White Goods Appliance Manufacturing Robotics Integration

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What Are White Goods?

White goods are a type of major household appliance used for everyday tasks such as washing, drying and cooking. From refrigerators to furnaces, these consumer items are often considered necessities for modern-day living, and appliance manufacturing companies must be able to quickly and efficiently produce these gas or electrical appliances to meet consumer demand.

The manufacturing of white goods involves the production of individual components, assembly and testing. An appliance parts company or machine manufacturer must pay careful attention to detail and demonstrate precise coordination between processes since any error can result in defective products that must be discarded or reworked.

Maximize Efficiency and Meet Consumer Demand with Automation Solutions for the Household Appliance Industry

The white goods industry, which manufactures major appliances for use in the home, is a highly competitive market facing growing consumer demands. In order to stay ahead of the competition and make their products more efficient and economical, many appliance suppliers have begun to incorporate robotic and automated solutions into their production lines.

FANUC Is A Partner in White Goods Automation

FANUC provides an array of automation solutions, including CNC machinery and robots equipped with integrated vision systems that improve production speed and efficiency.

Whether manufacturing small appliances, large appliances or a variety of household machines, integrating robotics into appliance manufacturing can improve existing lines through increased quality assurance, greater productivity and is a cost-effective solution to tedious manual labor.

Common White Goods Appliances

White goods appliances are essential to the everyday life of most modern households. Many white goods are produced for the kitchen appliance industry, though there are a few exceptions.

While not a complete list, white-good applicances include:

Refrigerators
Freezers and chest freezers
Ice makers
Wine coolers
Washing machines
Dryers
Ovens
Microwaves
Hoods
Stove tops
Fryers
Air Conditioners
Furnaces
Water heaters
And other household appliances

The white goods industry benefits from the use of automation and robotics solutions to maximize quality, minimize costs and increase production speed.

Benefits of Automation and Robotics for White Goods Industry

The benefits of automation are clear in the highly competitive white goods industry, offering a solution to growing consumer demands and the need for efficiency.

Efficiency

Robotic automation solutions offer precision and accuracy, allowing home appliance companies to create high quantities of products with fewer errors. Automation also offers manufacturers greater control over the production process, leading to improved product quality.

Quality Control

With intuitive programming and operation, FANUC automation solutions and controls allow manufacturers to standardize production processes, resulting in improved product quality and consistency.

Ergonomics

The manufacturing process for white goods, especially larger appliances, can be physically demanding on workers. Robotics in appliance manufacturing can reduce the physical strain associated with manual labor, allowing operators to work in a more comfortable environment, resulting in improved worker productivity and morale.

Flexibility

Automation solutions provide flexibility for manufacturing a variety of household appliances in the same facility. Automation can also be programmed to quickly and easily switch between tasks, allowing manufacturers to produce a wider variety of reliable appliance parts and products in less time, simplifying a facility's manufacturing processes and increasing production capacity.

Competitive Advantage

With robotic automation systems from FANUC, manufacturers can reduce costs associated with labor while ensuring accuracy in their production processes. The result is improved product quality, faster production times, and increased efficiency. This provides manufacturers with a competitive edge in the appliance market.

FANUC Robotics and Automation Solutions for Appliance Manufacturing

FANUC robots and controls are flexible, easy to program, and can be adapted for a wide range of production tasks. These solutions allow manufacturers to increase their productivity while minimizing costs associated with labor and materials.

Cobots

FANUC’s current line of CR and CRX cobots now totals 11 model variations, able to handle products from 4 to 35kg. The latest CRX cobots are extremely robust and can run for eight years without maintenance. Easy-to-use interactive programming enables users to teach points using hand guidance or a Tablet TP with drag and drop icons.

FANUC’s cobots are designed to handle most industrial applications, including assembly, machine tending, palletizing, packing, inspection, sanding, welding and more. Cobots use vision systems in the same way as standard industry robots. FANUC’s iRVision is provided in 2D or 3D to guide the robot to handle, process or inspect a part. For both guidance and inspection, the camera can be mounted to the robot or fixed near the robot.

