KuMaTech B.V. has developed a machine that makes detecting sheet metal a lot easier. The first machine has already been sold and will be commissioned soon.
Every manufacturing company would like to maximise efficiency in the production process. The drive to work as smart and lean as possible also applies to the sheet metal industry. It works quite well, but it is mainly sheet identification that sometimes gets in the way.
Junk
Laser part coding is now often done by hand. For example, stickers or codes are attached to them. "That creates a lot of ambiguity," argues Ruud Eikelenboom of Kumatech. "It is unclear which part belongs to which customer or which follow-up processing the product has to undergo. Behind the machine, it is therefore often a mess." Laser engraving can take over the manual work, but it is not much faster. Moreover, this method is permanent because it is engraved into it. "For industries like the food industry, this is also not desirable because of hygiene," he says. And then there are companies that leave the coding to another department within the company or even to the customer. That is not the epitome of customer-friendliness.
Scanning and printing
KuMaTech B.V. proves that things can be much more efficient and simple with the new KUMA Pro. This machine automatically takes care of sheet metal identification. All deburred laser parts are scanned by the machine by means of vision and an Inkjet printer, provided with a unique coding determined by the customer. Each part is thus easily identified.
Briefly, the machine works as follows: "The first part contains a 3D Vision system, which scans the thickness and dimensions of laser parts. The corresponding digital ERP system then searches for an image similar to it. The data is sent to the Inkjet printer, the product continues on the conveyor belt and the printer prints the correct data on the sheet metal part."
Faster production process
Good, fast and accurate labelling offers numerous advantages. It speeds up the production process, reduces human error and further reduces costs. It also counts parts and indicates when sheet metal parts are missing from an order. Automatically identifying and marking laser parts leads to greater customer satisfaction, as a customer receives the right materials and does not have to think along with the production process.
Another advantage of the Kuma is the ability to work digitally within the factory. Previously, paper receipts were used, which could get lost, but now everything is communicated digitally with the ERP system. This ensures that work can be done digitally on the shop floor. By scanning markings with QR codes during follow-up operations, drawings are retrievable. This results in a paperless factory without errors.
Technishow
The KUMA can be admired at the Technishow, which will be held at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht from 20 to 23 March. Eikelenboom: "The prototype for the Technishow is now ready. Immediately after the Technishow, the machine will leave for our first customer, Heurkens & Van Veluw in Oss. They operate in the metal industry and have laser cutters. They know the problem of sheet metal identification and see a solution for this in the Kuma." In addition to the so-called Kuma Pro, a light version, the Kuma Basic, is also being designed. This works without a conveyor belt and can be operated manually."
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By: Kelly Bakker
Source: KuMaTech B.V.
