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Four new robots were recently installed at the Electrolux manufacturing plant in Dudley Park, South Australia, increasing production by 10 percent. The facility can now turn out 2000 high-gloss oven and grill cavities each day. Using robots to control powder coating gun movement, the automated process also saves energy and improves working conditions.

By replacing linear reciprocators with the six axis articulated robots, the system is flexible and allows different types of cavities to be processed at any time, which is critical as the site manufactures over 120 different oven models. The total investment in the powder coating facility will be returned through savings within two years.

Electrolux has been able to achieve substantial energy savings of up to 15 percent when compared to the old production line process. The automated powder coating solution not only saves energy by eliminating the need for the drying process. It also reduced water usage and is helping to increase productivity, achieve savings and improve the health & safety in the workplace.

Electrolux has set their goal to reduce factory emissions by 15 percent by the end of 2012.

According to Electrolux manufacturing engineer, Colin Thomas, “Installing ABB’s robotics equipment on the new coating process has been instrumental in our sustainability success and made a huge contribution to the site’s achievement in reaching its emission reduction goals for the year.”

Electrolux is one of the featured brands of exceptional appliances at Fine Lines.

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