Slag removal Efficiency increased: automated plastering and blasting

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Teqram B.V.

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In the past, sheet metal parts for excavator buckets were laboriously processed by hand with a chisel and angle grinder at Martin in Ludesch, near Feldkirch (Austria) and the border with Liechtenstein. Since July 2024, the company has been using a Teqram robot that takes over the deburring and blasting of sheet metal blanks fully automatically. This has allowed Martin to increase efficiency in parts manufacturing and improve working conditions for employees.

As one of the largest manufacturers in Austria, Martin GmbH, a subsidiary of Huppenkothen, produces approximately 20,000 attachments annually, including quick change systems, buckets, and hydraulic couplings. This is an enormous quantity that demands the highest efficiency in processing.

High physical strain

The processed sheet metal blanks, with material thicknesses ranging from 8 to 70 millimeters (approx. 0,3 to 2,8 inches), are cut on a modern plasma and oxy-fuel cutting machine. Until recently, several employees were engaged in manually preparing these parts for further processing. The slag on the underside was removed with a chisel, while the top side was processed with an angle grinder. This work was not only time-consuming but also physically extremely demanding. The components often weigh over 50 kilos and all need to be turned. Additionally, the hours of handling vibrating tools pose a significant strain on the employees.

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"Finding employees for this heavy and monotonous work was difficult enough in itself," explains Herwig Koch, Operations and Technical Manager at Martin. "Moreover, sick leave caused significant disruptions in operations." Working with such hand tools is not without danger. "Thanks to automation with the Teqram robot, these problems are now a thing of the past."

The discovery of this revolutionary system at Euroblech 2022 (International Technology Fair for Sheet Metal Processing) was a turning point for Martin. "A robot that works without programming? That immediately caught our interest. For our variety of parts, this is a basic requirement," Koch reports enthusiastically.

Flexible, precise, and fully automatic

The innovative system from Teqram offers maximum flexibility. The flame-cut parts are placed on Euro pallets in the robot cell, where the operator only selects the desired processing quality. From simple slag removal to grinding narrow sides or creating a 2-millimeter radius (approx. 0,08 inch radius) on all corners—the Easy Grinder from Teqram handles every requirement with various automatically changing tools. The parts are also turned and gripped fully automatically.

After the workpieces are plastered, a rotary table blasting machine from Rösler handles the blasting. The Teqram robot nests and places the parts automatically for optimal utilization of the blasting machine and restacks the finished parts onto the pallets. All without programming. The result is ready-to-install components that can be further processed immediately.

What distinguishes Teqram is the vision technology. Through the Easy-Eye system and 3D vision sensors, the robot recognizes the contours of the workpieces without the need for elaborate reading of drawings. Based on the determined geometry and material thickness, the weight is calculated and the appropriate gripper is selected. The workpiece is then automatically positioned on the Easy Flipper. The Easy Flipper turns the component so that double-sided processing can be carried out optimally.

No programming

Teqram follows the "no programming required" approach with all its solutions. This makes the system particularly attractive for companies like Martin, who produce small to medium batch sizes and frequently change workpieces. Time-intensive programming would be simply uneconomical for such companies.

With automation from Teqram, Martin not only optimizes its production processes but also ensures that it offers the highest quality and reliability to its customers—and all with maximum efficiency. In addition, working conditions for employees have significantly improved, making Martin an even more attractive employer.

Vision Guided Robotics

The autonomous robot systems developed by Teqram are based on a modular kit system. With innovative components like a 3D vision system, intelligent grippers, a turning device, and AI-based control, various robotic solutions can be flexibly configured—always with the principle that no programming or manual teaching is required. In addition to the Easy Grinder and Easy Shotblast solutions used at Martin, Teqram also offers systems for loading and unloading deburring and straightening machines, through-feed blasting machines, and milling machines.

Automated deburring line

Future-proof production of cranes