25th anniversary for Kautex Unipart

One of the UK’s longest-established joint ventures is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Kautex Unipart Ltd (KUL), a joint venture between Unipart Group and German partner Kautex Textron GmbH, has now produced 12.3million plastic fuel tanks at its state-of-the-art production line in Coventry. Fuel tanks have been manufactured for 19 different vehicle models since 1998, with £50m invested in the latest robotic cells, finishing stations and traceability technologies.

A celebration event was held to celebrate the 25th birthday, with all 122 employees at KUL praised for their commitment.They heard from management teams at both businesses about key achievements, which included the way the company supports STEM and the next generation of engineers, and how it has successfully embedded Industry 4.0 best practice across its 11,000 sq m site.

For further information www.unipart.com

SolidWorks co-founder invests in Flexxbotics

Flexxbotics, which delivers work-cell digitalisation for robot-driven manufacturing, is announcing investment and mentorship from industry luminary Scott Harris, co-founder of SolidWorks and Onshape. “Flexxbotics is at the forefront of a transformative movement in manufacturing, where robotics and digitalisation play a pivotal role in creating smarter, more efficient production environments,” says Harris.“Their capability to adapt robot performance on-the-fly in response to feedback is unique. I’m excited to contribute to their mission of redefining how robots and industrial machines work together in manufacturing.”

For further information www.flexxbotics.com

DLM opens machine shop

Dynamic Load Monitoring (DLM) of Southampton has opened a machine shop in collaboration with sister company, Vulcan Offshore.Having taken a new lease on two buildings already fitted out as a machine shop in Vancouver Wharf, Southampton, each company will occupy an adjacent unit. A state-of-the-art suite of machining and milling equipment will give DLM full control of its manufacturing processes, reducing lead times.

DLM’s new CNC machine shop will include two Doosan Puma lathes, a Haas lathe and a Haas mill. The lathe, for example, can machine load pins to 200mm diameter and over 1m in length.Supporting the machine shop will be a dedicated team of five professionals, including a workshop manager appointedjointly by DLM and Vulcan. The team will be responsible for processes such as quotation, machining, gauging, documentation and shipment.

For further information www.dlm-uk.com

THE EVOLUTION OF ROBOT SYSTEM INTEGRATORS: BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP

System integrators serve as a valuable link between robot suppliers and automation endusers. Usually specialising in one particular sector, system integrators provide industry-specific automation advice to help companies improve their efficiency, as well as building standard or bespoke automation systems that allow manufacturers to benefit from the latest robotic technology. They also offer a direct route-to-market for robot suppliers who may otherwise struggle to penetrate particular niche sectors.

Robot manufacturer FANUC works with system integrators across sectors as diverse as food and beverage, aerospace, medical, welding, plastics, and high-value manufacturing. Some of these partnerships are more than a decade old, a time period that has seen the skills required to be a successful integrator evolve.

Since the introduction of the IIoT (industrial internet of things), many of today’s factories are smart and connected, 24/7. Integrating a robot into an existing line therefore requires more than mechanical capabilities; today’s system integrators must also possess a high level of programming and other software skills to ensure that factory managers are able to receive a constant flow of data. Data not only enhances manufacturing operations, it provides transparency and supports reporting activities.

Dan Fisher is the partner sales manager for FANUC UK and reports seeingevolution accelerate over the past few years: “Factory managers now expect instant information on a product’s position in the manufacturing lifecycle, particularly if they are dealing with perishable goods. FANUC’s robots are known for being simple to install, easy to program and user-friendly. However, integrating a robot into what is in effect a mini warehouse management system is nevertheless a crucial skill for a system integrator. This task includes being proficient across multiple programming languages. While lots of engineers are software savvy, some lack traditional mechanical skills that are still essential to a successful automation installation, such as welding, guarding and fabricating. For this reason, we ensure that any FANUC system integrator not only demonstrates strong programming abilities but has support from a network of mechanical engineers.”

The majority of automation system integrators are independent service providers, meaning they can specify robots from a variety of manufacturers. Deciding upon an automation partner is an important choice that can make or break a project, as Gary Probert, director of Hi Tech Automation, explains: “We deliver standard and bespoke automated injection moulding systems for the plastics sector and have been a FANUC system integrator partner for over 15 years, most commonly specifying their ROBOSHOT all-electric injection moulding machine.”

He adds: “Reliability is key.When dealing with a new customer, it’s important that the first installation goes well as that sets the tone for the rest of the relationship. Using FANUC products means we can be sure the project will be right first time. Their equipment is built to last, with an eight-year mean time between failures. They’re also one of the only robot companies that manufactures every componentthemselves: motors, drives, everything. It reflects badly on us if a system breaks down so knowing the base robot is rock solid is a real advantage. In addition, as 90% of the systems we sell feature something extra, such as integrated vision or auxiliary axes, it helps that we’re able to get it all from FANUC. There’s no need to approach another supplier, which keeps things simple and reduces risk for the client.”

