Automated deburring with a KUKA Agilus robot
The KUKA Agilus robot was successfully installed by Manders Automation at aluminium specialist ALUMERO FINEX Extrusions. The robot can work at different speed levels and from different defined angles and starting points. At FINEX the Agilus robot ensures that every product is deburred just as precisely and accurately and this at a considerable speed.
ALUMERO FINEX: quality over quantity
The family business ALUMERO FINEX Extrusions B.V. from Helmond is part of the Austrian Alumero Group. With more than 25 years of experience Alumero is a specialist in the aluminium market. FINEX focuses on specific aluminium precision of microprofiles with minimal tolerances and thin wall thicknesses. At FINEX, they do not believe in standard solutions for each customer, but they prefer to work with short lines and do not use minimum order quantities. Each customer has its own requirements and therefore tailor-made solutions are worked out for and, above all, together with the customer. For FINEX, quality and service are far more important than quantity. The market in which FINEX specialises cannot be defined easily. The parent company currently divides its activities into the categories Solar, Living, Industry, Bautec and Extrusion. For each category, the priority is to handle the concerns of Alumero Group's customers, from the first idea until the final product. FINEX has the same objective.
One of FINEX's customers is Secrid, a Dutch company that focuses on pocketware and develops distinctive cardholders and wallets. This company has a decorative product with a unique Dutch-Made, A-Product market positioning and a strongly cohesive supply chain. For Secrid it is extremely important that the aluminium end profiles are completely measured, unique and high-quality deburred. The demand for pocket ware is increasing and as this is an A-brand, maintaining the quality is extremely important, regardless of the volume. In order to guarantee the same high quality at a higher volume, FINEX had to automate its production.
Flexible automation solution thanks to KUKA AGILUS robot
At FINEX it was decided to have a specialized sawing machine and subsequent deburring cells with KUKA robots designed and installed by Manders Automation. This deburring cell contains a KR6 R900 AGILUS robot on which a vacuum cup is mounted. The robot works at different speed levels at different defined angles and starting points. The big advantage of the KUKA robot is that it has been programmed by FINEX and Manders Automation in such a way that it can also be adapted per profile and per robot cell according to the different customer needs. The sawing machine saws the aluminium profile to the desired dimensions and via a conveyor belt this profile is then placed in the robot cell. The robot picks up the profile and ensures that both the inside and outside contours are carefully finished. After this, the robot places the profile again on the conveyor belt that brings them to the next stop.
Industrial robots and employees work together
A qualitative cooperation between man and robot was an important requirement for us in this automation project. The involvement of FINEX employees, the service of Manders Automation and KUKA and the training were all important elements".
Easy automation expansion possible thanks to Manders Automation
