Tag: Photonics

Mecademic reaches new milestone: 15% of robots shipped now power optics and photonics applications

Post author By samahelfalah
Post date March 31, 2025
No Comments on Mecademic reaches new milestone: 15% of robots shipped now power optics and photonics applications

Montreal, Tuesday, March 25, 2025 – Mecademic, a pioneer in ultra-compact, high-precision robotic solutions, has announced a major milestone: 15% of all robots shipped in the past 12 months have been deployed in optics and photonics applications. This achievement reflects the company’s growing influence in high-tech manufacturing and underscores the rising demand for scalable microautomation in precision-driven industries.

“This milestone reflects the increasing adoption of our microautomation solutions in the optics and photonics sector,” said Philippe Beaulieu, CCO and Executive Vice President of Mecademic. “We’re not just delivering robots — we’re enabling the next generation of compact, precise, and cost-effective manufacturing.”

Key Highlights:

Micron-level precision and resolution: essential for optical alignment, gluing, and component placement
Cost-effective automation: replacing manual tasks and bulky traditional optical positioners
The Meca500: the world’s most compact six-axis industrial robot, easily integrates into space-limited environments

Mecademic’s robotic solutions are transforming production processes across a wide spectrum of emerging technologies, including:

Virtual Reality (VR) headsets
Augmented Reality (AR) smart glasses
High-precision lasers
LiDAR systems for autonomous vehicles
Advanced optical sensors and photonic components

Among Mecademic’s innovations is the Meca500-OB, a variant featuring an optical black surface treatment that absorbs 96.5% of visible light — a key advantage for sensitive optical applications where even minor light interference could compromise accuracy or safety.

To showcase how its robots are redefining precision workflows, Mecademic partnered with XVP Photonics to create a real-world demonstration highlighting automated micro-optics alignment. This demo, detailed in the white paper “Automating Micro-Optics Alignment with the Meca500,” will be presented live at Laser World of Photonics 2025, June 24–27 in Munich. Attendees will experience firsthand how the Meca500 delivers unparalleled precision and adaptability in photonics manufacturing.

Its strengthened regional presence further supports the company’s expansion across Europe. Stefan John, recently appointed Sales Area Manager for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH), will represent Mecademic at Hannover Messe 2025, taking place March 31 – April 4 in Hanover.

“Our presence in Germany allows us to support Europe’s growing demand for microautomation, particularly in the thriving optics and photonics space,” said Stefan John. “We’re excited to connect with partners and showcase the transformative impact of compact robotics firsthand.”

From Hanover to Munich, Mecademic’s European 2025 showcase brings the forefront of robotic precision and innovation to key industry stages.

For more information or to access the white paper, visit www.mecademic.com or follow Mecademic on LinkedIn.

About Mecademic

Based in Montreal, Canada, Mecademic designs and manufactures the world’s smallest and most precise industrial robots. Focused on innovation, simplicity, and performance, Mecademic is redefining factory automation across key sectors, from optics and photonics to medical devices and advanced research.

Tags Meca500, Meca500-OBSI, Optical Alignment, Optics, Photonics

Blog Event Recaps

Mecademic at Photonics West 2025: advancing optics and photonics with microautomation

Post author By samahelfalah
Post date February 5, 2025
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The Mecademic booth at Photonics West 2025

From January 28th to 30th, 2025, Mecademic joined industry leaders in San Francisco for Photonics West, one of the world’s most prominent events in optics and photonics. More than just a tradeshow, it was an opportunity to demonstrate how our microautomation solutions are reshaping precision manufacturing in the field.

Our booth attracted attention with one of the most exciting and innovative demonstrations we have ever presented, while our industry partners shared valuable insights about our automated solutions for photonics. Let’s revisit the key moments that made an impact on this year’s event.

An innovation hub: Mecademic’s booth at Photonics West

Located inside the Quebec Pavilion, our booth was an active space where attendees explored the full potential of microautomation. There, all eyes were on the Meca500, the world’s most compact and precise six-axis industrial robot, which visitors could see integrated into an optical alignment and assembly application developed by our partners at XVP Photonics.

