Why suddenly everyone deals with cobots in the craft and middle class? What is Cobots4you and how does it help?

Smart solutions for empty workshops: Cobots in response to personnel bottlenecks

The times when robots were only found in large industrial halls are long gone. Collaborative robots, or cobots for short, also conquer small and medium -sized companies as well as craft businesses. But why now? The answer lies in a combination of technological advances and economic pressure.

The shortage of skilled workers in German craft has accepted dramatic proportions. Between July 2023 and June 2024, around 226,000 open positions remained vacant. Areas such as the construction electrical system with 18,300 open spots and the vehicle technology are particularly affected with 16,300 missing specialists. The numbers speak a clear language: every second place in the craft remains vacant.

At the same time, the prices for cobots fell drastically. Modern cobots are available from around 3,000 euros and often pay for themselves within 12 to 18 months. These low investment costs combined with simple, mostly code -free programming and safe, fenceless operation make it interesting for companies of all size.

Suitable for:

• From vision to reality: people and robots in a team – why Cobots shape the future of automation and production

What exactly is Cobots4you?

Cobots4you is a free Conference Expo series that makes collaborative robots tangible for small and medium-sized companies as well as craft businesses. The event is organized by the Vogel Communications Group in cooperation with universities, chambers and associations and combines three elements: conference, exhibition and networking.

The series of events takes place at various German locations and offers a unique mix of live demos, manufacturer-independent advice and practical workshops. It is particularly noteworthy that it is a unique event that is unique in Germany on the subject of cobots, which is specially tailored to the needs of smaller companies.

The next dates and locations

On October 21, 2025, an important event will take place in the Vogel Convention Center in Würzburg, which is aimed at craftsmen, SME representatives, specialists and robotics enthusiasts. The event offers Early-Bird discounts for exhibitors and special cobot laboratory workshops. A special aspect of this event is that all offers are accessible free of charge, which makes it very attractive for a broad target group. The event promises to offer interesting insights and possibilities in the area of robotics and automation.

How is Cobots4you's program set up?

Conference program in the morning

The centerpiece forms a structured lecture program with expert lectures on various focus:

• Economic and ROI calculation: How does a cobot really pay for itself?
• Security and norms: Current requirements according to EN ISO 10218: 2025 and EU machine regulation
• Low code/no-code programming: How to use robots without programming knowledge

Live expo in the afternoon

The exhibition area offers visitors the opportunity to compare over 20 different cobot manufacturers and integrators directly. Here live applications from different areas are demonstrated:

• Welding technology for metal construction companies
• Polishing and grinding applications
• Machine folding and pick-and-place tasks
• Assembly and handling

Hands-on workshops

A special highlight are the practical workshops in which visitors can lend a hand themselves. The Technical University of Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) and the Mittelstand-Digital center show how a robot can be done within minutes. This teaching method makes it possible to program cobots by simply handling.

Advice and support check

The chambers present provide information on site about funding opportunities such as the digital bonus, federal and state programs. This is particularly valuable because many companies do not know which financial support are available.

What specific benefits do SMEs and craftsmen from Cobots4you?

Knowledge transfer without sales pressure

Cobots4you offers manufacturer -independent advice, which is rare in the robotics industry. Visitors receive objective information and can compare different solutions without sales pressure. The compact overview of standards, ROI calculation and integration steps saves companies weeks of research.

Technology selection on site

Instead of arranging tedious individual appointments with various providers, companies can compare more than 20 manufacturers and integrators in one day. This makes decision making significantly easier and saves time and travel expenses.

Practical business models

The event presents innovative approaches such as temporary cobot leasing and pay-per-us models. Such flexible financing options also make robotics accessible to smaller companies with limited capital.

Skills binding through discharge

Cobots take on monotonous, ergonomically stressful work such as welding, grinding, lifting and overhead work. This makes jobs more attractive and helps with the binding of qualified employees.

Are there already successful practical examples?

Metallbau Schiffler: out of 200 welding points at the time

Metallbau Schiffler programmed a sweat cobot for wire frames on the Expo, thereby reducing 200 manual welding points per part to the set-up time. This impressively shows how quickly concrete improvements can be achieved.

Köhler MFE: two full -time positions automated

Köhler MFE automated thanks to a system to know Cobots4you, the thin sheet welding and thus closed a skilled skilled work of two full -time positions. Particularly noteworthy: the system has not only been implemented, but also compensates for permanent missing workers.

Resch mechanical engineering: 40 projects in eight months

After the introduction of a lorch welding cobot, Resch Mechanical engineering was already able to broadcast 40 projects to the cobot colleague. The flexibility of the system made it possible to automate a wide variety of weld tasks, from individual parts to series.

How does the path go from a visit to the trade fair to your own cobot?

1. Process screening in advance

Before the trade fair visit, companies should identify activities that have more than 100 repetitions per layer. These repetitive tasks are ideal for automation.

2. Live test on the Expo

Visitors can gain direct experiences with hand guiding and gripping changes. These practical tests help to evaluate the suitability of different systems for your own requirements.

3. Use ROI workshop

The three-scenarios calculation with an investment and term is carried out directly on site. Tools such as Omron's ROI computer help to determine the duration of the amortization and the ROI percentage.

4. Toast application application

Digital bonus and go-digital applications can still be initiated during the event. The chamber employees present support the application.

