One different name we could give to our cyclical event would be Robotization in Practice. This results from the assumptions made – our idea is to provide the participants with a summary of knowledge about optimal robotization at a manufacturing plant. The opinions of people who have participated in previous events show that we do achieve this goal successfully.
Goals of the Academy
Thirty years of activities in the field of the automation and robotization of production processes in many different industries gave us experiences we can now share with businesses interested in modernization. Such an exchange of knowledge is beneficial for both parties. The plant may prepare itself to the investment project accordingly, and thus avoid expensive errors not only at the implementation stage itself, but also during the subsequent operation of the line, or its further expansion. On the other hand, for us – as an integrator – cooperating with an informed, aware investor means a shortened design stage, which is key for this type of undertakings.
Subject Matter
As in the previous years, we focused on the investment project’s: economic, technical, and staff conditions, the fulfilment of which guarantees effective robotization. We also showed the possibility associated with the application of latest technical and IT solutions.
The fact that we use very modern, sometimes even innovative tools, we can offer our customer a design both fully adapted to their actual needs, and comprehensively verified. We pay a lot of attention also to the issues of operation maintenance and servicing. These issues are very important for us, and, within their scope, we propose a lot of interesting solutions.
Experts
In order to strengthen the practical aspect of the Academy of Robotization, each year we organize an experience exchange panel, at which any questions of the participants are answered by experts – representatives of production plants which have effectively implemented our lines, and operate these systems for a sufficiently long period of time.
We’re trying to make sure that the experts invited represent different points of view, specializations, and industries, so that the participants of the Academy have a picture of the future investment project and the related challenges as complete as possible.
Partners
The partners of the Academy of Robotization are leading manufacturers from industries related to automation and robotics. These are businesses which continuously cooperate with us at our implementations. Their presence at the Academy is an opportunity to familiarize the participants with technical novelties which are increasingly more common in industrial practice. The familiarity with these issues often proves helpful in planning investment projects.
This year, the Partners of the Academy of Robotization included the companies: FANUC, Festo, Siemens, Turck, and Schunk.
Program
Theoretical Part
In the Academy’s theoretical part, we discussed particular stages of the investment project related to robotization from the future user’s point of view. We focused on the key, practical issues that determine the success of any project – namely on the problem-free operation of a robot-based line in the long term, and the resulting measurable economic effects.
On the other hand, the Partners presented their newest products which provide the users (production plants) with a number of benefits, such as energetic efficiency, the optimal use of resources, low failure rate etc.
Here is the subject matter of the presentations:
WIKPOL Effective approach to planning, making, and operating a robot-based line.
FANUC Industrial robot as a business development tool. Is it possible to calculate the return on robotization investment precisely?
FESTO Efficient use of pressurized air in production plants.
SIEMENS Optimization of designing process and virtual start-up of a machine.
TURCK TURCK Condition monitoring — Monitoring control cabinet climate, power consumption, and equipment mechanics. RFID — Savings in product transportation.
Demonstration Part
The guests who attended the Academy could see devices – and even a portion of a production line – showing the solutions available on the market. They could also discuss topics of interest with professionals in detail. And so:
Wikpol presented:
- a robot-based palletizing line for beverage multipacks
- Wikar autonomous transport platform (AGV) that they offer
- example robot-based collective palletizing and packaging lines, presented in virtual reality
FANUC presented a co-working robot from the CRX family equipped with a vacuum gripper designed to move elements in handling and palletizing operations.
Festo presented the MS6 – E2M energy efficiency module, and devices intended for measuring leaks of pressurized air in facilities.
Siemens presented a set composed of:
- a SIMATIC CPU1516F, FailSafe type controller, and a mobile SIMATIC HMI KTP700F panel (to be connected in different locations on the machine) with an E-stop Safety button
- a PAC class, SIMATIC ET 200SP Open Controller, which combines the resources of a PLC (CPU1515SP PCF) controller, and a PC (Windows 10 IOT Enterprise) computer
and a SIRIUS connecting apparatus:
- 8WD46 signal columns (9 or 15 freely configurable lighting modules)
- RFID positional breakers with 3SE64 locking, which makes it possible to achieve the PL e/SIL 3 level
- 3SK1 safety relays, programmable 3SK2 series relays, 3RV2 breakers, 3RT2 contactors
Schunk presented selected pneumatic and electrical grabs intended for industrial robots.
Turck presented devices necessary for predictive operation maintenance:
- parameter measurement modules: humidity, temperature, the position of doors inside CCM series control cabinets
- QMT42VT1 series vibration and temperature sensor, which, as one of the few available on the market, calculates such a high number of parameters, among others: the effective values of speed and acceleration, kurtosis, peak values or peak factors.
Turck also presented the RFID technology, which helps increase the efficiency, efficient management of warehouses, eliminate errors in deliveries, or control production assets.
A special attraction at the presentations was our bartender, namely a robot which serves beer with characteristic grace.
Visit at a palletizing Line
On the second day of the Academy, the participants could see an extensive palletizing line installed at a large chemical industry manufacturing plant. The line includes five robotized palletizing stations, of which one is additionally equipped with a robot which stacks layers. The system is characterized by a substantial flexibility – each robot may palletize products very diverse in terms of shapes and formats: from 0.25 ml to 30 l, separately or as multipacks. The system refits itself for a specific format automatically. The line has been designed, made, and implemented by Wikpol.
Thank you again for participating in Academy of Robotization 2022, and for the exchange of experiences. Join our Academy next year.