Investment in advanced Mitsubishi fiber laser increases capacity
Robinson has made a major commitment to capacity enhancement through automated manufacturing with the installation of the Mitsubishi GX-F ADVANCED 12kW fiber laser and 20-shelf SmartFlex RAPID automation tower. This addition to our main De Pere, Wisconsin, facility delivers cutting speeds that are at least double those of previous laser generations.
A key component of automated manufacturing technology is the ability of the machine to access raw materials as needed. This is where the 20-shelf material tower comes into play. Standing three stories tall, the tower is the tallest in Wisconsin for any Mitsubishi customer. It holds up to 120,000 pounds of materials for rapid replenishment or changes.
“This investment in automated manufacturing gives us the ability to meet the demand that our customers are requesting,” states Jamie Tilkens, Process Improvement Manager at Robinson. “This generation of fiber laser completes faster, cleaner cuts without the burr issues common with previous generations. This enables us to increase capacity and deliver finished products in a faster timeframe.”
The ML 4020 GX-F ADVANCED model provides the expanded workspace needed for larger projects such as the power system enclosures for which Robinson is an industry leader. The unit can handle a maximum work piece size of 159.44 x 81.1 inches, or 3,637 pounds, with a maximum processing feed rate of 100 meters per minute.
Automated manufacturing provides future expansion option benefits
The Mitsubishi GX-F ADVANCED 12kW fiber laser can support up to four lasers on the same line with the ability to independently load and unload units. The machine’s highly configurable and expandable design will allow us to reduce operational costs as customer demand evolves.
The unit uses advanced AI technology that monitors light and sound to optimize cutting performance and speed, change nozzles as needed, and maintain stability. The lasers leverage assist-gas technologies to configure the optimal mixes of nitrogen gas and shop air for specific materials and thicknesses.
“AGR cutting technology determines the right mixes to achieve higher feed rates and better cuts without consuming as much costly nitrogen,” Tilkens explains. “Adding another laser into the system will let us run multiple jobs at the same time. This level of automated manufacturing really sets us up for future capacity expansion.”
About Robinson, Inc.
Robinson, Inc., is a single-source metal solutions provider based in De Pere, Wisconsin. Robinson offers design, manufacturing and production fabrication for a wide range of industries. The company employs over 700 people at four Wisconsin locations comprising 770,000 square feet of manufacturing space.
For more information about Robinson’s capabilities or to request a quote, please call (920) 494-7411, or visit https://robinsoninc.com.
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