2003

French precision in China

Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën Automobile Co., Ltd (DCAC) is a French-Chinese joint-venture company manufacturing Peugeot and Citroën cars. Located in the city of Wuhan in the Hubei province of China, DCAC employs 5000 people.

To monitor the quality of DCAC’s pressed steel body panels, a measuring station incorporating a 3D scanner checks the precision of the parts to within a hundredth of a millimetre.

Effi cient measuring method Body panels are attached to air-fi lm mobile bedplates, which in turn sit on each of two air fi lm-based Solving Movers. The movers can dock with the measuring station from either side, allowing one bedplate and mover to be prepared and manoeuvred into position while the other is docked at the measuring station. Once the mover has docked, the bedplate fl oats from the mover to the measuring table, guided by a fi xed rail, positioning the body panel accurately under Valmet-Automotive the scanner. The system is entirely pneumatic and cannot therefore interfere with the measuring system’s electronics.

Successful French-Finnish project chooses Solving Movers Similar devices are in use at Peugeot and Citroën in France and have proved very satisfactory. Applying the French Valmet-Automotive, in Uusikaupunki, Finland, has established To help meet these challenges a Solving Automated Guided measuring method to the Chinese factory was therefore an a reputation for manufacturing quality specialist cars since the Vehicle (AGV) system has been selected to marry Porsche Box- easy choice to make. 1970s. A range of Saab’s, for example, has been manufactured ster engine and transmission assemblies with the bodies, and in Uusikaupunki for many years, and a recently signed long-term Solving Electric Movers will also be used to handle engine as- Solving’s French representative I.M.S. developed and contract with Porsche AG presented Valmet-Automotive with a sembly. manufactured the French measurement movers, and it became whole new set of challenges. Page 3 appropriate to establish a French-Finnish co-operation for the Chinese project. Solving’s ROC associate Run High Enterprise handled the project in China, and Solving in Finland had overall responsibility for co-ordination and RAF Harrier hovers in hangar implementation. The Harrier, introduced then moved in stages through into military service in the the hangar. At the fi nal stage seventies, has proved to the aircraft is wheeled off the be one of the most versa- movers, fuelled and made ready tile defence aircraft in the to fl y. world. Its unique hovering Each mover is 8.5 m long, 4.0 capabilities have been the m wide, fi tted with air-powered highlight of many a public drive units and a remote control. air show, and to see a jet The drive system allows the aircraft stationary in aircraft to be moved safely and mid-air is still an awe- accurately forwards, backwards, inspiring sight. sideways or rotated in either direction. The aircraft has seen many sig- The Harrier maintenance programme has been revolutionised by Wing Commander Keith nifi cant changes over its life as Solving Movers. Cocksey, leader of Harrier technology improves, particu- On-base FIST, is very pleased larly in the area of avionics. nents had been overhauled and overhaul and rebuild process. with the installation: However, until 2003, the met- the aircraft reassembled with its Solving was brought in to intro- “The Solving Movers have hods of carrying out scheduled wheels back on. duce the concept of using air enabled us to revolutionise maintenance have remained un- The RAF Harrier Future fi lm movers. the Harrier maintenance changed. For 30 years, the sys- Integrated Support Team (FIST) During the fi rst and second programme, and the new process tem was “undercarriage and searched for a more effi cient quarters of 2003, a total of has achieved considerable The quality of Peugeot and Citroen pressed steel body panels is mainplane off, engine out, ser- method of handling their air- six large movers were built savings in cost and downtime” easily and effi ciently monitored using a Solving Mover. vice fuselage”. With the fuse- craft, with a focus on enabling to RAF’s specifi cations to he said. lage on stands, it was very diffi - the empty fuselage to be moved enable a complete Harrier to be cult to move until all its compo- between stages during a 6-stage loaded, jacked, dismantled and

Creating Super Yacht keels Solving’s extended Movement on air bearings product range Page 2 Page 2 Page 4 Some recent orders

