Canadian Manufacturer Deploys Fanuc Robot Cell to Automate Upholstery Process

en.Wedoany.com Reported - A Canadian manufacturer has automated the upholstery process for seat cushion linings using a robotic work cell developed by Fanuc system integrator Dvolu. The system, based on the Fanuc M-710iC industrial robot, performs tasks traditionally reliant on manual labor, including fabric stretching, stapling, trimming, and palletizing.

According to Dvolu, the system uses machine vision to identify the position and orientation of seat cushions on a pallet. The robot then executes picking, positioning, stretching, and stapling actions, while an integrated laser trimming unit palletizes the finished components. The entire process adapts to part variations without requiring manual adjustments.

The primary goal of the project was to address labor shortages faced by furniture manufacturers, particularly in repetitive, high-volume manual assembly positions. Dvolu stated that the cell provides tangible labor relief by automating one of the most difficult roles in the industry to recruit and retain workers for.

Dvolu noted that automating the upholstery process is highly challenging, with fabric behavior, part variations, and cycle time constraints being the main obstacles. The M-710iC robot meets these requirements with its performance. This series of robots is positioned as a medium-payload model, capable of handling loads from 12 kg to 70 kg, featuring a slim wrist design, high axis speeds, and a reach of up to 3.1 meters.

The upholstery process has long been considered a difficult area for automation due to fabric being easily stretched, wrinkled, and unpredictable in behavior. This deployment demonstrates that the combination of robotics, machine vision, and automated processing is gradually expanding into complex manufacturing stages traditionally reliant on manual labor.

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