This demonstration highlighted the Meca500’s accuracy and efficiency for optical alignment and its adaptability for component assembly, reducing the need for constant realignment and optimizing production workflows. The robot’s performance in intricate tasks in photonics is made possible by its micron-level accuracy, small footprint, and plug-and-work capabilities.

These were the steps in the demo:

The robot picked up a lens from a tray with pinpoint accuracy.
It then positioned the lens for glue application, ensuring a precise bond line.
The lens was moved into alignment with an active camera module.
A retro-illuminated resolution target was placed over the camera for real-time image diagnostics and sharpness optimization.
Once the optimal alignment was confirmed, the robot initiated a UV curing process before returning to its starting position to repeat the cycle.

Our collaboration with XVP Photonics

A key event highlight was a presentation by Joseph André Bélanger, Photonics Director at XVP Photonics, titled “Precision Automation Solutions for Micro-Optics and Photonics Assembly.” This session explored the fundamental challenges of automating photonics manufacturing, explaining the extensive tests XVP did with the Meca500 and how the robot is positioned to redefine industry expectations.

Bélanger outlined two core barriers to automation in photonics:

High costs: Traditional automation solutions are expensive, making them inaccessible for smaller companies or new product introductions.
Complex implementation: Many automation systems require extensive customization and integration, increasing the time and effort needed to adopt them.

XVP’s collaboration with Mecademic demonstrated how the Meca500 helps overcome these challenges, serving as a platform for most optical alignment and assembly tasks. The key insights from the presentation included:

Micron-level precision: The Meca500 provides 1-micron resolution and 5-micron repeatability, making it a precise, cost-effective choice for most photonics applications.
Optimized development process: By integrating automation early in product development, companies can achieve faster prototyping, reduce costs, and seamlessly transition from R&D to production.
Exceptional stability and repeatability: The Meca500 achieves linear position repeatability under 5.7 μm and angular position repeatability below 50 μrad, ensuring consistent and reliable optical alignment.
Validated photonics applications: XVP’s rigorous testing confirmed the Meca500’s suitability for collimated light coupling and laser beam collimation, reducing optical losses and enhancing system performance.

One of the most compelling aspects of the presentation was XVP’s real-world validation of the Meca500’s capabilities in replacing traditional optical positioners. The robot’s versatility allows it to execute complex alignment and bonding tasks from a single fixed station, minimizing equipment costs and setup complexity.

According to XVP’s tests, the Meca500 can be used in nearly 90% of their current projects, marking a shift in how photonics manufacturers approach automation. By simplifying system design and reducing reliance on traditional high-cost positioners, XVP and Mecademic are demonstrating that a paradigm shift is underway in the photonics industry.

✅ Download the white paper with all the details of XVP’s tests with the Meca500

The growing role of microautomation in optics and photonics

Photonics West 2025 reaffirmed the ever-increasing importance of microautomation in the optics and photonics industry. Historically, many processes in these fields have relied on manual assembly due to the high costs and complexity of automation. Mecademic is helping change that narrative with robots designed for precision, efficiency, and ease of integration.

One of the standout innovations in our lineup is the Meca500-OBST, featuring an optical black surface treatment that absorbs 96.5% of visible light. This specialized finish minimizes reflections, making it particularly well-suited for optical alignment, component assembly, and glue dispensing tasks where light interference can impact accuracy and hamper security.

Our demonstrations at the event highlighted how the Meca500 can replace traditional optical positioners, offering a cost-effective and scalable approach to automation. Whether for low-rate initial production or full-scale manufacturing, our solutions help businesses streamline operations, reduce variability, and maintain consistent quality.

✅ Case study: How XVP Photonics automates high-precision optical assembly with the Meca500

Looking ahead: our commitment to innovation

Our presence at Photonics West 2025 underscored Mecademic’s commitment to advancing automation in optics and photonics. With the help of our partners at XVP, we showcased the transformative potential of the Meca500 in many kinds of tasks and operations in the field. Our conversations with industry professionals confirmed that microautomation is more than an emerging trend — it’s a crucial shift driving unprecedented efficiency and innovation.

