Press Automation

2
Press Automation Latest Innovations from Güdel AG for High Speed Press Lines Langenthal, 03.08.2021. The Press Automation division of Güdel AG is laun- ching two innovative new products on the market: the Universal Tooling and the Positioning Unit. Both products supple- ment Güdel AG‘s proven automation solutions for high speed press lines. Güdel‘s Universal Tooling takes the indi- vidual blanks from a stack and places them on a conveyor. The Universal Tooling al- lows that no part-specific tooling is requi- red for the various different blank forms and sizes anymore. The patent-pending Universal Tooling consists of very light, high-strength alu- minum arms with pneumatic position lo- cking. It can be equipped with up to 22 vacuum suction cups (Venturi nozzles or vacuum injectors) and 4 double sheet sensors, and is able to process steel and aluminum blanks, single and multiple blanks, and contour-cut and welded sheet metal. The suction cups are positioned by the various axles of the fully automatic fanner magnets. The Universal Tooling is moni- tored via a specific screen in the Güdel HMI, which displays the positions and status of every suction cup arm in real time. Activated and not activated suction cup arms are shown in different colors, and the required positions of the suction cup arms are saved in the corresponding tool group. The Universal Tooling offers real custo- mer benefits by eliminating the need for part-specific toolings, which means there is no need for a tooling changer or stora- ge space for toolings. It is a fully automatic system requiring no manual preparation. The tooling change times are minimized by automatic setting of the tooling arms. Positioning Unit The Güdel Positioning Unit detects and positions up to four blanks so that they can be taken by the downstream transfer device for quick and precise insertion into the first pressing tool. As with the Univer- sal Tooling, there is likewise no need for expensive tooling changes here with the Positioning Unit. The Positioning Unit, too, is patent-pen- ding, and offers a new dimension of flexi- bility in the processing of steel and alu- minum blanks. When fully equipped, the positioning unit can process up to four blanks simultaneously. As the name sug- gests, the positioning unit is not only ca- pable of centering the blanks, but also of moving them throughout the entire wor- king range and rotating them up to 90°. That allows the positions of the individual blanks to be optimized for the pressing tools, to make optimum use of the availa- ble tool surface area. The reference image of the blanks is shown on the Güdel HMI, and a user-fri- endly function allows the various suction cups to be positioned on the individual blank(s). The Positioning Unit offers customers full flexibility at low cost. One advantage of the new arrangement is that it allows op- timal use of the destacking and cleaning processes, before the blanks are then positioned correctly for the pressing

Transcript of Press Automation

Page 1: Press Automation

Press AutomationLatest Innovations from Güdel AG for High Speed Press Lines Langenthal, 03.08.2021. The Press Automation division of Güdel AG is laun-ching two innovative new products on the market: the Universal Tooling and the Positioning Unit. Both products supple-ment Güdel AG‘s proven automation solutions for high speed press lines.

Güdel‘s Universal Tooling takes the indi-vidual blanks from a stack and places them on a conveyor. The Universal Tooling al-lows that no part-specific tooling is requi-red for the various different blank forms and sizes anymore. The patent-pending Universal Tooling consists of very light, high-strength alu-minum arms with pneumatic position lo-cking. It can be equipped with up to 22 vacuum suction cups (Venturi nozzles or vacuum injectors) and 4 double sheet sensors, and is able to process steel and aluminum blanks, single and multiple blanks, and contour-cut and welded sheet metal.The suction cups are positioned by the various axles of the fully automatic fanner magnets. The Universal Tooling is moni-tored via a specific screen in the Güdel HMI, which displays the positions and status of every suction cup arm in real time. Activated and not activated suction

cup arms are shown in different colors, and the required positions of the suction cup arms are saved in the corresponding tool group.The Universal Tooling offers real custo-mer benefits by eliminating the need for part-specific toolings, which means there is no need for a tooling changer or stora-ge space for toolings. It is a fully automatic system requiring no manual preparation. The tooling change times are minimized by automatic setting of the tooling arms.

