Robotic Innovations Revitalise Resin Flooring Production

Robotic Innovations Revitalise Resin Flooring Production

14 Nov 2014

  • Kevin is the latest addition to this production line.
  • Robotics are used to increase productivity.
  • It took three months to reprogramme the robot.

A novel piece of equipment has been installed in Flowcrete’s Swedish manufacturing facility after the Company President laid down a challenge to use robotics to boost the plant’s productivity.

The factory engineers picked up this gauntlet and solved the problem by reprogramming a production line robot from a local automotive plant.

Nicknamed ‘Kevin’ by the Flowcrete Sweden team, the machine now picks up large base units of resin from the end of the factory line and deftly places them onto pallets.

These plastic and steel pails would be much too heavy for a person to lift, but Kevin can continue to package products for several shifts a day, 6 days a week.

Mark Greaves, the President of Flowcrete Group, devised the plan to optimise the manufacturing process by utilising existing factory automation technologies in an innovative manner.

Mr Greaves said: “The precision and dexterity of the robot’s movements is incredible, especially when you realise that it was originally intended for use in an entirely different industry.

“Our manufacturing plant in Sweden is now able to process and pack material at a faster rate than ever before. The next step is to install an automated pallet wrapper for Kevin to place the pails onto so that the finished pallet can be taken directly to the warehouse or to despatch.

“We’ve embarked on this course as Flowcrete is experiencing growth around the world, this means that it is vitally important for us to modernise and to think creatively about how to make the most of our plants, resources and skills.”

Kevin is the latest addition to this production line, which has seen several other upgrades during 2014 to enhance the automated filling and lidding process.

Flowcrete Sweden’s Factory Engineer Torsten Torstensson, who spent three months reprogramming the robot, developed the production line.

Mr Torstensson said: “The task at hand was to create a production line that could handle nine tons of material a day and which didn’t require staff to lift excessively heavy loads.

“The result is an entirely bespoke process. Nothing here is prefabricated; instead it has all been made to my own drawings and designs. One aspect that I’m particularly proud of is the automatic positioning of the buckets, as this has to be at exactly the right angle so that Kevin can move them around. Other companies have since been to the site to see the inventions I created for this production line.”

Mr Greaves added: “This is a fantastic achievement and represents the next generation of resin flooring production. Going forward we will continue to look at further automation projects to ensure that our facilities are fit for the future of industrial manufacturing.”

A video of the robot can be viewed by clicking here

ENDS

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Press Contact

For more information please visit www.flowcrete.co.uk/contact-us/ or contact Daniel Ash at Flowcrete Group’s Marketing department on 01270 753 000 or email dan.ash@flowcrete.com.

Notes to Editors

Flowcrete UK has its headquarters in Sandbach, Cheshire and is part of Flowcrete Europe & Middle East, one of the four divisions that make up Flowcrete Group Ltd.

Flowcrete Group Ltd. is a world leader in the manufacture of seamless industrial and commercial resin floor, wall and coving solutions as well as other specialist coating technologies. Flowcrete Group Ltd. has international manufacturing facilities in Europe and Africa as well as Central and South East Asia.

Flowcrete supplies world-class seamless flooring solutions to transform environments across the globe including; decorative seamless resins, waterproof car park deck coating systems, seamless resin terrazzo, durable antimicrobial flooring, corrosion protection, self levelling underlayments, underfloor heating and now underfloor acoustic insulation.

Flowcrete's ambitious and dedicated team is inspired by excellence in people, products and service, as well as continual innovation and sustainable growth. Flowcrete continues to use its global expertise to introduce environmentally friendly, hygienic and aesthetically attractive floors to create a better and more sustainable world.

For further information please contact 01270 753000 or visit us on the web at www.flowcrete.co.uk.

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