KUKA win 1 million assembly line contract
KUKA win £1 million assembly line contract
KUKA Welding Systems +Robot Limited, have utilised their extensive experience in the building of complete manufacturing systems to win a £1 million contract from UPF Group plc Thompson Chassis, for a new chassis assembly line.
KUKA's involvement in this project embraces two separate phases, which will be carried out in close cooperation with the UPF project engineering team, in order to provide sufficient chassis for pre-production pilot build for a new 4 × 4 vehicle to be launched in 1998 and then to move smoothly into a full production phase.
To enable pilot build to be produced whilst existing production continues, KUKA will industrialise two existing tack weld stations by the installation of an overhead gantry with a 2 +1 transfer system. At the same time they will install a robotic weld cell in line, containing four new generation KR6 industrial robots to complete the MIG welding sequence. Then, when the change to full production of the new chassis is imminent, KUKA will re-engineer the existing main transfer line. All old tooling and platens will be replaced and KUKA will install a new 7 + 1 lift and shift transfer system.
Existing Komatsu robots will be optimised and re-programmed by KUKA and modern electrics installed together with a new control system.
The complete contract will be finished and commissioned in mid 1998 in time for the new vehicle launch.
For further information contact: KUKA Welding Systems + Robot Limited, Hereward Rise, Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8AN. Tel: 0121 585 0800.