Stora Enso, Finland Stora Enso has ordered two Creating Movement automated Solving Movers (AGVs) for handling rolls and cores in their factory located in Kemi, Finland. For more than 25 years Solving has specialised ‘Movers’. These range from simple manual One AGV is designed to collect in meeting industry’s varied requirements for handling products to complex automated the 3,5-tonne paper rolls off their fl oor level transporter and leaves customised material handling systems. Large systems, based on air bearings or wheels, them on the fl oor under the sheet and heavy loads such as diesel & aircraft depending on our customer’s needs. cutter. engines, wings, ship’s keels and reels of paper Solving Movers incorporate tried and tested The other AGV is designed to are regularly handled forwards, backwards, components and the latest technology, collect the cores from the sheet up, down and sideways on Solving equipment combined with specialised interface cutter and leave them on the fl oor for the core handling device to in a variety of production facilities world-wide. equipment where necessary to suit the deal with. Many applications involve sophisticated product being handled. automation, and Solving incorporates the latest We are proud to introduce you to some Höganäs, Sweden technology from the most respected specialists. more examples of Solving Movers in Höganäs has ordered a U-shaped, Solving’s new identity, Creating Movement, ease, effi ciency and safety. action in this year’s issue. If these lead to laser-guided, wheeled automated Solving Mover for the handling emphasises our priority: to design creative inspiration, give your nearest Solving offi ce of pallets during production. solutions that meet our customers’ handling Solving Movers a call. requirements. With their co-operation we Solving’s range of material handling devices Peter Björk, MD Aermec, Italy create systems that move materials with now fall under the general description of Solving will shortly install an air fi lm based automated Solving Mover at Aermec for moving Layout: Studio PAP • Printing: Forsberg 2003 air conditioning units during production. Their production facilities, for units weighing up to 3 tonnes, are divided into different assembly areas and Aermec has chosen a customised Super Yacht keels on air bearings Solving Mover to make the handling between these areas more effi cient.

Safe and effi cient handling at reasonable costs Airbus, UK Founded in Finland in The wings for the world’s largest 1966, Nautor’s ‘Swan’ yard civil aircraft, the Airbus A380, has established a global manufactured in Broughton in reputation as builders of the UK will be handled using luxury sailing yachts of Solving air fi lm technology. outstanding performance In co-operation with Morson Projects, experts familiar with and quality. About 1800 wing handling, Solving will Swan sailing yachts have supply an air fi lm handling since been built and system to enable a single operator nearly all are still sailing. to manoeuvre the wing to within Swans are built in sizes millimetres. ranging from 45 to 112 feet (13 to 34 metres). Manfredonia, Italy Italian glass manufacturer Solving has designed and Manfredonia Vetro has ordered installed an air fi lm based their second air fi lm Solving assembly rig for moving and Mover for handling glass racks assembling keels to Nautor’s 82 weighing up to 60 tonnes. The to 112 feet Super Yachts. fragile load is handled smoothly and precisely with the Solving New production facilities, Mover around bends and new technology narrow gangways along the Prior to the building of new route between the autoclave and production facilities for Super cutting machine. Yachts, most yachts were lifted by cranes and then Fischer & Krecke, positioned on their keels. In Germany the new production facilities German printing machine the assembly procedure is manufacturer Fischer & Krecke reversed: the large and heavy has ordered 8 air fi lm based Super Yachts remain stationary Keels to Nautor’s Super Yachts are positioned under the Swan with great accuracy on a Solving Mover. Solving Movers, each with a 3- whilst the lighter keels are tonne capacity, to supply paper positioned under the hulls using and foil rolls into their machines. the Solving assembly rig. Solving’s rigging services for The keels produced today Effi ciency involved in the keel assembly Mounting the keel to the handling both sailing yachts weigh no more than 30 tonnes. “Using a crane to lift the hull work, and they are all trained to hull requires great accuracy. and keels several times before, The assembly rig, however, required all operators to leave operate the assembly rig. New agent in Spain The assembly rig drives under Nautor was familiar both has capacity to handle keels the area, thus interrupting “The assembly rig is very a load pallet carrying the keel with the technology and with weighing up to 50 tonnes. assembly work. The new keel easy to use. It would really be and moves it to the docking Solving as a company. assembly rig doesn’t disturb diffi cult to be without it now,” IDQ S.A. position under the hull, virtually Safety any other ongoing work, and concludes Svartsjö. Solving has appointed IDQ friction free. An integrated lift Cost High priority is given to the additional assembly onboard The keel assembly rig can SA to repre- table then raises the keel by “We didn’t really have any safety provided by the air fi lm the yacht can also continue also be used by Nautor for sent their com- up to 1000 mm. Once the keel other realistic alternatives,” assembly rig. during the two days of keel handling other heavy loads plete product is tight against the hull and the says Kjell Rudnäs, Operations “From a safety point of view assembly,” says Kjell Rudnäs. during Super Yacht assembly. range in Spain. Formed in screws fastened, the lift table Planning Manager. “The it is better to handle the keel “Assembly is therefore more 1997, IDQ al- is lowered and the assembly investment cost of cranes at fl oor level, whilst the yacht effi cient.” ready sells a variety of industrial rig plus pallet removed. All with the necessary capacity is stands still,” says Production “Effi ciency is also improved products and accessories to Spa- assembly rig functions are tremendously high. They would Engineer Bengt Nyström. because the keel assembly can nish industry, and the Solving product range is complementary controlled from an onboard also put extra requirements on “Moving heavy loads over be carried out more rapidly to their current activities. control panel. the building construction, since people always involves certain than by the use of other IDQ’s Eloy Martinez Calleja Nautor decided at an early it would have to be constructed risks and the 112 feet super technologies,” Nisse Svartsjö, will look after the sales and stage that keels would be to carry both the crane and the yacht weighs about 110 tons.” one of the users of the rig, marketing of Solving’s products in Spain, supported by our head- assembled to Super Yachts load. It is also diffi cult to predict points out. quarters in Finland. on air bearings. Having used future lift capacity needs”. 3–4 operators are always Valmet-Automotive chose nine of Solving’s latest AGV Movers to handle engine, transmission and suspension assemblies for their new line in Finland.

