An investment in the future with a welding robot installation

Collaboration

So in early 2022, Arno Schermers, R&D Manager, together with Cornee van Zandvliet from the construction department, had started researching a welding robot or cobot. All the possibilities that were available were investigated: cobot systems and robot systems and with the various welding robot manufacturers. Then a number of quotations were made, including by Yaskawa. "In the end, we chose Yaskawa. They listened very well to our ideas, to the total concept. Since we want to use the robot for our own production and not for third-party work, we wanted to deviate from standard solutions. Then we sat down with Kor Blijenberg (Account Manager Yaskawa Benelux). We quickly came up with something that was right up our alley, where we thought, this is how it has to be. We had ideas of how we wanted to do it and Kor quickly understood that. Because of his knowledge and advice for our application, the cooperation is very good."

Gradual integration

The welding robot was purchased with a long-term vision. The increasing number of products as well as product lines means more welding work. "We have had the welding robot for several months now and we are going to use it more and more often," Arno continues. "You shouldn't make an investment like this when it has to be used in production immediately. You will first have to put in the necessary time to learn everything and get it working correctly without the feeling of pressure for having to produce. We really took the time for this by working on it one day a week, especially Cornee. Now we have reached the point where we can make the first semi-finished products with this robot." Because the welders have been involved from the beginning of the process, the integration has been smooth and gradual.

Training

There were two days of training at the Yaskawa Academy in Eindhoven, and the trainers also spent two days on site at Demto. "We said, we can actually weld a number of products now already so we are going to do that. Then we will gain experience in that and it becomes easier to take the next step." Two more training days will follow soon, which will focus on multi-layer welding. In addition to training them to program the robot themselves, the welders also decide what work the robot will perform, making the work more enjoyable for them.

Follow-up

Whether more robots will be added? That remains to be seen. The current robot installation can be expanded with a second rotation table or carriage. "Once you have one and you can work well with it, it is easier to buy a second robot. Then you have the experience and you know what you're getting into," says Arno. The welding robot is a godsend on two levels: it supports the welder himself and provides the business continuity they were looking for. Together, Cornee and Arno designed their own welding fume hood that was specially made to use this robot. "Because the standard hood available was not practical and did not meet our needs, we just make it ourselves," says Cornee. Arno concludes, "In terms of welding and how we are already working with it, it is all exactly as we had thought it out beforehand. We like the cooperation very much and should we expand we will definitely be in touch with Kor."