolute Robot. Shingledecker previously served as technical sales manager for automation and auxiliary supplier ACS. He has 15 years of automation experience and 20 years in the plastics industry.