Product category:
Automatic and robotic welding systems
News Release from: ICS Robotics and Automation | Subject: Turnkey robotic arc welding cell
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 29 September 2004
Turnkey robotic cell solves skilled
welder problem
A turnkey robotic arc welding cell and component fixturing have resulted in increased efficiency and quality whilst at the same time has overcome the ongoing problem of recruiting skilled welders.
A turnkey robotic arc welding cell and component fixturing supplied by ICS Robotics and Automation has recently been installed at Salmor Industries based in Banbridge, Northern Ireland This robot installation has resulted in increased efficiency and quality whilst at the same time has overcome the ongoing problem of recruiting skilled welders
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 17 Jan 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Salmor Industries are a leading manufacturer of engineering products for telecoms markets throughout Europe.
The company was established in Northern Ireland during 1982, to manufacture concrete-filled manhole covers for BT.
During the intervening years the company's record of quality and service resulted in rapid growth in business and since 1994 Salmor has supplied 100% of BT's footway frame and cover requirements nationwide.
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During recent years the company has developed new products for both new and existing markets and service sectors such as Gas, Electricity, Water and Roads are all now key customers.
One problem, which is often evident in such successful, growing companies, is a skills shortage and in this case it was skilled welders.
Salmor have addressed the problem by automating their welding process with the installation of a two station robotic welding cell.
The unique robot cell design is based around the use of a single Panasonic VR-006L robot with two flat fixture mounting tables arranged in an internal 'V' configuration on the same side of the cell allowing for easier operator access.
The robot cell design allows both access frames and covers to be welded at the same time and then stacked together at the end of the cycle thus saving a material handling operation.
The fixturing is fully adjustable to cope with all high volume sizes of frames and covers which alleviates the need for changing fixturing between batch runs.
60% of the welding of frames and covers is now automated by the robot system.
The system has replaced two skilled welders, a further man due to the manual stacking operation which has been removed and a 4th man because improved quality has eradicated the need for a grinding operation after welding.
Salmor have the proof that their decision to automate their welding process was the right one as was their choice of robotics integrator.
Salmor's Works Manager, Derek Williamson, comments, "From initial stages of the project, ICS's approach has been excellent.
The professionalism and experience shown during tendering, build and training was obvious and led to the smooth and punctual installation of the robot cell." The cost of standard robotic welding systems have fallen dramatically over the last few years with most robot manufacturers and robot integrators offering a range of well engineered, cost effective robot welding solutions to suit most straightforward applications.
ICS are no exception to this and can offer a range of standard robot cells at competitive prices to suit most needs.
But where ICS really excel is in their ability to use their engineering expertise to offer full turnkey robotic automation solutions for the less straightforward applications from a single source.
Salmor Industries are the latest of a long list of customers who have benefited from 15 years experience of supplying flexible industrial automation solutions to improve customer's productivity and reduce production costs.
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