As we look to the future, Mecademic remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of microautomation, helping companies embrace robotics to enhance their processes. If you’re interested in learning how our solutions can help you, reach out to our experts. Let’s explore the possibilities together!

Tags Meca500, Micro-assembly, Optical Alignment, Optics, Photonics

Blog

Industrial automation trends and perspectives for 2025

Post author By alexandrucoanda
Post date January 13, 2025
No Comments on Industrial automation trends and perspectives for 2025

Philippe Beaulieu
CCO & Executive VP at Mecademic

As someone who’s spent years immersed in manufacturing, automation, and industrial robotics, it’s fascinating to witness how those fields have evolved. And, as one could expect, 2025 brings a new wave of innovation, opportunities, and challenges for businesses and professionals.

For us at Mecademic, it’s an exciting time to push boundaries and reimagine what automation can do. In this article, I share insights on industrial automation trends and some perspectives for companies hoping to thrive in this rapidly advancing landscape.

Overcoming challenges to start automating

Embarking on the automation journey can feel daunting, particularly for smaller or younger companies. Today, I see businesses facing three primary hurdles to get started in industrial automation. Here they are:

Skilled talent shortage

North America doesn’t seem to have enough skilled professionals to cater to the demand for optimal automation solutions. Many potential clients struggle to find the expertise they need to, for example, build an automation cell or integrate industrial robots into their specific processes.

One viable solution Mecademic has found is to match customers to skillsets wherever they may be. To bridge this talent gap, we collaborate with machine builders and integration partners across North America or anywhere around the world—for example, in countries like France, Poland, and Thailand. A globalized integration ecosystem gives companies the necessary support and knowledge to kickstart their automation projects regardless of location.

Cost management

Automation is often perceived as an expensive investment, and for good reason. However, strategic planning can make this transition more accessible. One way to do this is to leverage one’s automation experience to guide clients through phased implementation plans and break down large investments into more manageable steps.

Additionally, we go the extra mile to educate clients on the measurable benefits of automation, such as increased productivity and reduced operational costs, which always outweigh the initial costs. These strategies have helped even small businesses confidently embrace automation.

Organization-level limitations

Even large organizations can be slow to adopt new technologies. Change is complex, and resistance often stems from uncertainty, a lack of understanding of potential benefits, or corporate culture. Overcoming this challenge involves more than just offering solutions; it’s also about building trust and demonstrating tangible value.

Throughout the years, I’ve learned that it takes expertise, personalized support, and clear communication to create such a relationship between an automation solution provider and its customers. This is the surest way to help businesses navigate their insecurities and implement automation successfully.

New automation opportunities in traditional industries

One of the leading industrial automation trends today is the new possibilities some robotic solutions are bringing to well-established industries like optics & photonics and medical device manufacturing. Historically, those sectors relied heavily on manual processes due to the high costs and technical limitations of available solutions.

However, this narrative is changing. By integrating compact and precise automation solutions, such as the Mecademic robots, these industries can scale operations, enhance product quality, and meet market demands with full confidence and unprecedented efficiency.

In optics & photonics, for example, our Meca500 six-axis robot helps assemble delicate, infimal components and even perform optical alignment tasks with outstanding repeatability and a minimal footprint—at a fraction of the cost of traditional processes. For more information about the benefits of the Meca500 in optics & photonics, download XVP Photonics’ white paper based on their tests with the robot and see the impressive results they achieved.

Similarly, in medical device manufacturing, our robot’s precision enables tasks such as microassembly and quality control, which are typically complex to automate due to the very nature of those products. Take Steven Douglas Corp., for example: they integrated our Meca500 into an automated microscopic assembly process for a client that previously relied on a manual process. As a result, they reached efficiency levels of over 99% and unprecedented scale capability.

Those are just examples of a broader tendency of automation to be more available to more businesses through highly innovative solutions. This trend is sure to gain speed, and we at Mecademic will present new advancements this year that will drive even bigger transformations.

Expanding the use of AI in industrial automation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is more than a buzzword: it has the potential to upend whole industries, and industrial automation is one of them. While AI applications in robotics are still developing, the potential for groundbreaking advancements is immense. From smarter pathfinding algorithms to enhanced gripper feedback, AI is poised to make robots more efficient, adaptive, and capable of handling increasingly complex tasks.

