In modern industry, robotization has become a major driver of productivity, but it also comes with environmental constraints that can sometimes be extreme and put equipment under significant strain. It is in this context that protective covers for robots prove their full value, helping extend the lifespan of installations while securing industrial processes. We spoke with Paul Gautier, technical sales representative at ASP, a French company with 38 years of experience. They were showcasing their new cover at Global Industrie.
ASP develops protective covers for nearly all types of industrial robots. While six-axis robots are at the core of the company’s expertise, other configurations such as SCARA or four-axis robots are also covered.
Forging And Foundry: Withstanding Heat And Abrasion
In the most hostile environments, such as forging and foundry operations, robot covers play a critical role. They must withstand extreme temperatures, sparks, and abrasion. ASP has developed technical textiles based on aramid fibers. The latest evolution, the Typhon 25—a gold-colored fabric that covered a KUKA robot on the company’s booth—illustrates this performance requirement, as Paul Gautier explains:
“It’s a fabric that withstands high temperatures. We are now on the sixth evolution, and we have reinforced resistance, particularly at fold points, to prevent tearing.”
This cover is specifically designed for the forging and foundry sector.
Food Industry: Strict Sanitary Constraints
However, constraints are not only thermal. In the food industry, requirements are primarily sanitary. Covers must comply with strict standards and prevent any contamination.
“The textiles we use for the food industry are certified,” Paul Gautier recalls, referring to existing regulations.
The design of the covers evolves accordingly, with complex technical systems when robots handle unpackaged products. In such cases, pressurization systems are implemented to prevent external contamination.
Even color selection follows a functional logic:
“We mainly use blue […] because blue is not found in food.”
This makes it easier to detect any foreign elements.
From Automotive To Aerospace
Historically rooted in the automotive sector, ASP first protected painting and welding robots before expanding into many other industries. Aerospace, for instance, involves specific constraints related to sandblasting or shot blasting processes, requiring fully sealed solutions. Machining also generates projections and contaminants that must be contained. More recently, the company has begun addressing needs from the defense sector, with highly specific requests that go beyond robotics—without disclosing further details.
From Humidity To Extreme Climate Conditions
The ability of covers to protect against a wide range of aggressions is another key factor in their usefulness. Water, humidity, dust, electrostatic discharge, sand, and saline air are among the common challenges. The latter is particularly critical:
“Saline air […] tends to make robots rust quite quickly,” emphasizes Paul Gautier.
In some extreme cases, covers can fully isolate the robot from its environment by regulating temperature and humidity.
“We are able to heat the robot, cool it down, and remove humidity,” he explains, referring to applications ranging from -40°C to over 90°C.
French Expertise Expanding Internationally
While Europe remains ASP’s primary market today, the company is increasingly looking abroad, particularly to Asia, and notably China where the density of industrial robots is especially high. In these regions, the strategy is to offer robust yet easy-to-install solutions in order to avoid implementation issues.
At the same time, ASP clearly positions itself in favor of made in France.
“We have European pricing, and we stand by it […] because we are convinced of our product’s performance,” says Paul Gautier, highlighting expertise and quality as key differentiators.
