Market just super as trolley manufacturer goes "solo

Citation

(2000), "Market just super as trolley manufacturer goes "solo", Industrial Robot, Vol. 27 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2000.04927faf.002

Market just super as trolley manufacturer goes "solo"

Keywords: ABB, robots

Supermarket trolley manufacturer, BUKO, has slashed production times and improved product quality to gain that vital competitive edge, by incorporating ABB Flexible Automation robots into its manufacturing process (see Plate 2).

Plate 2 IRB 6400 resistance welding cell

Established in Glenrothes, UK, over 50 years ago, BUKO has grown from a small, local enterprise into a major national and international supplier of supermarket trolleys, roll-containers, baskets and wire racking, exporting to places as diverse as China, South America and Australia.

For BUKO customers product quality, safety and ergonomic design are paramount. As with many industries, the speed of design change is increasing in line with greater customer demand for new, improved designs at ever-more competitive prices.

Continuous improvement in productivity is therefore vital to maintain BUKO at the forefront of the industry.

Having sought advice from the acknowledged experts in flexible automation, ABB, BUKO has streamlined manufacture by initially phasing-in ABB MIG welding and materials handling robots into the production process.

Now, having seen the price and performance benefits of ABB's FlexArc Solo self-contained welding system – launched to wide critical acclaim at the Weldex exhibition – this too has been added to BUKO's inventory.

As BUKO has quickly found out, FlexArc Solo provides flawless weld quality, outstanding accuracy and consistency, lowest lifetime costs and extreme flexibility.

FlexArc Solo welding cells comprise an IRB 1400 robot (with ABB welding system) contained within the single table (ST), twin table (TT) and manual turntable (MT) standard cell configurations.

With its longer-than-average reach, the IRB 1400 robot gives excellent torch access to any workpiece, while the whole assembly is mounted on to a transportable base frame for rapid installation and easy repositioning.

Now it has the automation "bug" BUKO is going even one step further – to work hand-in-hand with ABB on a project using robots to lift tooling jigs in and out of a workstation when changing over trolley models.

Several BUKO personnel have taken courses in robot programming at ABB Flexible Automation, Milton Keynes, and have been delighted with the standard of tuition and the follow-up support.

For further information contact: Jane Attwood, ABB Flexible Automation Limited, Auriga House, Precedent Drive, Rooksley, Milton Keynes MK13 8PQ, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1908 350300; Fax: +44 (0) 1908 350301; email: jane.attwood@gb.abb.com