Robotic Automation used in the fight against Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic has been tough for a lot of businesses . However , a number of companies have been busier than ever , as they rise to challenge of fighting the Covid-19 threat . Wesbart Limited are one of these companies who have a 40-year heritage of expertise in designing and manufacturing aluminium and stainlesssteel sample storage systems for laboratories , hospitals , universities , and the pharmaceutical industry across the globe . With the global programme of Covid-19 vaccination their products have been in high demand .
During the first lockdown ICS Robotics and Automation Limited were approached by Wesbart Ltd who were looking for assistance to add robotic automation to their factory . With the main aims of increasing the capacity of the factory and maintain high levels of quality needed for the pharmaceutical industry .
Wesbart Ltd were looking to automate the tending and operation of two Bystronic press brakes being used to fold the extensive range of products needed for the Covid-19 vaccination programme such as freezer racks and trays .
Most brake press cells with robotic automation are designed to fold small steel parts , which are stacked within the brake press cell itself . This makes it easier for robots to operate but limits the usefulness of the automation itself . Due to the extensive range of parts being produced by Wesbart Ltd , the standard brake press ( with robotic automation ) solutions on the market were not capable of folding the full range of parts .
ICS Robotics & Automation Ltd were engaged to develop a custom solution capable of folding the complete range of Wesbart Ltd components . The current Wesbart Ltd CNC punching process meant that parts were lightly oiled and were not easely stacked . Therefore , an infeed and outfeed solution using conveyors and a vision system was developed to ensure sufficient buffering was achieved and parts were not damaged by avoiding the traditional mechanical chute in a pallet box .
ICS Robotics & Automation Ltd developed the interface between the Bystronic press brakes and the Kuka robots to allow for a full automatic control of the brake presses in a safety interlocked system . The system was designed such that one of the
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