As Probert mentions, for the customer, working with a system integrator is a sure-fire way to de-risk an automation installation project. Responsibility lies with one system integrator, rather a number of external suppliers. Moreover, system integrators bring with them sector-specific knowledge and expertise that individual robot suppliers may not possess.

This view is echoed by Fisher, who states: “For the customer, working with a system integrator that only operates within their chosen sector is a real bonus. They will understand the challenges you’re looking to overcome, the pitfalls you want to avoid, and the advantages you expect to make from your automation installation. From FANUC’s perspective, while we’re the expert in our own range of products, we may not know everything about each sector in which our robots are employed. To ensure the customer gets the right solution, at the right price, and that it works as intended for their particular application, dealing with a system integrator with specialist sector knowledge is a fast-track to success.”

This premise works both ways, however. To ensure the customer gets the very best from their automation solution, it is imperative that the system integrator understands the full capabilities of any robot, machine or ancillary equipment they specify. FANUC treats its system integrator partners as extensions of its in-house sales teams and provides training for up to 30 employees throughout the year. As well as ensuring they receive comprehensive training on FANUC’s entire product portfolio, specialist courses in evolving areas such as vision, safety and simulation are also available.

This kind of support is invaluable to system integrators if they are to keep offering a quality service to their customers. Darryl Keel is the technical sales engineer (EU and Americas) for Alphr Technology, a supplier of high-end automation solutions to customers in the electronics, automotive, medical, defence, HVAC and aerospace industries.

Keel explains the importance of FANUC’s support to the automation systems Alphr delivers to clients:“We’ve been a FANUC system integrator for one year, purchasing 30 robots from them in that time. Their product range is excellent, but the quality of their training and support was what really sealed the deal. We’ve sent our staff on a number of FANUC courses, including ROBOGUIDE simulation training for designers, which was first class. We also appreciate their global support network. As our customers are based all over the world, we need a robot manufacturer that can supply and support us globally.”

FANUC’s support extends beyond training to offer a complete wrap-around service.

“We have dedicated engineering support and software support teams, and a specialist integrator hotline which puts our system integrators through to FANUC technical experts within seconds,” says Fisher. “While the reliability of our products is obviously important, the real difference to a system integrator is knowing that technical knowledge and support is availablewhenever and wherever needed. In fact, we’ve won multiple system integrator accounts due to the quality of our support. When we work with a system integrator, we’re building a long-term relationship.”

Alongside first-class training, global support, product reliability and ease of use, there is another factor that system integrators look for in a robot partner. For Loop Technology, which delivers automation systems for aerospace, automotive and defence manufacturers, the differentiating factor is robot accuracy.

“In terms of performance, FANUC offers more than most robot suppliers,” says Adam White, Loop’s technical sales engineer. “Our RoboMACH HA system uses FANUC’s M-800 robot, which offers outstanding path accuracy, even for high speeds and tight curves. Our customers use it for trimming composites in automotive and aerospace applications, where standard robots are simply not accurate enough. Our work is innovative and we pride ourselves on pushing boundaries. Whether we’re creating a standard or a bespoke solution, our robot partner is a crucial part of the chain.”

For further information www.fanuc.eu

Comparing a cold saw to a chop saw 

Although sometimes (and erroneously) used interchangeably, coldsaws and chop saws are two distinct tools that work in different ways. Dimakin provides a guide to their differences and examines their capabilities.

A cold saw offers precision and efficiency. Unlike some saws, it operates at lower speeds, producing minimal heat during cutting. This characteristic sets it apart from its counterpart, the chop saw.

Coldsaws house a high-torque, low-speedmotor and a circular blade. The blades featurehigh-speed steel (HSS) or sometimes carbide teeth, designed for durability and clean, burr-free cuts. Coldsaws typically have adjustable cutting angles, called a mitre, which allow for versatile cutting, making them suitable for both straight and angled cuts. Some models, including all Dimakin models, also feature built-in coolant systems to keep the blade and workpiece cool during operation.

In contrast to coldsaws, chop saws operate at higher speeds and generate more heat during cutting. They are commonly used for rougher cuts in materials like wood, plastic and metal.

The primary distinction between a coldsaw and a chop saw lies in their cutting method. As mentioned, coldsaws use toothed, high-quality blades and low speed to cut materials. However, chop saws employ abrasive discs that effectively grind through material at high speed. This fundamental difference leads to variations in both performance and application.

When selecting a cold saw, Dimakin recommends considering factors such as blade type, cutting capacity and durability.Investing in a high-quality coldsaw that suits a company’s specific needs can greatly enhance cutting efficiency and precision.

For further information www.dimakin.co.uk