VOLA’s innovative production line with mobile robots wins Danish automation award
Automating 75% of transport to mitigate heavy burden and to shorten lead time from 42 days to 1 day
An innovative production line that OMRON has co-created for VOLA, a Danish manufacturer of luxury sanitary and kitchen fittings, in partnership with CesTek Automation, received the “Automation Award” from the Danish Industrial Robot Association (DIRA) in September 2020.
VOLA’s innovative production line with 9 OMRON’s mobile robots
With the hope of facilitating the advancement and introduction of automation technologies and solutions, this prestigious Danish award is given to a company or an individual who has been particularly noted for utilizing advanced robotics. This year, VOLA won the accolade for its plant expansion project, in which they installed nine units of OMRON's LD-Series mobile robots in place of roller conveyors to achieve flexible production and in-plant logistics.
Capable of flexibly responding to VOLA's production processes, the brand new system automated 75% of transport, mitigating heavy burden and shortening the production lead time from as long as 42 days to a single day. In conferring the award, DIRA's jury noted that this project was not only impressive and comprehensive but inspiring overall.
Driven by its unique concept, “innovative-Automation,” OMRON is committed to innovating manufacturing through automation as we seek to achieve harmony between humans and machines on customers' production floors. In this project, OMRON worked with VOLA, who put a high value on OMRON's advanced control of multiple LD units, to design a state-of-the-art plant where humans and robots optimally collaborate with each other, through the partnership with CesTek from the early stages of the project. Relative positions between parts assembly tables and aisles, for instance, are designed to enhance safety and convenience, allowing both humans and robots freedom of movement.
For about a year after the system became operational, the LDs have facilitated production, conveying between 1,300 and 1,600 boxes of parts and products every day. VOLA is planning to introduce more units of LDs to automate its factory’s logistics further.
"We are so proud that VOLA won the Automation Award for introducing OMRON's mobile robots and control system. They have our sincere gratitude for sharing the problems they encountered on production floors so openly and listening to our suggestions. Their receiving of this award will definitely be a big push for the next stage of evolution for both of our companies," said Thomas Jansen, OMRON's Area Sales Manager for Denmark.
Based on its unique “innovative-Automation” concept, OMRON will remain committed to solving issues on customers' production floors by facilitating the optimal collaboration of humans and machines.
Read more about the LD mobile robots
Previous item in corporate news