One area where AI shows promise is streamlining operations through more efficient machine programming. Intuitive AI-powered interfaces can reduce operators’ learning curves, making automation more accessible to companies with limited expertise. At the same time, those systems can make the job easier and faster for more established organizations and experienced programmers.

This trend is particularly promising with hardware-agnostic solutions, which can be applied to different robots and customized according to the user’s needs. One such platform is the Artificial Motor Cortex (AMC) developed by dexman. This technology is a pre-trained visuomotor model that maps visual and tactile inputs to “teach” tasks to robots from language and demonstrations.

At Mecademic, we’re actively exploring ways to incorporate AI-driven innovations into our solutions. While these advancements are still in their early stages, our commitment to staying at the forefront of microautomation ensures that we’re well-positioned to deliver cutting-edge technologies that address the evolving needs of our customers.

Industrial automation trends: looking ahead

Automation and robotics are evolving rapidly, and 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year. By addressing common challenges, unlocking new opportunities in emerging industries, and staying ahead of AI-driven advancements, companies can position themselves for success.

As we navigate these industrial automation trends, our commitment at Mecademic remains the same: delivering innovative, high-precision, ultra-compact solutions that empower businesses to automate confidently. The journey ahead is exciting, and we’re thrilled to be part of it.

Tags MCS500, Meca500, Micro-assembly, Optics, Photonics

Blog

2024 in review: 5 reasons why Mecademic had a fantastic year

Post author By samahelfalah
Post date December 13, 2024
No Comments on 2024 in review: 5 reasons why Mecademic had a fantastic year

Mecademic's Alexandre Perusse talks to visitors at ATX Montreal 2024

2024 was a record-breaking year for Mecademic, marked by unprecedented growth and constant innovation. The milestones we achieved this year exceeded our expectations—from fruitful partnerships and events to groundbreaking product launches and entry into new markets.

Those accomplishments reflect our team’s talent and dedication and the trust of our partners and customers in our industrial robots and microautomation solutions. Join us as we celebrate the reasons why we had such an extraordinary year!

Reason #1: The events

Events and tradeshows have always been vital to our growth. There, we showcase our solutions, connect with industry leaders, engage with customers and partners, and keep us at the forefront of automation trends. This year, those events also contributed to our expansion into new markets and strengthened our visibility. Let’s see in detail how they went in 2024.

Control Automation Day

In March, we participated in Control Automation Day 2024, a virtual conference for control engineers featuring keynotes, expert sessions, and exhibitor booths. A highlight was our co-founder, Professor Ilian Bonev, delivering a keynote titled “Beyond Repeatability: Accuracy Drives the Next Generation of Robots.” He clarified the distinction between precision and accuracy and their importance in robotics.

Drawing on his expertise as Director of the Control and Robotics Laboratory at ÉTS, Bonev showcased how Mecademic’s compact robotic solutions are transforming industries like electronics, medical devices, and automotive components. Through real-world examples, he illustrated how unmatched accuracy boosts productivity, quality, and efficiency, inspiring attendees to leverage precision for innovation and operational excellence.

ATX West

Our team flew to Anaheim in February for ATX West 2024. It was a fantastic platform to showcase our innovative robots and solutions for medical devices, electronics, and photonics manufacturing. There, we presented our robots’ compact design, unmatched precision, and user-friendly interface, engineered to meet the challenges manufacturers face today.

Media highlights included an interview with Jake Hall, The Manufacturing Millennial, in which our Executive vice president, Philippe Beaulieu, discussed how our small-scale robots are revolutionizing manufacturing. EETech’s Director of Engineering also featured our robots in a profile on control.com, emphasizing their high precision and innovative design.

At ATX West, we introduced our calibration services and the black anodized Meca500-OB. With calibration, our users can enhance precision and minimize downtime to make the best of their robots. The Meca500-OB, absorbing 96.5% of visible light, improves contrast for vision systems and reduces laser reflection risks, adding value to optics and photonics tasks.

