Product category:
Doors, Shutters, Air Curtains and Screens
News Release from: Vicaima
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 05 March 2008
Vicaima automates production lines
Leading door manufacturer, Vicaima, has introduced six anthropomorphic robots to the production lines of its Portuguese factory at Vale de Cambra.
The robotic equipment is similar to that used in the automotive industry, although it is rarely seen on door production lines The robots have been adapted for Vicaima with the addition of a special gripper system that picks up and holds the doors
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 16 Jan 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Vicaima achieves fire door first
Vicaima has become the first UK door manufacturer to achieve certification from all three leading fire door regulatory schemes.
Vicaima new range guide
Interior door manufacturer Vicaima has published some stunning new designs in its latest range guide.
This will significantly reduce the physical demands on production workers, whilst enabling them to undertake other tasks of value to the company, such as quality control.
Safe interaction between machines and workers was a prerequisite to the introduction of the new technology which now allows feeding and automatic unloading of the production lines.
It is extremely flexible, allowing doors of all sizes and designs to be handled quickly and easily.
Vicaima is using the equipment in production areas that require high levels of handling and is already seeing productivity increase by 10% on these lines.
Filipe Ferreira, managing director of Vicaima, says "Automation is one of the great trends in manufacturing".
"It has been used to great effect in the car industry and the potential benefits to our own industry are immense".
"These new systems are enabling us to increase productivity and flexibility whilst reducing costs and so remain ahead of the competition in the manufacture of interior doors".
Selected Vicaima employees have undergone training on the software used to program the robotics systems which have the capacity to incorporate additional functions as and when required.
The company has plans to introduce the systems to other areas of production, altering the layout of new production lines where greater benefits can be achieved, to optimise production levels throughout the factory.
• Vicaima: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Buildingtalk email newsletter
• Buildingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
