HAIGER/STRIBRO - As a global leader in material handling and supply chain solutions, the KION Group relies on automation solutions from CLOOS for the welding of industrial trucks. In total, the Group uses more than 70 CLOOS robot systems at eight production sites worldwide. "In the years of cooperation with CLOOS, we have been able to jointly develop new technology standards that have created added value for both sides," explains Jürgen Grünewald, Senior Project Manager Welding & Automation Production Technologies at the KION Group. For example, CLOOS and KION have developed an interlinked robot system for the automated welding of masts for the Stribro site. This concept is used several times around the world.
With more than 40,000 employees in over 100 countries, KION's solutions improve the flow of materials and information in production plants, warehouses and distribution centres. More than 1.6 million forklift trucks and warehouse trucks as well as around 8,000 installed systems are in use worldwide - at customers of various sizes in numerous industries on six continents.
High level of automation ensures one-piece flow
In 2015, KION opened a new site for the production of reach trucks and pallet stackers in Stribro, Czech Republic. As at all its sites, KION relies on innovative production technologies and continuously invests in automation and digitalisation along the entire production chain. The Stribro site has grown considerably since it opened. Around 70 of the 400 employees there now work in welding. Due to the general shortage of skilled labour and many industrial companies in the region, it is not easy to find qualified employees. KION wants to counteract this with a high degree of automation. "The safety of our employees is our top priority," emphasises Jakub Stajner, Project Leader Industrial Engineering at KION in Stribro. "In addition, our goal is to achieve a one-piece flow in our production, where we make the best possible use of the available space. Last but not least, we want to fulfil and exceed our customers' requirements in terms of quality, costs and delivery times."
Welding as a central production process
This is why the company relies on automation solutions from CLOOS for welding. KION now uses seven robot systems in Stribro. Another one is currently in the assembly process.
"We chose CLOOS because the company is the best provider on the market when it comes to combining welding processes and robot systems," emphasises Grünewald. "This is a great advantage for KION, as welding is a key manufacturing process for us."