RUSSIA: United Wagon Co has installed a robot for welding open wagon components at its Tikhvin plant, ensuring high quality welds by minimising human variability.
The company said the robot would release highly-skilled specialist electric gas welders to undertake other work which requires semiautomatic welding.
The robotic system was developed by the factory’s staff in conjunction with Japanese automation company Fanuc, welding specialist Abicor Binzel of Germany and Slovakian engineering company Kovaco, with some tooling made at the factory.
The equipment is designed for rapid readjustment and recalibration to suit other processes such as the welding of span bolsters and end beams.
‘Involving in-house specialists in successful commissioning of a new welding station showcases the technological prowess and high competences of the plant and its staff for implementing sophisticated automation and robotics projects’, said Alexey Maksin, Chief Electronics Engineer at the Tikhvin plant.
