Robotics solution for automated production of personalized cosmetic products Beautiful skin thanks to "Balthazar"

The Slovenian startup "AlpStories" has recently been pursuing a successful business model: the company produces cosmetics and wellness products tailored to individual customer wishes. A Yaskawa Motoman CSDA10F industrial robot, developed for laboratory environments, is used in the process. (Source: AlpStories)

The Slovenian startup "AlpStories" has recently been pursuing a successful business model: the company produces cosmetics and wellness products tailored to individual customer wishes – starting from batch size 1. To enable this, an industrial robot developed for laboratory environments is used: the Motoman CSDA10F from Yaskawa.

"We enable people to assemble their own natural cosmetics, completely matching their taste and needs," summarizes Simon Jereb, Research & Technology Director of AlpStories. The young company is guided by the core principles of personalization, creativity, and simplicity. At AlpStories, customers can first determine the desired base product via the company's website. Then, they choose the packaging size and the appropriate skin type. Based on this, the customer receives product suggestions, which they can change at any time and as often as they like.

Dual-Arm Robot Motoman CSDA10F

Such individualization of automated manufactured products was previously hindered by high labor costs. Modern robots now allow different product variations to be integrated into the normal manufacturing process without leading to decreasing economies of scale. The dual-arm robot Motoman CSDA10F used at AlpStories was originally developed for laboratory use. Thanks to multifunctional tools and grippers, it is extremely versatile: it can quickly and easily learn entirely new workflows.

The Motoman CSDA10F employed at AlpStories even has its own personality. It is named "Balthazar" and is equipped – as a special design solution – with a charming smile, which customers can see for themselves after the completion of the manufacturing process via an online livestream. Additionally, each product is delivered with a personal video showing its production.

Automated Production of Individual Products: Industry 4.0

Changed customer wishes and new technological possibilities are making the implementation of "mass customization" concepts increasingly interesting in many areas. Especially in Industry 4.0, it is gaining even more importance than before. Implementing complex products from batch size 1 and small series, however, poses a huge challenge for automation processes. The production line must be highly flexible to change layout and functionality for a new product. As the example of AlpStories shows, this is made possible through the use of modern dual-arm robots.