KUKA Robotics Corporation has announced an injection molding cell using its KUKA KR3 robot won the Gold award in its division and was named the '2007 Robot of the Year'

The cell was designed, built, programmed and entered into the competition by the robotics team at Ohio Northern University's (ONU). The KUKA robot is one of seven robots that KUKA Robotics recently announced it had provided to ONU's Robotics Technology Center of Excellence.

'We are delighted to be a part of ONU's winning cell as the National Robotics Challenge is one of the premier robotics and engineering events in the nation featuring real world categories including best manufacturing robotic work cell and robotic problem solving,' said Stuart Shepherd president of KUKA Robotics.

'The students really have something to be proud of, since last fall they had nothing but a blank sheet of paper,' said Dr Adam Stienecker, assistant professor of technological studies at Ohio Northern University.

'The award-winning entry was made possible by their hard work and the KUKA robot which served as an important building block in the project.' The award winning cell featured the KUKA KR3 robot which processed poker chips within the injection molding cell.

The KUKA KR3 is a 6 axis robot which can be mounted on the floor, a table or ceiling.

It is capable of handling up to a 3kg payload and has a reach of 635mm.

Founded in 1871, Ohio Northern University, located in West Central Ohio, is a private university offering a diverse, dynamic and unique learning community, with rigorous professional programs in partnership with the arts and the sciences.

Its 3,500 students study for graduate and undergraduate degrees in five colleges: Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Business Administration, Pharmacy, and Law.

Ohio Northern takes pride in being a student-centered, service-oriented, values-based institution.

It is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

KUKA Robotics Corporation, with its parent company KUKA Roboter , Augsburg, Germany, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of industrial robots, with an annual production volume approaching 10,000 units, and an installed base of over 75,000 units.

The company's 5 and 6 axis robots range from 3kg to 570kg payloads, and 635mm to 3700mm reach, all controlled from a common PC based controller platform.

KUKA robots are utilized in a diverse range of industries including the appliance, automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, logistics, food, pharmaceutical, medical, foundry and plastics industries and in multiple applications including material handling, machine loading, assembly, packaging, palletizing, welding, bending, joining, and surface finishing.