Fully Autonomous AI-Controlled Grinding Robot Accelerates Deburring of Thick Sheet Metal Parts

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Thanks to an autonomous grinding robot from Teqram, Minerd & Sons was able to reduce the delivery time from two weeks to just three days. The steel service center in Pittsburgh (USA) has significantly accelerated the finishing of plasma- and oxy-fuel-cut sheet metal parts with the Easy Grinder. The system processes thick sheets fully automatically, without programming or teaching, and delivers consistent quality with higher throughput.

As an important partner for customers in mechanical engineering, the construction industry, and heavy machinery, Minerd & Sons processes several thousand tons of steel sheet annually. The quality of thermally cut edges is crucial for weldability, coating quality, and further processing. Until recently, edge cleaning and finishing was a physically demanding manual process that relied on experienced skilled workers. "We have always invested in modern technologies to provide our customers with real value," explains Mark Minerd, president of Minerd & Sons. "Ready-to-assemble components require impeccable edge quality—and manual grinding has increasingly become a bottleneck."

The system delivers consistently reproducible edge quality—on every single part. This level of consistency is hardly achievable manually and provides our customers with a clear added value.

Automation as a Response to Skilled Labor Shortages, Safety, and Process Stability

With the Easy Grinder, this critical process step is now automated for a variety of different component geometries. Throughput increases while simultaneously reducing pressure on the labor market. "Our goal was to relieve qualified employees from monotonous and physically demanding work and to assign them to more value-generating tasks," says Mark Minerd. "This not only improves safety but also sustainably enhances the working conditions for our team." Furthermore, the process quality is impressive: "The system delivers consistently reproducible edge quality—on every single part. This level of consistency is hardly achievable manually and provides our customers with a clear added value."

Proven Technology as a Secure Investment

A comprehensive evaluation process strengthened confidence in the performance of the Easy Grinder. "Initially, we had concerns about the necessary monitoring," reports Matt Minerd, Work Order Manager. "However, Teqram showed us that the Easy Grinder is a mature, proven production system. We were particularly impressed with how flexibly the team developed solutions even for complex and demanding parts. This mindset is extraordinary." The benefits became immediately apparent: "Unlike traditional flatbed grinding machines, the Easy Grinder efficiently processes both inner and outer contours," Matt adds.

Intelligent and Flexible Edge Processing

The Easy Grinder is not a rigid automation system but an intelligent, adaptive solution. Utilizing modern 3D vision technology and an AI-based control system, the system automatically recognizes the geometry of each component and independently selects the optimal machining strategy. Heavy slag is reliably removed, sharp edges are precisely beveled, and profiles are accurately rounded— for example, with a consistent radius of two millimeters to ensure optimal coating adhesion. Meanwhile, cutting surfaces are cleaned, and the heat-affected zone is removed. The operation remains remarkably simple: employees only need to place pallets with raw parts in the work area. The robot fully autonomously handles the handling, processing, and clean stacking.

To further increase throughput and delivery performance, Minerd & Sons is relying on unattended night production. Mark Minerd emphasizes, "Lights-out grinding equates to an additional shift—without any additional personnel." The collaboration with Dutch technology partner Teqram is also seen as a clear success factor. "The time difference is an advantage for us," explains Matt Minerd. "We report an issue during the day, and by the next morning, a solution is already in place. The direct support and detailed video documentation demonstrate that Teqram takes responsibility and thinks long-term."

With the Easy Grinder, Minerd & Sons solidifies its position as a technological leader in the industry—through stable quality, increased workplace safety, and maximum process efficiency.

*Specialist in Automation for Sheet Metal Processing, Teqram B.V.