From Elliot Cloud, through the Project EXTRUBOTwe are committed to the digitisation and the application of new technological solutions to collaborate with the promotion and support of Business and Innovation Clusters (BIC) for the improving the competitiveness of SMEs. In collaboration with Cluster de Automoción (AEI Rioja), Standard profil and Umibots Robotic SolutionsIn order to guarantee the correct storage in the final operation (cutting and collection in the containers) in the extrusion process of a vehicle, we have carried out a nine-month project, which will be carried out in the following way: a) to ensure the correct storage in the final operation (cutting and collection in the containers) in the process of extrusion of a vehicle, ddeveloping and validating a prototype of an automatic system for such an operation.
Project data
- Call for applications: Support programme for Business and Innovation Clusters (BICs) 2022b.
- Duration: 9 months (July 2022 - April 2023).
- Project budget: 327,161 euros.
- Grant awarded: 255,838 euros.
Objective of the EXTRUBOT project
In the extrusion process, the final operation is the cutting and collection of the profile in progress in suitable containers that guarantee the correct storage without damaging the surface of the profile (mainly the surface that will be seen from the outside after the assembly on the vehicle).
At present, this operation is carried out manually due to the complexity of storing the profiles in an orderly manner in the containers and the subsequent inclusion of the separating elements that prevent excess pressure between layers of profiles, with the corresponding risk of marks. This situation of manual collection also implies a limitation of the extrusion speed as a consequence of the operator's load limit.
The EXTRUBOT project will develop and validate a prototype of an automatic system for the in-line collection of extruded rigid profiles to ensure their correct stacking in containers. The project will focus on the construction of a functional prototype with the possibility of being used in production and finally the validation of this technology for its systematic application in similar lines.
The prototype is expected to consist of an advanced robotics solution containing an automated guided vehicle (AGV), integrated with an industrial robot (spider, 6-axis, or collaborative), accompanied by a machine vision solution. This fully automated system will increase productivity, reduce costs by increasing production speed, and improve reputation by reducing the number of batches rejected by the customer.