Painting and Coating Robots

FANUC’s robots for painting and coating are ideal for automating applications that are ergonomically challenging, hazardous and labor-intensive. There’s been a significant increase in robotic painting and coating solutions for the white goods industry. FANUC’s paint solutions can improve quality, increase throughput and minimize human exposure to hazardous environments.

The FANUC P-250iB paint robot is a versatile solution for painting and coating in the white goods industry for large and mid-size painting jobs. Suitable for a wide range of painting and coating applications, it has a large handling capacity and a generous work envelope.

Material Handling and Assembly Robots

FANUC’s M-10 or M-20 robot series are ideal for a wide range of assembly and material handling tasks in the white goods industry. The M-10 series can handle parts up to 12 kg, while the M-20 series is able to handle up to 35kg. Both offer sleek and lightweight design features with internal cable routing and a curved J2 robot arm, minimizing interference with work pieces and fixtures and allowing more productivity in the work area. The robots also feature a long reach and stroke - even in the backflip region – making it easier for customers in the white goods industry to apply and maximize their available workspace.

Applications of White Good Automation in Production and Distribution

Automation is ideal for companies looking to maximize efficiency, accuracy and overcome labor issues in a variety of applications for manufacturing, distribution or warehousing processes.

Assembly

Using robots to assemble appliance parts and components enables customers to achieve new levels of speed and accuracy. When quality is paramount, trust FANUC to provide reliable robots for any assembly task, whether they are standard six-axis, Delta, SCARA or cobot models.

For example, in the production of refrigeration or water heater products, robots can be used to assemble and test cooling/heating systems, compressors and other components. Proper assembly and installation is critical in the appliance industry - especially for products that people need and use to sustain their personal comfort and sustenance.

Material Handling

FANUC robots can be used to pick and place items without the need for manual handling. Automation solutions can also streamline packaging processes so that products are ready for distribution faster. From air conditioners to refrigerators to small appliances, white goods manufacturers are driven to improve production speed, quality and at the same time minimize the need for people in the workcell. This enhances safety and improves morale as employees are reallocated to work on higher-end tasks. In addition, robotic automation helps companies minimize processing, storage and delivery time.

Laser Cutting and Welding

Automated laser cutting and welding operations increase product quality and consistency while also reducing production time. With FANUC automation systems, manufacturers can cut and weld parts for maximum quality assurance.

Dispensing and Sealing

FANUC has a wide range of robots and cobots that are ideal for dispensing and sealing applications. Our robots can apply adhesives, liquids and sealers, helping appliance customers achieve higher levels of precision, accuracy and efficiency.

Inspection

Robotic automation, with the help of integrated 2D or 3D iRVision, can be used to inspect products throughout the manufacturing process. This ensures that any parts or components that do not meet quality standards can be identified and efficiently revised or discarded.

Painting

Painting is a common step in the production of white goods, especially in the production of washers and dryers. Many companies with painting automation achieve a quick ROI based on paint and material savings alone. Robots are also able to work full-time 24 hours, 7 days a week, running the same programs over and over with no issues or fatigue. This not only reduces the need for manual labor but also significantly enhances quality.

Impact of Automation and Robotics in the Manufacturing of Different White Goods

The integration of robotics in manufacturing automation is revolutionizing the manufacturing of different white goods. As an investment, automation makes the production of home appliances faster and more efficient, with fewer flaws in the final product, allowing manufacturers to increase productivity while ensuring quality control throughout the entire process.

Freezer & Refrigerator Manufacturing

For manufacturers of refrigerators and freezers, automation and robotics can be used to streamline production processes. Robots and automation systems can improve accuracy in assembling parts, speed up the manufacturing process, and lower labor costs.