5. Realize the pilot cell

The implementation takes place with regional integrators and know-how is secured by training. This approach ensures that support is also available after installation.

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What are the support and further training courses?

Financial support

The Digital Bonus Bavaria offers up to 50% subsidy for robotics investments. In the standard variant, up to 7,500 euros are possible, in the plus variant even up to 30,000 euros in funding. Other federal states have launched similar programs.

Training offers

The Mittelstand-Digital Center Handwerk offers a free training series "My first cobot". In addition, there is the two-day online seminar "Simply automate with cobots – entry for SMEs and craft businesses".

Practical training centers

The Dresden Chamber of Crafts has set up a “test field” with various demonstrators, where companies can try out collaborative robot arms, welding cells and exoskeletons. Similar institutions are created throughout Germany.

Why is the programming of Cobots so easy today?

NO code and low code programming

Modern cobots use graphic, drag-and-drop-based programming approaches. ABB's Wizard Easy Programming enables cobots to program within minutes – a task that previously required a week of training and another week of development work.

Suitable for:

• Innovative solutions with low code ecosystems and robotics for the electrical and logistics industry – a shortage of skilled workers? Was yesterday!

Teaching by handheld

Cobots are "programmed" with the hands by moving the robot arm to different locations and positions. These positions are saved and can then be used automatically. At the same time, actions are selected from a predefined drag & drop kit.

Prefabricated building blocks

Instead of writing complex code, users work with prefabricated building blocks that are inserted and chained using drag-and-drop. These building blocks cover typical robot tasks such as moving, gripping, waiting or sending signals.

What security aspects must be observed?

Current norms and regulations

2025 brings a number of significant regulatory innovations:

• New robotic standard EN ISO 10218: 2025: Focus and effects on planning and integration
• Updated EN ISO 13849-1: Changes in the implementation of functional security
• New EU Machinery Ordinance (EU 2023/1230): Requirements for CE marking from 20.01.2027

Four protective principles of the MRK

The standards EN ISO 10218 define four basic protective principles of human-robot collaboration:

1. Safety -oriented monitored hold
2. Manual
3. Speed and separation monitoring
4. Performance and force limitation

Risk assessment required

Like any other machine, robots may never be used without hazard assessment. Operators must consider both the intended use and the predictable misuse.

Why is welding so important for cobots in the craft?

Dramatic shortage of skilled workers

A study by the competence center of skilled workers showed that the welding and connection technology already recorded a job overhang rate of over 40 percent. The baby boomer generation gradually says goodbye to retirement, while fewer and fewer young people learn this physically demanding profession.

Automation as a solution

Welding is one of the most common applications for industrial robots. Cobots now also make this technology accessible to smaller companies. Cobot welding is very precise, which set clean seams and the post-processing is immensely reduced.

Quick success possible

With Metallbau Striegel, the welding time compared to the man's welding from 33 minutes could be reduced to 14 minutes. At the same time, the weld seams were characterized by a clean and homogeneous seam look.

Suitable for:

• From welding to logistics: where cobots (collaborative robots) 2025 become indispensable – labor shortage & increase in efficiency

What role does the Technical University of Würzburg-Schweinfurt play?

Center for robotics (ceri)

The THWS is currently building the “Center Robotics” (Ceri) in Schweinfurt, whose completion is planned for 2026. The center will include lecture halls, laboratories and offices on an area of several thousand square meters and combine research, teaching and technology transfer under one roof.

A unique course of Germany throughout Germany

The THWS offers a unique bachelor's degree in Robotics throughout Germany, which provides practical, interdisciplinary training in computer science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. The course is also offered as a twin course in English.

Research and practice

Prof. Dr. Tobias Kaupp, head of the center, regularly gives lectures at Cobots4you on topics such as "Mixed Reality in the MRK" and "New Approaches for Safe MRK". The university thus actively contributes to the transfer of knowledge between research and practice.

What makes Cobots4you so unique?

Democratization of robotics

Cobots4you contributes to the "democratization of robotics", as Patrick Schwarzkopf from the VDMA calls it. NO code robotics enables users to operate or even program robots without special knowledge.

Free access

In contrast to commercial trade fairs, Cobots4you is completely free of charge. This significantly lowers the inhibition threshold for smaller companies and also enables craftsmen with a limited budget access to the latest robotics technology.

Manufacturer -independent advice

The neutral, manufacturer -independent advice is exceptional in the robotics industry. Visitors receive objective information and can make sound decisions without being exposed to sales pressure.

Regional closeness

With locations in Würzburg and Bochum, Cobots4you covers important economic regions and enables quick journey to travel to many robot potential and solution providers.

Why Cobots4you the robotic future for SMEs and craft paves

Cobots4you radically lowers the entry barriers: no ticket costs, manufacturer -independent advice, practical demos and direct funding paths. Anyone who struggles in SMEs or craft with a shortage of skilled workers, quality pressure or ergonomic stress will receive the necessary start -up aid here – in a few hours and without previous knowledge.

The event makes collaborative robotics from the future vision to the realistic competitive factor for companies of all sizes. With the combination of practical demos, well -founded advice and direct funding opportunities, Cobots4you creates a unique platform for starting the robotics.

The global cobot market grows by more than 20 percent annually and has already exceeded the billion dollar brand. Germany must not lose connection with this development – and Cobots4you ensures that small and medium -sized companies can also benefit from this trend.

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☑️ Pioneer Business Development

Konrad Wolfenstein

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