Innovation Award BATCH SIZE 1+
Zimmer Group, L'Engineers and Schmidt Groupe celebrate joint success
On 17 November 2023, Zimmer Group, L'Engineers and Schmidt Groupe received the prestigious ife award "Innovation Award BATCH SIZE 1+" in the project service provider category. The award was presented by ife - Netzwerk für Einzelfertiger as part of the "Innovator of the Year" ceremony organised by Deutsche Wirtschaft (DDW) at the Hilton Hotel in Berlin.
The coveted ife award recognises innovative approaches and pioneering concepts in the field of make-to-order production. This year's winner was L'Engineers in co-operation with the Zimmer Group and the Schmidt Groupe. The joint, ground-breaking innovation of robot-assisted drilling for batch size 1 production in the furniture industry was honoured.
The basic structure of the machine consists of the basic machine with continuous shuttle circulation, a handling robot, a measuring station for precision, processing robots, a fitting robot and a removal robot. The machine control system is directly connected to the higher-level production control system or MES and enables the system to be scaled according to customer requirements.
The award-winning machining process not only revolutionises precision, but also significantly speeds up the production of individual pieces of furniture. An innovative, vertical workpiece transport system with patented shuttles, which ensures all processes in the machine with just one workpiece loading, is the result of the close collaboration between the three companies. The consistent reduction of non-productive times thanks to the shuttle circulation and the focus on maximum availability through the use of technically proven industrial robots contribute to an efficient production process.
The system is also characterised by its modular design, which enables both the implementation of the machining functions and the connection to upstream and downstream handling processes. The aim of the development is not only to carry out the required machining processes precisely and with high performance, but also to compensate for the weak points of established machines on the market. From seamless automation to the highly variable drilling of furniture parts and the insertion of fittings, the system offers a comprehensive solution.
Winning the ife award emphasises the innovative strength and successful collaboration between Zimmer Group, L'Engineers and Schmidt Groupe. Further information on the award-winning system can be found here.