Mecademic at ATX West 2024

Automate 2024

Automate 2024, which took place in May in Chicago, was an opportunity to showcase our latest automation innovations. Attendees had an immersive experience in our booth, exploring our compact industrial robots and the Mecaportal interface. Visitors engaged with our solutions hands-on, gaining insight into their seamless integration and advanced capabilities.

One standout feature was the Haply haptic device demo, in which attendees controlled the Meca500 in a mixed-reality environment. This interactive experience captivated visitors and demonstrated the precision and versatility of our robotics. Additionally, we collaborated with Planar Motor to showcase four Meca500 robots assembling and testing cell phones, a real-world application that underscored our technological expertise. A Star Wars-themed display added a fun, creative touch, illustrating our robots’ precision in an entertaining format.

Mecademic also hosted a Breakfast Panel in partnership with Investment Quebec, the Quebec Government Office in Chicago, Vooban, and Haply. This session discussed how manufacturing synergies are driving the future of automation.

Mecademic’s Star Wars-themed demo at Automate 2024

W3+ Fair Jena

In September, it was time for Mecademic to showcase its industrial robots for the first time at W3+ Fair Jena 2024, one of Germany’s most important photonics and optics networking events. Over two days, over 200 exhibitors from 11 countries presented solutions to over 2,300 attendees.

Jena, a global hub for optics for 150 years, provided the perfect setting for Mecademic to demonstrate its Meca500-OBST robot in an optical alignment and glue dispensing application. Visitors were impressed by the robot’s capabilities, with many noting how seamlessly it aligned with their processes. The event highlighted the Meca500’s unique combination of precision, flexibility, and ease of use, cementing its value in optics and photonics.

Mecademic’s Philippe Beaulieu and Stefan John at W3+ Jena

ATX Montreal

The Mecademic team spent an incredible two days at ATX Montreal 2024 in November, filled with connections, insights, and innovation. Attendees witnessed five demos featuring the world’s most compact and precise industrial robots: the six-axis Meca500 and the MCS500 SCARA robot. Showcasing our industrial robots in our hometown was truly exciting!

Each demo highlighted our products’ unique capabilities, such as reducing footprint, accelerating shipping, and boosting accuracy and flexibility. Our impact was unmistakable throughout the event, from our popular demos to partners featuring our robots at their booths. The enthusiasm was captured by one exhibitor who noted, “Your robots are everywhere!”

The Mecademic team at ATX Montreal 2024

Reason #2: Our presence in Germany

This year, Mecademic expanded its presence to Germany, welcoming Stefan John as our Sales Representative for the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). As Europe’s largest economy and one of the world’s most innovative markets, Germany plays a vital role in our mission to become the leading global supplier of compact robotic solutions.

Establishing a physical presence in Germany is key to fostering strong partnerships while bridging the language barrier. Being geographically closer to our German and Swiss clients allows us to better understand local market trends and customer needs and gather invaluable insights to deliver tailored microautomation solutions.

By visiting companies in Germany, we can observe their processes firsthand and gain a detailed understanding of their production requirements. This on-the-ground knowledge is a top priority for us, ensuring we provide the most effective and innovative microautomation solutions for the region.

“We need to be there, on the ground, to grasp what they’re doing,” says Stefan. “And then, we need an integrator to help design a small production cell that can be connected later on to a transport system, a conveyor belt, or something similar and to tie everything together.”

Reason #3: Automation in Optics and Photonics

This year was a breakthrough for Mecademic in optics and photonics, solidifying our position as a key player in automating these processes. Traditionally, the high cost of automation has left the industry reliant on manual operations to perform optical alignment, pick-and-place, and quality control. These human-centered tasks can result in inefficiencies, low yields, and damage to delicate components, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable automation solutions.

However, Mecademic’s compact, precise, cost-effective robots drive a transformative shift. At the W3+ Fair in Jena, discussions underscored how our Meca500’s ease of use and simple installation address the industry’s unique needs, even for businesses new to automation. Moreover, as discussed before, our presence in Germany strengthens our position to deliver microautomation solutions to the country’s well-established players in optics and photonics.

