RoboPower provides great production flexibility at PN Beslagfabrik

PN has delivered quality craftsmanship to leading hardware stores and tool depots for over 140 years, primarily in the Nordic region. They had previously explored many different fully automated solutions for handling items in the factory, but each time it had become too expensive.

With the choice of a BILA RoboPower, the factory has obtained a standard semi-automatic solution that meets their requirements for flexibility and investment level.

"We have chosen a flexible solution with the possibility of further developing the system. This means that we have started at a reasonable cost, and with our own skilled toolmakers, we have expanded the system ourselves,"

• Jesper Bangsborg, CEO

The factory's own expansion of the system by adding a loading system has meant that they now have a fully automated system that keeps three punching machines running and operates around the clock with only two daily magazine refills.

It is not only the investment amount that is reasonable. The payback period of less than a year is an important parameter, as is the flexibility in the robot cell, which has been a crucial factor in choosing the RoboPower robot. PN's own employees have received training in programming and adapting the robot cell, which means they are very self-sufficient and can, for example, move items onto the robot system themselves.

"When we have a good idea, we just run it by BILA's technicians to ensure that our ideas also work in practice. That way, we can quickly create new fixtures for new items, and thus we can start up new items faster and cheaper than if we had to call in external technicians,"

• Jesper Bangsborg, CEO

More robots on the way

The collaboration regarding the installation and commissioning of the BILA RoboPower solution has worked well, and with the evident benefits of automation in production, there are already several robots on the way to PN.

"The first robot has provided us with documentation of the impact of automating our processes, and therefore, an optimisation plan has been developed for the entire factory, so we can enhance our competitiveness all around,"

• Jesper Bangsborg, CEO

The next BILA RoboPower is already being installed and will be producing post supports in collaboration with a punching machine and a circular seam welder from Migatronic. Before Christmas, the third BILA RoboPower will be installed, and it will initially work in conjunction with two additional punching machines.