Ergonomics, process
reliability & flexibility
The future is made of wood – sustainable and energy-efficient. Ultra-modern prefabricated houses, like those made by our customer FingerHaus from Frankenberg (Eder), are on the rise. The demand is large in an industry that is booming but simultaneously being hit by a shortage of skilled employees. The burden on existing staff has to be eased as much as possible so that they can be used exclusively for complex tasks, while the focus remains on maximum quality through high process reliability. This is where we come into play as a special mechanical engineering company.
In close coordination with the employees on site, we developed a system that covers two important areas in production as a central processing machine: In the first place, there is the provision of wall timbers for a frame station with partly automated production of the wooden frames, then two cells follow for the automatic paneling of wall elements with the help of a robot. The challenge: every FingerHaus is unique, tailored to the preferences and requirements of the customer. In addition to the standard wall elements, there are always special cases with unusual geometries – a clear advantage for the customers of FingerHaus and at the same time an exciting challenge for our engineers and technicians.
The core element of the solution is a state-of-the-art camera system that detects the position of the timber and plasterboard sheets and is in constant communication with the robot via a specially designed software package. The result is a precise paneling machine that allows efficient collaboration between employees and robots thanks to the intelligent design of its safety zones.
Project video
Overview of some individual operations
THE PROJECT IN FIGURES
With prefabricated houses in the focus of the production process, factors such as weight, size and available space play a significant role: The result in this project is a 50-meter long system with a width of about 10 meters. At first sight, the machine might seem large, but if you consider the average dimensions of the walls, the concept ultimately impresses with its efficient and clever use of the available area. Tailored entirely to the requirements of FingerHaus GmbH.
Facts
- Sheet sizes 80 x 250 mm to 1250 x 3000 mm possible
- complex “PK Construct” software solution for constant, fast communication between camera system and robot
- use of high-quality components from manufacturers such as ABB, Siemens and Rittal
- seamless integration into the production process with data transfer from CAD system
Distinctive features of the project
It is worth highlighting the small but fine details of this system, which it has only been possible to deliver through close collaboration with the FingerHaus staff on site: existing work processes were analyzed, improvements identified and a customized automation solution developed. Whether it’s efficient use of the existing production space, operability of the robot in individual processes for more flexible cooperation with the workers on the machine, or simply the fact that process reliability can be improved through simple aids such as automatic positioning stop points on the frame station or the redundant design of the stapling system – the technology is working in the service of people here, which means it is possible not only to increase productivity but also to relieve the burden on staff permanently and, as a result, allow them to take on other, more important work. With this machine, our customer FingerHaus has state-of-the-art production technology at its disposal and is ideally equipped for the future.
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