Top performance in wood processing with the Lenze FAST Application Software for robotics
High-tech robotics in a UNESCO World Heritage Site: where tradition meets the future
Pioneering innovations for wood processing are created in the heart of the historic Fagus factory in Alfeld, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and architectural milestone of modernity. This is where Weinig Grecon GmbH & Co. KG develops solutions that set new standards in terms of precision, efficiency and automation – for customers worldwide.
As part of the international Weinig Group, the company is one of the technology leaders in finger-jointing technology, a process for the longitudinal joining of solid wood or wood-based materials for profitable and sustainable wood utilization. With around 2,400 employees worldwide and production sites in Germany, Luxemburg and Asia, Weinig serves customers in over 80 countries – from medium-sized wood processors to global industrial groups.
What matters in competition: Quality. Speed. Automation.
The demands for modern woodworking are high: shorter cycle times, an increasing number of variants and a growing shortage of skilled workers require flexible automation solutions that can be quickly integrated and easily scaled. This is precisely where Weinig Grecon comes in with its new robot solution – and has brought automation specialist Lenze on board to implement a particularly innovative machine concept including a Delta robot for a finger-jointing line.
Intelligent feeding for more rhythm and speed
The project focused on the development of an intelligent feeding solution for a finger-jointing line. Previously, the raw material – pieces of wood of different lengths and, depending on the process, also of different qualities – was fed into the system manually or using simple mechanics. This was time-consuming, labor-intensive, error-prone and damaged the edges of the wood.
The solution: a Delta robot that automatically picks up the pieces of wood delivered in the pallet layers, aligns them precisely and feeds them to the finger-jointing line at the right moment – reliably, quickly and in a variable format. An image processing system records the position and alignment of each individual piece of wood, the robot picks it up, turns it and sorts it.
Demanding and clearly defined: The requirements for robotics
It quickly became clear to Weinig Grecon that the automation solution had to be highly dynamic, precise, modularly expandable and at the same time easy to program and integrate. The robotics programming had to be seamlessly integrated into the existing machine control system - without additional proprietary systems or complex interfaces.
In addition, there was a requirement for an open, future-proof system that could be flexibly adapted and reused for other applications.
Lenze FAST Application Software for robotics: Fast motion results
With its ready-made FAST robotics template, Lenze provided exactly the right tool for this challenge. The solution is fully integrated into the CODESYS-based PLC programming environment so that complex kinematics such as Delta robots can be programmed directly in the controller – without additional hardware or external software tools. This also enables fast commissioning with full transparency in the code. Motion control, coordinate transformation and path planning are automatically taken over by the template. This saves valuable engineering time and drastically reduces complexity.
The software has a modular structure and can be easily adapted to individual requirements using standardized function blocks. Seamless integration into the existing machine control system creates a consistent solution from a single source. Flexible configuration of the number of Delta robots allows the machine to be adapted and scaled as required.
Perfect synergy of powerful hardware and software
Weinig Grecon also relies on Lenze components for the hardware – optimally harmonized with the software. The compact hardware design significantly reduces the amount of assembly and wiring required, resulting in lower installation costs and less complexity.
- The powerful Lenze controller c550 controls the machine module and coordinates the motion and robot logic. The controller communicates easily with the higher-level system controller via Profinet.
- The i750 servo drives ensure precise and dynamic motion sequences.
- The MCS servomotors deliver the necessary performance for fast pick & place cycles.
All components work together seamlessly – for smooth operation, minimum commissioning effort and maximum system availability.
As a result, it was possible to develop a machine concept that not only impresses with its precision, but also with its top robotic performance of 80 picks per minute. Last but not least, the compact design is a real plus in the often cramped environment of production lines.
Working as a strong team
Right from the start, the collaboration between Weinig Grecon and Lenze was characterized by openness, technical expertise and a clear common goal: the fastest possible implementation of a high-performance robot solution for the finger-jointing line. The result speaks for itself. The solution is not only efficient and future-proof, but also an example of how clear requirements, standardized automation tools and cooperation based on partnership make innovation possible in the shortest possible time.