Automation is not new in the production of roll formed sections, where the handling of heavy parts is labour intensive and can lead to serious injuries.
However many production lines have operators manually packaging the products due to the following challenges:
- Complex packing configurations
- Limited floor space
- Wide variety of sections
- High cost
Apex Automation and Robotics delivered a turnkey automation solution for a leading manufacturer of studs and tracks for the building industry. The system collates the products, pair them, stack them into packs and strap the packs (PET Straps). The system includes a feature to eject a sample out of the line for inspection upon request.
The system is controlled by a PLC that interfaces with the roll former. A user-friendly coloured Touch Screen allows the operator to change product, run and troubleshoot the system.
The line is fully guarded with perimeter fencing, interlocked doors and light curtains. The safety circuit includes a programmable safety PLC and redundancies in accordance to the relevant Australian standards.
Designed to handle a wide variety of sections, with lengths ranging from 2m to 7.2m at a line speed of 80 m/min. Key features of this system are:
- Compact
- Product changeover in only few minutes
- Robust design for 24 hours operations
This is another addition to the family of automation solutions that Apex Automation and Robotics has delivered to the metal manufacturing industry resulting in substantial reduction of labour costs and workplace injuries.