Valmet-Automotive chooses Solving Movers

Although Valmet- Flexibility and ergonomics Equipped with engine Automotive had used To allow for future contracts, assembly jigs and an analogue AGVs since the which may involve larger and ergonomically designed handle- 1980s, the equipment was heavier vehicles, additional bar incorporating speed and becoming increasingly drive power and load capacity direction controls, the battery- out-of-date and diffi cult to has been incorporated within the powered Solving Movers maintain. Solving equipment. Combined provide safe and accurate with the ease of changing the handling of the Porsche engines Modern user-friendly ergono- AGV routes and functions, between each assembly station. mics were also non-existent, and fl exibility is assured for many Between these stations and the the time had come to replace the years to come. production area a buffer stock old equipment. Each AGV is equipped with of fi ve engines is created using fore and aft lifting devices. the electric movers; once in the Digital technology These enable the engine and buffer, the line indexes forward When Valmet-Automotive transmission assemblies to automatically as an engine is specifi ed their replacement sys- be adjusted to achieve the added or removed. tem, safety, effi ciency, reliability ideal operator height at each “Judging by the reception and long-term fl exibility were workstation, and provide the given to the electric mover when considered to be the priorities. docking capability at the fi nal it arrived for demonstration, The Solving AGV system, using station where the assemblies are they will certainly be a success. the latest digital technology, raised into the car bodies. The The ergonomics are greatly met all these parameters. empty AGV is then returned to improved compared with the Inductive wire and digital speed the beginning of the line. old manual equipment, and the controls were chosen for their Power for the AGVs is automated buffer stock will accuracy and reliability, and a provided by service-free greatly improve effi ciency” combination of microcomputers, batteries. These are charged said Project Engineer Tuomo radio communication and alpha- automatically while stationary, Puukka. numeric operator interfaces Valmet-Automotive has invested in direct-controlled Solving Movers on wheels to assist with the assembly of and are manually connected to Each Solving Electric Mover provide an effi cient user-friendly engines. chargers overnight. is equipped with service-free installation. System parameters batteries and integral 230V such as start/stop positions, Mechanical assistance for chargers, enabling them to be speed and accuracy of location, these needs, and was a total the latest programmable lasers Engineer. “Solving’s radio engine handling recharged overnight. can all be adjusted quickly and replacement of the old analogue and photocells to meet EC safety communication, laser scanners In addition to the AGV system, simply, and a graphic PC display AGV system.” said Jyrki standards. These combine to and photocells ensure that we Valmet-Automotive has replaced rapidly advises operators of Nurmi, Production Engineering detect any object in their path, provide our operators with a their old manually operated maintenance requirements. Manager of the Assembly Plant. and enable the AGV to come to safe working environment. The engine assembly wagons with “As a specialist car manu- a safe and controlled stop before new system also provides a the latest Solving Electric facturer we had to choose a Safety and effi ciency any injury or damage can take simpler, safer and more accurate Movers. Weighing around production system that provided Solving has always placed place. method of docking engine and 400kg, the engines and wagons the greatest fl exibility to the safety of its users ahead “Safety technology has moved transmission assemblies with were diffi cult to manoeuvre accommodate future models of all other requirements, and a long way since the days of the car bodies. These combine manually even on a reasonably from different manufacturers. the installation at Valmet- old AGV system,” said Tuomo to provide a considerable good fl oor, and the risk of injury The Solving installation met Automotive is equipped with Puukka, assembly plant Project improvement in effi ciency”. was always present. Customised air film-based Ab Solving Oy PO Box 98 direct controlled FIN-68601 JAKOBSTAD Solving Mover for Finland Tel +358 6 781 7500 handling military Fax +358 6 781 7510 equipment. info@solving.fi www.solving.fi