Manufacturing and assembling the three key components of a refrigerator or freezer – generally the exterior shell, the interior cabin and the cooling mechanism – requires precision and consistency. Automation and robotics can ensure accuracy in each step of the process, including cutting, welding, bonding and sealing.

Air Conditioner Manufacturing

Made primarily with thin sheet metal, air conditioner parts are typically manufactured through a process called sheet stamping, which trims sheet metal parts to the desired sizes before assembly.

Automating the stamping process as well as the assembly of parts is immensely beneficial for air conditioner manufacturers, as it leads to faster production times, improved product quality, and increased efficiency.

Water Heater Manufacturing

Much like a refrigerator or freezer, a water heater must feature a double-walled construction to keep water at a certain temperature. Water heater manufacturers can use robotics and automation to precisely assemble and join the appliances to weld connections securely to prevent leakage.

A hot water system supplier must be able to trust in the quality, performance, and longevity of their products, and with FANUC robotics and automation, they can.

Furnace Manufacturing

Modern gas furnaces use a variety of components, including heat exchangers, blowers, valves, burners, pilot lights, circuitry, and thermostats. Furnace manufacturers must be able to ensure that each component is assembled properly to ensure consumers' safety.

Robotics and automation can be used to increase production speed, accuracy, and consistency, preventing human errors in the furnace manufacturing process.

Oven Manufacturing

Most oven manufacturers must produce ovens that combine with stovetops and cooktops to meet the demands of modern kitchens.

Automation and robotics can be used in the production process to improve product quality, speed up manufacturing times, and increase efficiency, even when manufacturing different oven models. Robotic automation solutions can also be programmed with multiple welding profiles for complex oven manufacturing processes, such as processing door hinges or installing gas lines.

Pizza Oven Manufacturing

Pizza ovens require a different assembly process than standard ovens, as they must be designed to withstand higher temperatures. Specialty appliances like pizza ovens must be manufactured and assembled with care and precision to ensure optimal performance.

Robotic automation can assist pizza oven manufacturers by precisely cutting and assembling components such as hinges, shelves, and racks that are required for the cooking chamber.

Microwave Manufacturing

This convenient household fixture is usually composed of a few key components, such as the magnetron tube and its associated parts, the control panel, and the housing. By implementing robotic automation solutions in their production process, microwave manufacturers can reduce costs, increase efficiency, and guarantee a high level of product quality.

Washing Machine and Dryer Manufacturing

By leveraging automated solutions, washing machine and dryer manufacturers can reduce labor costs and increase production capacity. Automation also enables them to precisely assemble components such as lids, doors, tubs, motors, and electronics so that they meet safety and performance standards with every appliance.

Dishwasher Manufacturing

Convenient and often energy-efficient, dishwashers are a kitchen staplein modern households. Robotics and automation can be used to enhance the production process for dishwashers to ensure that each appliance is manufactured according to safety and quality standards.

Stove Manufacturing

Stove manufacturers need to design and manufacture stoves that meet the demands of modern kitchens. Robotics and automation can help stove manufacturers increase production speed and accuracy as well as reduce labor costs. Automation solutions such as welding robots, vision systems, or other robot applications for appliance manufacturing ensure that quality standards are met for each appliance.

Smart Appliance Manufacturing

Smart appliances are becoming increasingly popular as technology advances, and robotics and automation can help manufacturers keep up with the demand. Adding smart technologies to home appliances creates new challenges for manufacturers, such as how to accurately assemble components, integrate different systems, and ensure a high level of quality.

Robotic automation solutions can help manufacturers overcome these challenges by ensuring efficient assembly processes and accurate product testing. Automated systems can also be used for visual inspections at various stages of the process to ensure quality standards are met.

Upgrade Your White Goods Production Processes with FANUC’s Robotic and Automation Solutions

With decades of experience in robotics, FANUC is the ideal partner for white goods manufacturers looking to upgrade their production facilities and improve their processes.

Our innovative solutions and experienced team can help you take your manufacturing operations to the next level with standard industrial or collaborative robots, intuitive controls, and more.

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