Mobile robotics drive major automation leap in injection molding

For a globally recognized company, that is one of the leading manufacturers of injection molding machines and technologies, we have been able to implement two applications with our mobile robotic products. The Austrian specialist provides a full range of products including hydraulic, fully electric, and hybrid injection molding machines, along with automation solutions and customer-specific applications. With Stäubli by their side, our customer also succeeds in automating internal manufacturing processes thanks to Stäubli mobile robotics. 

The company was looking to automate its cycle assembly and the associated painting process for its production of injection molding machines in Schwertberg, Austria. The challenge involved not only the required load capacity of 60 tons, but also the necessary custom-made products and the seamless connection to their ERP system to ensure a safe and stable process.

Stäubli has succeeded in supplying three mobile robot platform from the PF80 series that meet the desired requirements.

In addition to the vehicles, the scope of delivery also includes special racks for transporting the injection molding machines for assembly and painting processes. The assembly racks are supplied with external hydraulic units to ensure ergonomic working and maximum flexibility among the mobile robots, as three different material tracks are covered by them.

On the software side, an infrastructure control system was developed that ensures maximum safety between the mobile robots and humans, cranes or other stationary peripherals. The connection to the ERP system for our customer’s material flow via a control system was also implemented, so that many manual activities could be automated.