Solving Sweden AB Energigatan 3A, SE-721 37 VÄSTERÅS Sweden Tel +46 21 81 10 95 Fax +46 21 81 10 66 solving.sweden@ mbox317.swipnet.se Solving Transportsystemer A/S Hauger Skolevei 16, Postboks 152 N-1351 RUD, Norway Tel +47 67 13 00 55 Fax +47 67 13 88 48 [email protected] Solving Ltd PO Box 88, Crowborough, TN6 3WF, UK Tel +44 1892 66 91 91 Fax +44 1892 66 70 80 [email protected] Solving’s automatically-guided Mover for paper roll handling. Standard air film-based Solving beam system for manually handling a www.solving.co.uk variety of loads. Solving Italia S.r.l. via alle Zappe 13, I-28040 LESA (NO), Italy Tel +39 0322 765 76 Fax +39 0322 767 75 [email protected] Solving’s extended product range www.solvingitalia.com Solving Deutschland GmbH Postfach 1307, D-30929 Constant developments This now allows us to provide automated Solving Movers We have therefore expanded system supplier. BURGWEDEL, Germany to our products over the our customers with a complete has been developed to handle our organisation and trained The Solving team of today Tel +49 5139 6443 Fax +49 5139 3111 years have enabled us to range of solutions using wheels loads over long distances and our team in a variety of new is able to offer sales, service [email protected] offer our customers new or air bearings, from manually in automated production lines. disciplines to supply complete and support from basic manual www.solving-gmbh.de solutions to meet their operated basic equipment These incorporate the latest AGV systems. Our service equipment to complex AGV Solving Danmark handling requirements. to sophisticated systems for Automated Guided Vehicle includes design, installation systems, based on air bearings Torvestræde 3. 1. Lejl. 9 DK-4720 PRÆSTØ, For the last year or so handling loads over long (AGV) technology, and we have and commissioning, training or wheels. Denmark we have focused on the distances. The lighter equipment focused our design on reliability, of our customers’ operating Tel +45 70 25 01 31 Fax +45 55 99 30 11 development of automated tends to be based mostly on ease of maintenance and and maintenance staff and [email protected] wheeled systems, wheels, whereas the heavier accessibility of components. comprehensive after-sales LKS AG complementing the air systems usually require air Automated handling equip- support. Several international Althofstraße 1 bearing systems that have bearings. ment requires trained operators companies, such as Valmet CH-5432 NEUENHOF, Switzerland established Solving for supported by a competent Automotive, Stora Enso, Tel +41 56 406 65 86 over 25 years. Automated Solving Movers supplier with a team of high Höganäs and Andritz, have Fax +41 56 406 29 30 [email protected] A new generation of wheeled quality skilled engineers. chosen Solving to be their AGV www.lks.ch I.M.S. Zone Industrielle, Rue Saint Gilles F-28800 BONNEVAL, France Tel +33 2 37 47 78 10 Squash court Fax +33 2 37 47 78 09 [email protected] on air bearings www.imsmanut.com A variety of Manchester, UK. At the American Solving Inc. English Institute of Sport´s 6511 Eastland Plaza, Brook Park, complex an entire 16-tonne OHIO 44142, USA squash court, complete Tel +1 440 234 7373 Fax +1 440 234 9112 applications with glass walls, is lifted [email protected] and floated on Solving’s air www.solvinginc.com bearings, into the athletics Run High Enterprise Co., arena. Ltd 9F-5, 102, Sec. 5, Nanking E. Rd. TAIPEI 105, Taiwan, R.O.C. Tel +886 2 276 297 78 Fax +886 2 276 291 45 Transformer Diesel engine [email protected] handling handling Solving do Brasil Ltda - ME VA Tech, Canada. Deutz, Germany. Valinhos- SP -BR A remote-controlled air film A remote-controlled air Tel./Fax +55 19 3829 1336 Solving Mover has been in- film-based Solving Mover [email protected] stalled for handling transform- is used for handling ers weighing up to 120 tonnes. diesel engines, placed www.solvingdobrasil.com.br The equipment is manoeuvred on separate load pallets, Pol-Sver Sp. z.o.o. smoothly and accurately between the production Ul. Wólczyñska 206 through narrow gangways with line and test area. 01-919 Warszawa, Poland Tel. +48 22 569 51 90, a joystick control. Fax +48 22 817 95 17 [email protected] www.polsver- maszyny.com.pl Steel plate New technology in IDQ, S.A. P.E. INBISA I, E-6 handling an old factory Avda. del Moncayo s/n Hendrickson, USA. Ferrovie dello Stato, Italy. The 28709 S.S. de los Reyes (Madrid) Spain A direct-controlled Solving handling of locomotive engines was Tel +34 916 591 901 Mover allows sheet steel made more efficient when modernising Fax +34 916 519 532 e- mail: [email protected] at Hendrickson to be the repair shop; an old rail system was www.idqsa.net handled from stores to the replaced by an air film-based Solving laser cutter in a safe and Mover, and an inferior floor was easily timely manner, and then to improved by using painted sheet steel. be precisely positioned.