AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
Two overhead-mounted QIROX QRC-350 welding robots take over the welding process in the production line .
CLOOS and KION have developed a chained robot system for the automated welding of masts for its Stříbro site in the Czech Republic
second-largest manufacturer of forklift trucks and warehouse trucks has been deploying digitally connected systems at its modern facility to create a ‘ smart factory ’. Reach trucks and pallet stackers are built for the Linde MH brand at the KION Stříbro site .
The KION Group has a total of three sites in the Czech Republic . Besides the plant in Stříbro , where a transport company is also based , Linde Pohony ( LiPo ) makes steering axles and electric and hydrostatic drive axles in Český Krumlov for the KION Group ’ s brands , while JULI , a joint venture of the KION Group near Brno , builds electric motors . In total , almost 1,500 people work at the three sites . At all its sites , KION relies on innovative
The complex robot system for welding lifting masts . production technologies and invests continuously in automation and digitisation along the entire production chain . The Stříbro site has grown very strongly since opening . Around 70 of the approximately 400 employees work in the welding area .
Due to the general shortage of skilled workers and many industrial companies in the region , it is not easy to find qualified employees . KION therefore wants to counter this with a high level of automation .
“ The safety of our employees is our top priority ,” emphasised Jakub Stajner , Project Leader Industrial Engineering , KION in Stříbro . “ In addition , our goal is to achieve a one-piece flow in our production , where we make the
best possible use of the space available . Last but not least , we want to meet and exceed our customers ’ requirements in terms of quality , cost and delivery time .”
Welding as a key manufacturing process
KION relies on CLOOS automation solutions for welding . It uses seven robot systems in Stříbro : another system is currently in the assembly process .
“ We chose CLOOS because [ of its expertise ] combining welding processes and robot systems ,” Grünewald explained . “ This is a [ major ] advantage because welding is a key manufacturing process for us .”
In the new robot system for welding the lifting masts , the system operator receives information from the SAP system on which component is to be processed next . The operator then places the component in the loading station manually , or with a crane , and records it in the system with the scanner . He then prepares the component for the automatic welding process . Individual spots are also tack-welded with the QINEO NexT manual welding power source from CLOOS .
The length of the masts varies between two and six metres . In total , there are more than 80 different component variants . To ensure maximum flexibility , the fixtures for holding the components automatically adjust to the different sizes .
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