Presenters at FPInnovations’ workshop on robotics manufacturing are from left: Alain Albert FPInnovations; Yarek Niedbala, KUKA Robotics; Louis Bergeron, president Machineries AutomaTech; Andrew Legault, president CNC Automation; Tommy Gagnon, general manager Machineries AutomaTech and Gérald Beaulieu, FPInnovations.
FPInnovations recently presented a one-day workshop for industry leaders on robotics manufacturing for the woodworking industry.
Some say robotics may be the future, but in fact that future is already here.
The seminars are designed to help Canadian manufacturer better understand this technology and its use around the world.
Seminar attendees learned about the many different kinds of robots and their potential applications in the woodworking industry and how to properly assess the benefits of automation in their factory.
There were examples of what others are doing and how some Canadian wood products manufacturers have already successfully integrated robotics in their shops and factories.
The Mississauga, Ont. workshop was just one in a series with others taking place in Moncton, N.B., Vancouver, B.C. and Quebec City, Que.
The event saw a number of FPInnovations industry specialists, industry partners and robot integrators who talked about and demonstrated custom-tailored solutions and answered questions.
According to one presenter - Tommy Gagnon, general manager at AutomaTech Machinery - “Robotics is starting to be implemented in wood manufacturing plants across Canada. More than ever, it offers solutions for manufacturers who perform custom work.”
Attendees also saw a video of a complete robotic cell working at A.P. Industries, an innovative Quebec furniture manufacturer who managed to significantly increase its productivity.
But short of a full production cell, the message was that robotics could also be used for specific tasks, such as finishing, sanding, machining, drilling, sawing, assembling or material handling. There is no need to change everything in the shop all at once, but rather, robotics can be introduced into the shop in stages.
FPInnovations’ Alain Albert said Canada is falling behind in productivity among the G-20 countries where it ranks 12th. He also said Canadians are spending 50 per cent less on machines than their U.S. counterparts and in time that will mean they will lose their competitive edge and the industry will be in trouble.
“This story is about change and how you have to adapt and continue to move forward,” he said. “We can’t sit still.”
And while there is a move away from mass production, with people demanding to be able to individualize their choices, Albert says that means companies have to adapt to that changing marketplace. One way they can adapt is to invest in automation.
Photo: FPInnovation
Attendees heard that if they want to continue to operate profitably in the wood manufacturing industry, they would eventually have to turn to automation solutions using CNC and robotics. That will provide them with increased flexibility and significantly increased productivity. Robots are equally effective in making one-off products or in mass production and they may offer the perfect solution to stay ahead of the competition. Yarek Niedbala of KUKA Robotics, a leading producer of industrial robots for a variety of industries, says the company offers robots ranging from 3 kg to 1300 kg payloads, with 4 to 6 axis and 350 mm to 3700 mm reach.
With their widespread availability, simple programming and fast changeover, robots and CNC routers will play a major role in ensuring profitability in the Canadian woodworking sector of the future.