Another example of our value to optics and photonics was the optical alignment automation white paper created by XVP Photonics and published by Mecademic. Based on their tests with the Meca500, XVP developed valuable results and insights that prove the potential of our six-axis robot to drive high-precision, highly flexible automation in optics and photonics tasks—not only optical alignment but also part assembly and glue dispensing.

Meca500 robot arm in an optical alignment cell

Reason #4: Our black anodized Meca500-OB

As seen above, one of this year’s standout launches at Mecademic was the Meca500-OB, a groundbreaking addition to our portfolio of compact industrial robots. Designed with a unique optical black surface treatment that absorbs up to 96.5% of light, this micro-automation robot minimizes reflections, improving safety and accuracy in sensitive manufacturing environments like optics production and AI vision systems.

Engineered to address challenges such as measurement inaccuracies caused by light reflection, the Meca500-OB enables faster production load times and enhances precision. “As the only light-absorbing 6-axis robot in its class, the Meca500-OB offers unique value, especially for automation processes highly impacted by light reflection such as optics and photonics,” said Philippe Beaulieu, EVP|CCO of Mecademic.

Mecademic’s Meca500-OBSI

Reason #5: The new Mecademic website

In 2024, we launched the new Mecademic website. Our revamped virtual home has a modern look, bold visuals, and a fresh user experience that reflects our vision and the innovation of our products. The new Mecademic website also presents new sections, including one with our white papers and another with all information regarding our newly available training programs.

As we celebrate this remarkable year, we’re excited about the opportunities ahead and renew our commitment to driving innovation in robotics and microautomation. We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in learning more about our solutions or exploring how we can support your needs. Contact us today and discover what’s possible with Mecademic by your side!

Tags MCS500, Meca500, Meca500-OBSI, Optical Alignment, Optics, Photonics

Blog Event Recaps

Mecademic at ATX Montreal 2024: Showcasing our industrial robots at home

Post author By samahelfalah
Post date November 25, 2024
No Comments on Mecademic at ATX Montreal 2024: Showcasing our industrial robots at home

The Mecademic team at ATX Montreal 2024

The Mecademic team experienced two full days of connections, exchanges, insights, and innovation at ATX Montreal 2024 on November 13-14. Presenting our cutting-edge industrial robots in our hometown was very exciting! Let’s look at the event’s highlights.

Cutting-edge technology with multiple applications

Visitors at ATX Montreal had the chance to see firsthand five demos showcasing the world’s most compact and precise industrial robots in their categories: our six-axis Meca500 and our MCS500 SCARA robot. Those demos were:

A medical device assembly application (needle insertion) with an MCS500 robot mounted upside down and two Meca500s, plus an Asyril flexible feeder and a Teledyne DALSA camera
A connector assembly application for electronics built by Declix Solutions with one Meca500
An optical alignment and dispensing application with UV curing containing two Meca500s (one with a special light-absorbing black coat, ideal for optics and photonics operations) and a Nordson EFD dispenser
A software demo where visitors could interact with our robots using the Mecaportal, our intuitive, user-friendly web interface, and a custom version of the RoboDK — a powerful simulation and offline robot programming tool.
A fun tribute to Montreal and its conspicuous orange traffic cones with our Meca500—definitely a crowd favorite! Check the video below:

Each demo highlighted unique capabilities, sparking excitement and new ideas for applications across various industries:

Limited space: Our compact robots with embedded controllers optimize floor space, fitting seamlessly into tight environments without compromising performance or precision.
High precision: Designed for complex processes, our robots deliver exceptional accuracy to meet stringent quality standards in industries like electronics, optics and photonics, and medical devices.
Efficiency and flexibility: Easy to integrate and program, our robots feature multi-directional mounting and an intuitive interface for versatile manufacturing tasks.
Fast shipping: While most manufacturers ship their robots around six months after the order, we can deliver your Mecademic industrial robot in a few weeks.

Excitement among visitors and partners

During the two days of ATX Montreal 2024, the Palais des Congrès was a site of insightful discussions and cheerful connections about robotics and automation. We were thrilled to see the local manufacturing community discussing solutions to their challenges—and also showing strong interest in our products.

