Automotive industry Tier 2 supplier, Weser Metall Umformtechnik near Kassel, Germany, has invested DM4.6m (GBP1.44m) in two automated tandem press lines. Dieffenbacher Automation supplied the lines and orchestrated the automation. The project involved the interfacing of 17 FANUC part-handling robots with 11 power presses.

Weser1s investment is typical of the press shop modernisation that is happening around Europe.

OEMs want sequenced, just-in-time delivery of pressings and fabricated assemblies.

Weser decided to automate the press shop and speed up tool changeovers and so shorten production campaigns and so reduce in-house stocks.

Weser has also adopted Dieffenbacher Automation1s PC-based Superset Line Control using ProfiBus technology.

The Superset covers centralised start-up and shutdown of a press line and centralised management of press line setting parameters.

The system overviews sheet blank stocks, the FANUC blank-loading robots, blank lubrication, the co-ordination of robot programs and automated zero-setting.

Detailed screen graphics simplify error detection by showing the status of all presses.

Dieffenbacher1s main activity has been in the automation of existing press lines and the supply of new press lines to the domestic appliances industry.

Lately, the company has turned its attention towards the automotive scene.