Valk Welding: Realised projects

Linido B.V. Pijnacker

Handling robot ensures flexible production at Linido

Linido B.V. from Pijnacker (NL), manufacturer of sanitary appliances for elderly and disabled persons, has replaced its inflexible automation system for the production of tube products and installed a flexible automation solution with integrated handling robot. Result: a strong increase of production capacity and numerous additional possibilities due to the handling robot's large freedom of movement.

“Our previous production system contained a bending machine with inflexible handling system to feed and discharge the products", explains Hans van der Vliet, R&D Manager of Linido. “Due to this inflexible feeding and discharging, the production process was limited, laborous and time-consuming. That is why we wanted a flexible solution to automate several operations with less manpower. We found the solution in the employment of a handling robot, to operate both the bending machine and the punch unit”.

Minimum of manpower required
The Linido products, such as wall brackets and shower chairs, largely consist of (welded) tube material. First, this material is cut to the right length, then deburred at the ends, after which pulse air is used to remove the saw dust, finally the outside is being brushed. Then, the preprocessed pieces are placed in the feed unit of the bending machine in bundles of 250 pieces (maximum capacity of 750 pieces). Subsequently, the weld of each piece is detected, and the robot is able to position each piece in precisely the same way in the bending machine, thus limiting any difference in end product tolerance to a minimum. A double gripper enables the robot to remove a bent product and immediately position a new product. Depending on the component, the robot will guide the product along a punch unit, after which the finished product is put in a bin and the cycle can be started all over again.

Hans van der Vliet; “The complete cell can be operated with a minimum of manpower. In the morning, the feed unit is being filled and after a test run, the system can operate completely unmanned. Sensors measure the product tolerances, and in case of too large deviations, production will be stopped automatically. The operator who is operating several bending machines will receive a message on his mobile telephone. The robot has almost the same output as for manual operation, but in this way the production capacity of each collaborator can be increased, resulting in important savings considering the current hourly tariffs. Before going home, we sometimes fill up the system, in order to continue unmanned production for some time. With this overcapacity, we are able to handle production peaks in the evenings and weekends. Shortly, we will start to produce several products with this system. This has been taken into account when designing the system. The punch unit for example can easily be changed thanks to fixed reference points, where another processing unit can easily be added”.

Future
Although some time was needed to start-up the project, the system is now running to everyone's satisfaction. “We have been working together with Valk Welding since 1991 for welding techniques. The positive experience with the welding robot, the perfect support and short communication lines were all strong points that convinced us to further collaborate for this project”.

The future looks very good for Linido. Van der Vliet: “In the Netherlands, we are market leader with our products and we are the only remaining Dutch manufacturer. The products are being exported to various countries in Europe, the US, Canada and even Japan. Furthermore, we are making strong efforts to expand our dealer network in all of Europe. The appliances market is increasingly growing and thanks to our marketing efforts, our products will become better known. By investing in such a production system, we will be ready for the future and any competition”.