A fully automated Smart Factory in record time

Using the set of drawings of the packing stations, the TruConnect experts analyzed each individual part of the assembly. In close cooperation with SNBC, the parties considered which technology was the most suitable, which machines were the most appropriate and which automation concepts were the most practical. This was always carried out with the capacity of the STOPA store in mind.

Four TRUMPF laser machines, two punching machines and three bending machines, as well as the corresponding automation components are connected to the 126-metre long STOPA store with 360 storage locations and two pallet picker cranes. The store is controlled using the TruTops Fab Storage Module. It controls the entire production material flow and manages the inventory. This ensures that the required material is always at the right machine at the right time and the finished parts are reliably conveyed to the following work station.

The TruConnect experts from TRUMPF and the employees from SNBC worked closely together when creating the processes. This is because people who have worked in manually controlled production will quickly become overwhelmed by an ad-hoc change to fully automated production. In many workshops, TRUMPF has familiarized the operators with the new system and drawn up practical processes together with them.

The numerous modules of the production control software, TruTops Fab, ensure that a large number of the work steps run fully automatically at SNBC. All steps for creating production programs in a system can be completed automatically with TruTops Boost. Production orders are managed and machine jobs are controlled with the Quickjob module. The automatic message concerning the order status, the processing times and the material usage provides a high level of transparency. Due to automation, SNBC has already been able to increase its production by around 20 percent. The work outlay for employees has decreased immensely.