Our presence was highly felt throughout the event, from our sought-after demos to partners showcasing our robots in their booths. These are the valued partners who presented our solutions:

Haply leveraged the Meca500’s precision by teleoperating it with their haptic controller

Uniro placed one Meca500 in an exciting chess game with a rival robot player

Mecademic's Meca500 at Robotech's booth at ATX Montreal 2024

Robotech integrated our Meca500 and another robot into an innovative automation cell

Electromate presented the Meca500 in a very unique pick-and-place application

As a testament to the excitement surrounding our solutions, one exhibitor remarked, “Your robots are everywhere!” We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, showcase our innovations, and further strengthen our commitment to advancing microautomation in manufacturing.

Advancing microautomation in our hometown

Our experience at ATX Montreal was exciting and inspiring. Our robots’ transformative power captivated visitors and partners, sparking insightful conversations and fruitful connections. The atmosphere at the Palais des Congrès was filled with innovation, making it the perfect set to reinforce our commitment to empowering businesses with microautomation. We’re excited to build on these connections right at home and continue driving progress in robotics.

If you visited our booth and didn’t leave your contact information or would like to discuss your specific application, contact us! Our experts are here to find the best solution for your needs.

Tags MCS500, Meca500, Meca500-OBSI, Micro-assembly, Optics, Photonics

Blog Product Releases

See the Unseen: How Mecademic’s New Meca500-OBST Robot is Changing the Game in Optics Manufacturing

Post author By alexandrucoanda
Post date May 6, 2024
No Comments on See the Unseen: How Mecademic’s New Meca500-OBST Robot is Changing the Game in Optics Manufacturing

Montreal, Monday, May 6, 2024—Mecademic, a global leader in compact robotics solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its latest innovation, the Meca500-OBST (Optical Black Surface Treatment). This micro-automation robot features a unique optical black surface treatment that absorbs up to 96.5% of light, reducing reflection and enhancing safety in sensitive manufacturing environments.

The Meca500-OBST was engineered to tackle significant challenges in optics manufacturing or AI vision systems, where light reflection can lead to measurement inaccuracies and pose safety hazards. By minimizing these reflective issues, the Meca500-OBST enables faster production load times.

“After working with beta customers to confirm the effectiveness and positive impact of this solution, we are excited to introduce the Meca500-OBST to all our customers, said Philippe Beaulieu, EVP|CCO of Mecademic. “As the only light-absorbing 6-axis robot in its class, the Meca500-OBST offers unique value, especially for automation processes highly impacted by light reflection such as optics and photonics.”

Digital Manufacturing Ireland (DMI), an organization focused on adopting high-impact technologies for manufacturers, was one of the beta testers. Tommy Brennan, Lead Machine Vision Specialist at DMI, shared, “We had an opportunity to beta-test the new black anodized 6-axis robot from Mecademic and found it positively impacted manufacturing use cases. For example, the Mecademic robot could come much closer to the product being inspected without affecting its illumination, allowing for faster load time in production.”

The Meca500-OBST is available now and will be showcased at Automate in Chicago from May 6 to 8, 2024. It will also be featured at the W3+ Fair in Jena on September 25 to 26, 2024, where attendees can witness the robot performing optical alignments and demonstrating its capabilities in real-world applications.

Discover how the Meca500-OBST can improve your production processes and ensure a safer work environment. Visit the Meca500-OBST product page to learn more about its light absorption capabilities and benefits.

Mecademic continues to lead in industrial robotics, with a strong focus on innovation and customer engagement. Last year, the company launched the MicroDASH-MCS500, the most compact and precise 4-axis robot arm in the industry, which has been recognized with an innovation award at the Robotics Summit 2024. This accolade underscores our commitment to pioneering solutions that reshape manufacturing landscapes. With the recent launch of the Meca500-OBST, Mecademic anticipates similar acclaim for its ongoing contributions to robotic technology.

About Mecademic

Mecademic designs and manufactures the world’s most compact and precise industrial robots, tailored for industries requiring utmost precision, including life sciences, medical devices, automotive and electronic components, and more. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Mecademic is dedicated to empowering automation with minimal footprint, maximizing efficiency, and transforming operations globally.

Tags Meca500-OBSI, Optical Alignment, Optics, Photonics