Positioning UnitThe Güdel Positioning Unit detects and positions up to four blanks so that they can be taken by the downstream transfer device for quick and precise insertion into the first pressing tool. As with the Univer-sal Tooling, there is likewise no need for expensive tooling changes here with the Positioning Unit.The Positioning Unit, too, is patent-pen-ding, and offers a new dimension of flexi-bility in the processing of steel and alu-minum blanks. When fully equipped, the positioning unit can process up to four blanks simultaneously. As the name sug-gests, the positioning unit is not only ca-pable of centering the blanks, but also of moving them throughout the entire wor-

king range and rotating them up to 90°. That allows the positions of the individual blanks to be optimized for the pressing tools, to make optimum use of the availa-ble tool surface area. The reference image of the blanks is shown on the Güdel HMI, and a user-fri-endly function allows the various suction cups to be positioned on the individual blank(s).The Positioning Unit offers customers full flexibility at low cost. One advantage of the new arrangement is that it allows op-timal use of the destacking and cleaning processes, before the blanks are then positioned correctly for the pressing

Page 2: Press Automation

Güdel Group AG

The Güdel Group is a manufacturer of high-precision machine components and provider of sophisticated automation solutions. Its spectrum of products ranges from linear guideways, racks, pinions and drives right through to linear axes and gantry robots. Güdel assembles its products into systems with a high degree of control intelligence and complete plant instal-lations, which can be used in the automotive, tire, metal, rail, intra-logistics, pharmaceutical, renewable energy, wood, and aerospace industries. Güdel’s technology is characterized by its innovation, quality and modularity. The Güdel Group has a workforce of approximately 1,000 employees worldwide in over 20 locations. The Group has been owned by the same family since its foundation more than 60 years ago. The Güdel Group has its headquarters in Switzerland.

Güdel Group AGIndustrie NordCH-4900 LangenthalPhone +41 62 916 91 91Fax +41 62 916 91 [email protected]

Contact

[email protected]

tools. There is no need for part-specific tooling and consequently no need for a tooling changer. The customer can also make further cost savings on storage spa-ce, error avoidance, and manpower. This concept gives the customer the maximum flexibility and reliability needed to satisfy requirements now and in the future. The Positioning Unit is a stand-alone product, incorporating the detection of blanks using a scanner and double sheet detecti-on. It can therefore be easily integrated into an existing front of line as a retrofit solution. Both Güdel Universal Tooling and the Güdel Positioning Unit reduce the com-plexity and variety of part-specific tooling, and thereby also the total cost of owners-hip (TCO). At the same time, they also reduce downtime, resulting in higher productivity for the press line.Successful project for Stellantis“At our Sochaux plant, we only have an XL stamping line, and it is more than 30 years old. We were faced with the ques-tion of whether to renew the existing system or replace it. Güdel gave us very in-depth advice. We ultimately decided to get a complete automation and press so-lution,” said Julien Remy, project manager

of the new press line in Sochaux, who was pleased with the outcome. “It was a plea-sure to work with the qualified team at Güdel. Professional and highly compe-tent,” Remy added.“This collaboration with Stellantis was a success story. Naturally I‘m proud of the advice we were able to provide and the solution we proposed, and I‘m proud of our product. But at the same time, I was really pleased to see how the customer and our employees can come together to build a team that worked together with high efficiency and focus to meet the customer‘s requirements 100%,” said Hans Gut, CEO Güdel Group, emphasi-zing his satisfaction with the project.

Güdel AG – Press AutomationGüdel offers suitable solutions for all subprocesses in press automation. This is especially true of press line re-vitalization (retrofits). This goes from the unstacking of the blanks (front of line, FOL) to press line transfer (PLT) and finished part handling (end of line, EOL). Güdel concepts and system solutions undergo constant further development, continuously being ad-apted to increasing customer require-

ments. The focus is on greater efficien-cy and high availability using cost-efficient additional digital tools and services. So far, 170 press lines around the world, owned by more than 30 OEMs, have been equipped with automation and solutions from Güdel. This puts Güdel in the leading position as an automation supplier for X/XL and XXL sized press lines and makes Güdel a reliable automation partner worldwide.