Quick-fire validation testing by engineers at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has helped Anchor Magnets Ltd to look at automating some of its production processes.
Established in 1984, Anchor manufactures an extensive range of magnetic products for diverse applications and can produce up to six miles of flexible magnetic extrusion material each working day.
Engineers from the AMRC’s Factory 2050 visited the company’s facility to determine which of its processes could be optimised through automation.
The AMRC (
www.amrc.co.uk) developed a process that allows Anchor Magnets to pick and place magnetic profiles into the required packaging (this process is currently completed manually).
The company can now see a significant benefit from automating the process to allow for magnet stacking during ‘lights out’. A physical demonstrator was created at Factory 2050 for this project.
Warren Turner, managing director of Anchor Magnets (
www.anchormagnets.com), said: “It is fantastic that AMRC’s Factory 2050 was able to fund and test technology on our behalf, creating real-life scenarios using our materials.
"De-risking this part of the feasibility study and having access to specialist skills and resources is an enormous help to SMEs like Anchor Magnets.
“The AMRC was able to demonstrate the packing capabilities of a low-cost robot for magnetic materials.
“While the particular robot used was not suitable for our environment and products, it has given us an idea of what may be possible.”