Travelling to GOIZPER 4.0 with collaborative robotics on board

During the last years, Goizper’s mind has changed little by little, complementing new technology developments with the power transmission components portfolio. The obtained good results have certified that new technologies integration is the correct way to follow.

A step forward becoming Goizper 4.0

Goizper S. Coop. has already integrated several Industry 4.0 solutions related to its market products, such as smart-G, an IoT monitoring system integrated on mechanical components in order to predict failures. However, now Goizper has started a new era introducing Industry 4.0 solutions on its own shop floor in Antzuola, Basque Country (Spain).

On the one side, new machinery, such as milling and turning machines, are running in Goizper’s shop floor, with integrated IoT solutions and direct connection with the supplier (machine experts) through internet. On the other side, Goizper has decided to invest in new technologies on the manual assembly area, where operators’ ergonomic issues concern the company.

Conventional robots have never fit in the assembly area due to the flexibility degree that Goizper’s products assembly require and the high variety and low quantities of each reference. However, Goizper decided to go further and participate in Sharework project as we believe that collaborative robots will be able to provide the flexibility that Goizper’s assembly area needs. Within the project, Goizper Industrial will validate a new design of their workplace to introduce collaborative robots in their servo rotary table assembly area.

Several benefits are expected from Sharework project, including an improvement of ergonomics in the workplace, avoid work-related injuries, improve the final quality of the product and a significant reduction of the assembly process’ cycle time.

Operators’ ergonomics conditions to improve

A new way of introducing robotics into the workplace has risen with the development of collaborative robotics (Cobots), which allow the operator to share the assembly area with robots without the need to be separated by fences. Managers in Goizper think that Cobots introduction in the assembly line by means of Sharework project, will improve operators´ ergonomics conditions.

Power transmission components’ assembly, such as turning tables, request many manual adjustments applied by human force. Hence, some tasks could lead to back injuries or muscular pain in operators.

Operators and cobots, a successful team to rise product quality  

For sure, with the introduction of cobots for operators’ assistance, the quality of the assembled product will be higher. Obviously, automated processes provide a higher percentage of good parts compared to manual processes. In Sharework industrial scenario, bolts will be locked with the same torque in a repetitive and more precise tool than nowadays.

Goizper is eager to see how much the quality of their products is improved after cobots incorporation, during Sharework project.

Speeding up the assembly process

Productivity is not the main goal of this technology integration; nevertheless, assembly cycle time is expected to be reduced due to the fast execution of UR10 Cobots. Within Sharework scenario, which will be applied to our servo rotary table assembly area, time reduction must provide a better lead time of the product and economic benefits.

The safety of our employees at the center of all the operation

As none of these new technology’s integration could run before ensuring human safety and make sure that all safety requirements in the shop floor are met, Goizper’s Human Resources Department – the bridge between the new technology and the human – is also closely participating in Sharework project.

Goizper, as one of Sharework’s project industrial scenarios, aims to use the collaboration robotics technology for assisting and helping operators in their daily tasks, such as handling heavy parts to the operator and passing them the correct part to be assembled or the tool to be used at the correct time. Under no circumstances the operator will be replaced by the collaborative robot but just another tool available to help for the operator, in addition to other technologies or devices already deployed in the assembly workplace.

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