Finished seals in less than 10 seconds: Robotics Integrated Controller ensures harmonious control

Trelleborg Livorno has updated a robotic cell for the finishing of polyurethane gaskets for the sustainable wind energy market. The cornerstone of the solution is OMRON's Robotics Integrated Controller that ensures integration and synchronization of all automation components, including robots, logic, motion, safety and user interface.

Trelleborg is a Swedish multinational that operates throughout the world. It is a global leader in engineered polymer solutions that seal and protect critical applications in demanding environments. Trelleborg Sealing Solutions (TSS) based in Livorno, Italy is a centre of excellence for the company. They specialise in the production of seals that are installed on pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders in different market segments - particularly fluid power, agriculture, automotive and energy.

Trelleborg’s new robotic cell handles the finishing of polyurethane gaskets intended for the braking systems of wind turbines. The solution, conceived around OMRON's Robotics Integrated Controller, has improved quality and productivity while meeting the growing demand.

David Caluri, who is responsible for Machinery and Energy Excellence at Trelleborg Livorno, explains: “At maximum capacity, our existing machine could only achieve a cycle time of 17 seconds for each seal processed. Our goal was very ambitious: to dramatically reduce these times so that we could respond more quickly to customer needs, especially when faced by seasonal peaks in demand.”

The new solution is based around two OMRON Viper 650 articulated, anthropomorphic robots. One robot for pick and place and the other for cutting and finishing. These are designed specifically for machining, assembly, and material handling processes. They can work at high speeds and in a totally synchronised way, managed by the OMRON NJ501-R Robotics Integrated Controller.

With the new system, the pick-and-place robot receives the seals from a feeding system, picks them up and inserts them into a rotating spindle on the machine. The cutting robot then makes two cuts along the circumference of the seal – an inner and outer cut. This robot also has a picking tool, with a pneumatic gripper that picks up the newly processed piece and places the finished seal in a basket.

"Beyond speed, the industry is also increasingly demanding in terms of cutting specifications", comments Caluri: "A clean edge is fundamental in hydraulic applications to guarantee the seal. The tolerances are very narrow and difficult to achieve at high speeds. With this application we were able to achieve even tighter and even more precise tolerances.”

David Caluri explains: “The programming part was very easy, because OMRON offers a single platform for all of the components that are used on this application. With the Sysmac Studio we were able to programme all of the different elements from a single solution - the inputs, outputs, safety, HMI and robotics. We can have an instant view of the individual components, even when searching for faults. Having total control of the automation allows us to be flexible in our activities and also gives us a big advantage in terms of training: with an all-in-one solution, it’s easier to keep all the staff up to date."

Caluri comments: “In the field, everything is managed through recipes. When we find the right set-up for the product that needs to be processed, we give it a name and a code, which is saved so that it can be recalled at any time. This flexibility provides the company with a host of benefits. In the past, Trelleborg had to go through complex manual set-ups. Today, it can change the set-up several times a day, for instance, altering the cutting angle or addressing requests for new customised formats without the need for long and complex retooling operations. We know the functionality inside out.”

“The new cell meets Trelleborg's need to improve the procurement of gaskets stocks at the various logistics centres in Europe, Asia and America, and the company is able to support its customers if there’s an increase in instant demand”, comments Leonardo Ceccarini, Operations Manager Trelleborg Livorno, estimating that there will be a return on investment for the new system of about two years - a 30% improvement when compared with previous solutions.

“The collaboration with OMRON's technical staff proved to be fundamental in overcoming all the unknowns of an application that, as the first of its kind in Europe, used the Robotics Integrated Controller for the management of all the automation components”, Ceccarini concludes.

“Trelleborg has allowed us to bring our state-of-the-art technology to the field,” says Enrico Naviganti, OMRON’s Area Sales Manager. “This application included a need to maintain high quality standards while achieving much higher speeds compared to those obtained previously. Our technology enabled the company to meet all of these KPIs in the experimental phase."