Creating Double Value with Low-Cost AutomationGrasping Manufacturing TrendsA well-known Taiwanese fluid component manufacturer recently successfully introduced an intelligent laser marking machine combined with a dual-layer trolley robot to achieve production automation, generating significant economic benefits. To comply with the requirement that key parts must have production traceability barcodes, the company must follow international barcode standards verified at Grade B or above. Originally, laser marking machines and barcode quality stations were set up at the post-production process to ensure product quality.As labor costs continue to rise, the manufacturer actively sought automation solutions. After detailed investigation and evaluation, an intelligent laser marking machine with post-marking quality inspection capability became their top choice. Combined with robotic arms, automated production was achieved, greatly improving production efficiency. After implementing the intelligent laser marking machine, the factory successfully combined the manpower needed for two workstations into one, seamlessly integrating with the preceding and following stations, directly saving the labor costs of several operators. Moreover, this innovation not only improved production efficiency but also ensured high product quality standards, creating doubled value for the enterprise. This successful introduction of an automated laser workstation marks an important step forward for the fluid component manufacturer in the field of intelligent manufacturing. The company plans to continue promoting the application of automation technology to respond to market demand changes and continuously enhance competitiveness.The application scope of the automated laser workstation is quite broad, suitable for industries requiring production traceability marking such as automotive parts, electronics, and engine components, thereby improving product quality and production efficiency.

Customer Pain Points   Dedicated to a client manufacturing socket wrenches, despite previously investing in four laser marking machines for hand tool marking. They also tried introducing a rotary table laser marking machine, but due to the lack of automatic loading and unloading functions, they still relied heavily on manual labor. With the labor market imbalance becoming increasingly severe and labor costs continuously rising, the client urgently sought a solution provided by ZB Laser to achieve semi-automation or full automation in their production process to address current manufacturing challenges.Solution   The ZB Laser team conducted an in-depth analysis of the client's needs and production environment and provided a laser automation workstation solution. Advanced robotic arms replaced traditional manual loading and unloading, combined with conveyor belts for seamless pallet movement. The intelligent laser marking machine is equipped with a built-in vision recognition system that automatically adjusts focus and height upon detecting the workpiece contour and performs laser marking at the designated position. Operators only need to handle loading and unloading at the pallet tower. The flexible application of robotic arms combined with multifunctional intelligent laser marking technology makes the workstation operation smarter and more precise.   This innovative configuration not only maintains stable production capacity but also reduces required labor by more than half. It significantly improves production efficiency and product quality, making the production line more flexible and reliable. This successful case not only provides a strong response to the client's issues but also demonstrates ZB Laser's outstanding technology and service level in automated laser equipment integration.   The laser automation workstation solution not only meets the actual needs of the client but also brings excellent competitiveness and sustainable development potential to the production line.

[Customer Pain Points] A well-known international hand tool manufacturer located in an industrial park in Tainan specializes in producing hand tools of various sizes. The production line uses laser marking processes for identification. Originally, it was a one-operator-one-machine setup, making production capacity and quality difficult to control. Labor issues intensified during the pandemic. However, this mode now faces challenges, with labor costs continuously rising and recruitment of suitable talent becoming increasingly difficult.  [Solution] Under the planning and design of the ZB Laser team, the single workstation was automated. The vibration bowl laser marking machine was adopted for automatic feeding, combined with visual recognition for material identification and confirmation. After laser marking, the system automatically unloads the materials. Now, the operator only needs to perform one-time loading and unloading, completing the entire laser marking workflow. One operator can manage multiple machines. This change not only reduces labor requirements but also ensures stable production capacity. This is not just an internal factory improvement but a technological revolution in the industry. This successful case brings new thinking to the hand tool equipment sector, demonstrating the advantages of technology in improving production efficiency and reducing costs.  Keywords: Hand tool laser engraving machine, customized laser equipment, automated laser, hardware parts laser engraving machine

Taiwan's leading steel manufacturer, with an annual production capacity of 16 million tons. Amid the global ESG trend, the company is actively pursuing zero-carbon manufacturing processes. The effort begins with the indispensable production labeling on each steel coil. Maintaining stable production capacity and quality, the biggest challenge for the team is how to perform laser marking on large steel coils and integrate with automated peripheral operations.To prevent mixing products from different orders, the customer manually writes or uses inkjet printing to mark numbers on the outer surface of the steel coil. This approach causes two main issues: first, the use of ink consumables and periodic maintenance; second, ink markings are hard to remove. As a result, materials with steel coil numbers cannot be used directly by customers such as automotive or casing manufacturers. They often have to cut off the numbered area before usage, causing material loss and indirectly increasing overall material costs.With the assistance of the ZB Laser team, smart automation was introduced.SolutionThe current challenge is to reduce the size of the numbers and use laser marking on the steel coil straps instead.The steel coil number must be accurately positioned on a small area and on non-fixed positions of the strap; furthermore, laser marking must be performed on different straps.   The proposed solution is to combine laser marking with a six-axis robotic arm for movement, assisted by an AI vision system, laser rangefinder, and other intelligent positioning systems, enabling precise and intelligent positioning of the laser marking machine to guide the correct engraving path.Laser marking offers advantages such as high speed, stable laser power, and long service life. It solves the steel coil material loss issue and is environmentally friendly with no pollution. Paired with the robotic arm, it eliminates the time-consuming manual alignment operations.By switching to laser marking for steel coil numbers, the ink pollution is eliminated and the steel coil material loss problem is resolved. The material yield of steel coils is greatly improved, helping the company save nearly ten million NTD annually, achieving zero pollution, waste reduction, and low cost in the manufacturing process.News report link → https://n.yam.com/Article/20231212155328