Automation Brings Radical Change
With 74 years of continuous hanger production under its belt,
infusing robotic automation into M&B’s well-worn manufacturing process posed a unique challenge. Harnessing the automation expertise of Fitz-Thors Engineering, solutions were devised to blend the precise abilities of seven
KUKA robots with the decidedly old-school quirks of M&B’s wire hanger forming machines. The result is a factory that seamlessly blends proven production techniques with the kind of
speed and precision only cutting-edge robotics can deliver.
Robots: Better, Faster, Stronger
Whereas humans previously oversaw material handling and picking/packing duties, an industrious team of four KUKA
KR AGILUS sixx robots and two KR QUANTEC pro robots now does the work of heavy lifting and packing using a
vision-based system to quickly collect, inspect, and sort hangers. Further downstream, a hearty KUKA
KR QUANTEC PA robot now
manages palletizing responsibilities, saving factory staff from difficult, potentially hazardous physical labor.
A Big Step Toward a Brighter Future
Through clever use of robotic automation, M&B Hangers has enjoyed faster production times, improved packing accuracy, and reduced waste versus the old manual process. Those giant leaps in efficiency have allowed the company to remain competitive on the global stage, expand their business, hire more workers, and keep production at their existing factory in Alabama, USA. Given such monumental gains, it’s a fair bet the seven KUKA robots currently boosting production for M&B Hangers won’t be company’s last.
KUKA’s innovative robotic solutions help this family-run factory conquer fierce global competition.
