7robotics’ Innovative Robotic Door Handling System at Oregon Door?

Oregon Door , a custom door manufacturer located in Winston, Oregon, sought to enhance their production processes by integrating automation into their facility. Partnering with 7robotics , Oregon Door embarked on a journey to revolutionize their door handling operations. This case study delves into the collaboration between Oregon Door and 7robotics, showcasing the successful implementation of a cutting-edge Robotic Door Handling System.?

The Challenge

Oregon Door faced several challenges in their manufacturing processes, which included:?

1. Streamlining production by passing doors through trimming and banding equipment twice.?
2. Incorporating barcode scanning to interpret door specifications and communicate with downstream equipment.?
3. Eliminating heavy, repetitive labor tasks from the manufacturing floor.?

Additionally, the diverse range of door sizes added complexity to the project. Seeking a solution, Oregon Door turned to 7robotics to address these challenges and optimize their production efficiency.?

“The robots align and set the product differently depending on if it’s first pass or second pass, so we had to carefully track the zero corner throughout the entire line to present the doors referencing the correct edges. This became especially difficult because of the range of product lengths and widths.”?

- Zachary Alliman , 7robotics Technical Director

The Solution

7robotics designed a comprehensive turnkey solution tailored to Oregon Door's specific requirements. The Robotic Door Feeder & Stacker incorporated advanced features to automate door handling, including:?

VERSATILITY IN SIZE HANDLING

The system demonstrated exceptional flexibility in handling doors of varying sizes, ranging from 12 to 48 inches wide and 36 to 120 inches long. With a maximum weight capacity of 550 pounds per door at 4 stacks of 10 doors, it continuously processed Oregon Door's diverse product range effortlessly.

SEAMLESS INTEGRATION

7robotics worked closely with Oregon Door to define the layout and parameters, ensuring optimal fit within the facility. The integration with third-party equipment, including edge banders and PLC controls, was executed seamlessly.?

AUTOMATED OPERATION

Equipped with advanced features such as barcode scanning, the system streamlined the handling process by automatically pulling door specifications from the customer's database, setting up the correct parameters, and adjusting for size. This autonomous operation allows the operators to focus on quality control and process monitoring rather than manual handling tasks, which not only enhanced safety but also boosted overall efficiency. For example, standard size SKUs can be processed up to 2 doors per minute.??

“The 7robotics cell has certainly changed our process allowing us to efficiently use the new equipment…but the programming that was included as part of the project to automate the changes door for door has been one of the biggest improvements.”?

- Dan Allen, Oregon Door Senior Manufacturing Engineer?

Customer Feedback

Dan Allen, Sr. Manufacturing Engineer at Oregon Door, shared his perspective on the partnership with 7robotics. He highlighted the seamless collaboration with 7robotics' sales, technical, and installation teams, emphasizing their professionalism and expertise. Dan stated, “Robotics was a bit of a ‘black box’ for our team, having never experienced the technology… Very quickly in the upfront process, the alternative vendors were dropped from conversations gaining a comfort level with 7robotics’ expertise, and willingness to walk a new customer through his experience.”?

After several months of production, Oregon Door observed positive outcomes, including increased throughput, enhanced safety, and improved process efficiency. “The comfort level with robotics in general,” Dan shared, “has been totally confirmed seeing a very repeatable and safe operation moving our heavy product. We are consistently producing doors through the cell and marching towards our overall throughput goal.” The robotic cell significantly transformed their processes, leading to cost savings in labor and increased capacity.

“I certainly would refer other manufacturers to 7robotics for automation needs. The small team really gave the customer a feel that they were on your side and were all in to accomplish the goal.”?

- Dan Allen, Oregon Door Senior Manufacturing Engineer

Conclusion

The partnership between Oregon Door and 7robotics exemplifies the successful integration of robotics technology to optimize manufacturing processes. By leveraging 7robotics' expertise, Oregon Door achieved significant improvements in efficiency, safety, and cost savings. The Robotic Door Handling System not only meets Oregon Door's specific requirements but also serves as a testament to the power of automation in revolutionizing traditional manufacturing industries. As Oregon Door continues to innovate and grow, their collaboration with 7robotics sets a benchmark for excellence in automation solutions within the custom door manufacturing sector.?