Automation with ENGEL: simple, efficient, cost-effective

Linear robots are traditionally used for pick-and-place operations directly at the injection molding machine. But they can do far more: the stand-alone version of the viper 40 linear robot plays the leading role in the automation solution for pool and pool accessory specialist Steinbach's production. It connects the e-motion machines with the high-bay warehouse and handles palletizing tasks. And it does all of this inexpensively, quickly, and on a small footprint. Its use has therefore meant a significant increase in efficiency at a highly automated plant.

From the delivery of the raw materials through to dispatching the palletized end products, the complete flow of goods is automated. The production of sales packaging for swimming pool care products, filling and communication with the high-bay warehouse is highly automated. Two blow molding machines and three ENGEL e-motion injection molding machines are used to produce three different plastic containers.

• Automated production of sales packaging for swimming pool care products.

• Fast and fully automatic filling of the products.

• Automatic communication with the high-bay warehouse.

Two blow molding machines and three ENGEL e-motion injection molding machines are used to produce three different plastic containers.

The stand-alone version of the viper 40 linear robot plays a central role. It communicates with the warehouse management system and connects the two e-motion machines used for producing the container caps with the high-bay warehouse. "We have taken a totally new approach here", says a thrilled Meister. "After all, palletizing tasks are something that linear robots are normally not expected to handle." Steinbach initially envisaged an articulated robot in its concept planning. "But we would not have achieved our efficiency objectives", Meister objects. "The linear robot is cheaper, needs less space, is easier to operate, and even faster when it comes to stacking. We now have the simplest, most efficient and most cost-effective automation solution. Linear robots open up far more options than many processors believe."

Programming the software turned out to be trickier than the mechanical implementation. ENGEL's automation experts developed a solution specifically tailored to the range of requirements, including interfaces to the warehouse management system. A new C10 generation hand-held unit with a particularly large 10" touch display completes the lineup: it offers an even better overview and more convenient operation for palletizing tasks.

Operating the stand-alone robot is easy for the plastics engineers at Steinbach; after all, the injection molding machines are also equipped with ENGEL viper linear robots. The night and weekend production are completely unmanned. Mold maintenance and rare mold changes are carried out on weekdays in two shifts with one operator each. There are time buffers for manual interruptions both on the injection molding machine and the stand-alone robot. This means that production runs 24/7. "We get excellent technology and the fastest-possible service from ENGEL. We have the world market leader right on our doorstep. Of course we are leveraging this advantage." as Hannes Peterseil, plant manager in Schwertberg, confirms.