FANUC Robots Help Fight the Battle Against COVID-19 Pandemic - PaR Systems

FANUC’s team of Authorized System Integrators and automation equipment suppliers are working tirelessly with companies that manufacture life-saving products including personal protective equipment (PPE), disinfectants, medical diagnostic equipment, ventilators and many other items used in the fight against the coronavirus. New and innovative automated systems are also helping companies minimize product handling to create more space on the production floor and meet social distancing requirements.  

PaR Systems - Shoreview, MN: Automated Assembly System for Respirators

A major manufacturer of personal production equipment (PPE) needed to quickly ramp up production of their respirators to aid in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

PaR Systems was able to design and build four robotic dispensing systems in just five weeks.  Each system includes a FANUC LR Mate 200iD robot for automated dispensing.  Since implementing the system, parts are produced within 25 minutes, just a fraction of the time it took with the previous automation.  Now, the customer is able to assemble nearly 20,000 respirators per week. 

“I’ve never seen a faster or more seamless delivery. It was truly a collaborative effort between PaR, FANUC, our customers and suppliers - all united to help produce this important equipment towards a cause,” said Jon Sakry, SVP of Operations at PaR Systems.  “Our team went from concept to install for the customer in just five weeks!  We took advanced measures to ensure the health and safety of our employees and customer teams were not compromised, including working extended hours and weekends to meet deadlines, safely separating testing groups and maintaining safe social distancing measures throughout the entire production process.”  

Since implementing the system, parts are produced within 25 minutes, just a fraction of the time it took with the previous automation.  Now, the customer is able to assemble nearly 20,000 respirators per week.

This example underscores PaR’s mission to help manufacturers solve production challenges with automated solutions to get critical supplies to those who need them.

“In my years at PaR, we’ve done some important work including protective equipment for our military personnel, and assisting with the clean-up at various nuclear reactor sites.  I count this latest automated system to produce respirators that protect first responders as another very important project, and I’m proud we were able to deliver the system in an extremely quick timeframe,” said Dan Hagen, Business Segment Leader at PaR Systems. 

To watch a brief overview video of the system, visit bit.ly/par-fights-covid. For more information about PaR, visit www.par.com.

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