Tuesday, September 9, 2025
The surface finishing industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the increasing demand for greater efficiency, quality, and workplace safety. While automated solutions for sanding and polishing have become commonplace in large-scale manufacturing, many businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), continue to rely on manual processes. These tasks are often time-consuming, physically demanding, and, in some cases, hazardous. Addressing this industry-wide gap, Mirka, a global leader in abrasives and sanding tools, is making a strategic move by joining the ABB Robotics Ecosystem. This new partnership is a powerful collaboration aimed at making advanced surface finishing automation more accessible and easier to implement for a wider range of customers and system integrators.
For years, Mirka‘s robotic sanding and polishing tools have been a familiar sight in factories across Europe and beyond. The company has developed a reputation for creating high-performance, compact tools specifically designed for robotic applications, such as the Mirka® AIROS series. These tools, known for their precision and durability, have been successfully integrated into various robotic cells to achieve flawless, consistent finishes on a wide array of surfaces.
However, the challenge has often been bridging the gap between innovative tools and their seamless integration into a customer’s existing production line. This is where the ABB Robotics Ecosystem, launched in 2023, comes into play. The program’s core mission is to simplify automation through collaboration with third-party partners. By developing pre-engineered, “plug-and-play” solutions, the ecosystem aims to lower the barriers to entry for companies new to automation. This is particularly beneficial for SMEs that may lack the internal resources or specialised knowledge to design and implement complex robotic systems from scratch.
“There is enormous potential for companies in various industries to streamline their surface finishing processes through automation,” says Stefan Sjöberg, CEO of Mirka. “We know this because we have already seen the results in factories all over the world.”
The partnership allows Mirka to leverage its extensive expertise in sanding and polishing applications, combining it with ABB’s robust and comprehensive automation portfolio. This includes ABB’s industrial and collaborative robots (cobots), advanced software platforms like RobotStudio™ for offline programming, and the OmniCore™ control system. By working together, Mirka and ABB can develop and deliver tailored solutions that are not only technologically advanced but also flexible and easy to deploy.
Evald Lassus, business sector manager at Mirka, highlights the synergy of the collaboration. “Mirka has been developing surface finishing solutions for over eighty years, and ABB – and its predecessor, Asea Brown Boveri – has been a pioneer in automation since the 1970s. Together, we bring a wealth of experience. This new collaboration expands our ability to develop and deliver leading solutions in automated surface finishing to both existing and future customers.”
The benefits of this collaboration for the end-user are multifaceted. With the assistance of automating surface finishing tasks, companies can achieve remarkable improvements in quality consistency. Robots can execute repetitive motions with pinpoint accuracy, eliminating human error and ensuring every product meets strict quality standards. This leads to a reduction in rework, which in turn saves both time and materials. Furthermore, the automation of these processes can significantly enhance workplace safety by removing workers from environments with hazardous dust, chemicals, or strenuous physical demands.
This partnership is a clear example of how major industry players are working together to democratise technology. Mirka and ABB are providing integrated, ready-to-use solutions to make sophisticated automation accessible to a broader market. This will not only drive greater efficiency and profitability for individual businesses but also contribute to the overall advancement of the surface finishing industry, ensuring it remains competitive and innovative in a rapidly changing global economy.
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Tags: ABB Robotics Ecosystem, Automation, Industrial Automation, Mirka, robotic sanding, surface finishing
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