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.