Restoration counts for more than half of all building work these days. Since the 1970s the renovation of old buildings has become increasingly important. Both buildings from the post-war era and historic buildings must be adapted to conform to current standards. This conformity is not only important for thermal insulation but also for the energy consumption. Let’s look at the electrical systems. For example almost no old buildings have sufficient electric wiring, plugs and switches and they do not correspond with modern standards especially safety standards.
If renovations are being carried out in an occupied house then the resulting disturbance from noise and dirt must be kept to a minimum. New plugs and light switches are increasingly attached onto the outside of plaster walls and the necessary wiring is carried in the skirting board along the surface of the wall. A 1920s house can be updated to our multimedia era without cutting new channels in the walls. All electrical systems such as plugs, switches, sockets for telephones and internet, alarm systems, automatic shutters and blinds require leads and controls and these can be attached to the surface of the wall.
The Belgian company NIKO (in business since 1919) is a specialist in lighting and electrical installations who offer a range of over 5000 different products and produce top quality light switches, power outlets and telephone and internet sockets. NIKO's product spectrum also includes modern alarm systems, high-tech smoke detectors, multimedia technology and intelligent household systems such as lighting and blind controls or heating and air conditioner regulators. With innovations such as the invisible wall module “Mysterious”, the Belgian company is at the top of their game. NIKO is based in Sint-Niklaas (Belgium) and has 550 employees. NIKO products have a turnover of 90 million Euros and are marketed worldwide, though predominantly in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Spain.
NIKO has responded to the increasing demand for over-plaster solutions in modern building work by creating a brand new surface mounted product. The company offers an aesthetic new solution: A single enclosure for attachment to the wall surface. NIKO products such as can then be screwed onto this base, just like their “under-plaster solutions”. That includes standard plugs, telephone and data-communication sockets, and control boxes for intelligent household technology, light switches and dimmers. All in all 16 different versions of the surface mounted enclosure are manufactured by NIKO in their fully automated facility in three operational shifts. The great advantage: All these under-plaster solutions can now be attached on this one surface mounted enclosure.
The socket components are attached to this enclosure using either two or four self-tapping screws, the screws being assembled manually by a handheld screwdriver, a laborious, time-consuming task which produced inconsistent results. Due to the rise in demand for this product the need arose for a reliable solution tailor-made to NIKO's specific requirements.
“Our own individual team of engineers is responsible for automated production at NIKO” explains Head Engineer Pierre Rottiers. “In our self-developed machine system DEPRAG pneumatic screwdrivers are already in use performing 60 assemblies per minute over three production shifts.” “We have had good experience with their reliable high precision screwdriving technology. Therefore we got in touch with Assembly Welding Plasma (AWP), which represent the German manufacturers DEPRAG SCHULZ GMBH & CO.KG in Belgium and gave them the contract to design the assembly of our new surface mounted enclosure based on our specifications for the assembly cells.”
DEPRAG SCHULZ GMBH & CO. KG in Amberg, Germany is a renowned specialist for high quality automation and screwdriving technology. Sales Manager Jürgen Hierold: “One of the great advantages for our customers is our versatility. DEPRAG technicians create an automation solution, which consists of products from the company's wide range of standard components. This lets us find innovative and cost-effective production solutions that fit the customers production requirements. . Our well-known screwdriving and assembly systems are valued in particular for their flexibility and efficiency.”
Pierre Rottiers recalls the cooperation and consultation with DEPRAG and the professional handling of the project: “In November 2008 the first studies were carried out. A couple of months later came the final contract for the machine. During the design phase, a 3D-animation of the proposed system enabled us to make suggestions for further refinements. After final inspection at DEPRAG, where the technical parameters were checked in detail, the machine was delivered on time and has now been 100 % operational since August 2009.”
NIKO's specifications for the assembly cell were set out over 26 pages for DEPRAG to work from. The 2000 mm high, 1150 mm wide and 1150 mm deep complete system processes: NIKO's two different surface mounted enclosures - single and double. They receive either two or four self-tapping screws. Both versions of the product can be processed by the same part nest tooling eliminating the need for mechanical changeover. Using the operator interface panel (HMI) the operator can simply choose whether a single or double component should be processed. The type of screw assembly can also be selected, since, screw assembly to depth, torque or both are possible using DEPRAG screw assembly technology.
The assembly cells are equipped with a manually operated two position rotary table: This enables the operator to load and unload one part nest while the second part nest is in the assembly process. This helps to reduce the overall machine cycle time. Inside the assembly cell there is a two-spindle screwdriving system, where two screws can be assembled simultaneously. When processing NIKO “double” components, which require 4 screws, the screwdriving function module rotates on a pneumatic actuator to process the third and fourth screw. DEPRAG pneumatic screwdrivers from the MINIMAT® series, well-known worldwide, are used in this application. Some NIKO products require the screws assembled to depth and others to torque. When the self-tapping screws are to be assembled to a specific depth (in this case 3.5 mm+0.8/-0.4 mm) using a pneumatic screwdriver spindle, then a specific method is employed in order to attain the highest precision: Upon reaching the selected screw depth the supply air for right rotation is disabled and at the same time a short impulse for left rotation is engaged so that the screwdriver stops immediately. Kurt Willems, Sales Manager of AWP, explains: “This is how we ensure that the screws reach the exact depth required which is an important precondition for the remaining assembly steps”. If torque (in this case 60Ncm+/-10Ncm) is required then the highly precise DEPRAG MINIMAT® shut-off clutch - immediately disengages when the preset torque has been achieved.
The self-tapping screws used in the NIKO Product are processed by a DEPRAG screw feed system. Using a vibratory bowl the screws are sorted, separated and then “blown” through a feed hose to the jaws of a screw-driving function module. For each and every screw assembly sequence the quality parameters such as, screw presence, screw depth and torque (mechanical clutch disengagement) are monitored and evaluated. The assembly cell is equipped with a simple Touch Screen for the operator. There are clear symbols and text in the operator's native language enabling present and future users a seamless interface with the machine. If a product is assembled correctly then a green lamp indicates an OK signal for removal of the finished component. If a “red” light is shown then the screw assembly process was not successful and must be reworked or inspected. The assembly cell indicates the exact screw positions which are out of tolerance. The system is also prepared with the flexibility to allow the operator a reassemble/retry sequence for any of the four screw positions on the product (front, back, torque or depth) so that components can be reworked in process if desired. The choice of screw position and the screw-driving procedure (depth, torque or both) can be selected on the operator interface panel.
DEPRAG's “stand alone assembly cells” combine high efficiency with the utmost process and quality control. Many of DEPRAG's clients who assemble electronic components particularly value their flexibility. For NIKO too, it was the universal application capability of the assembly cells combined with the company's efficiency which was decisive in their choice to award DEPRAG this contract. Using the new assembly platforms NIKO can assemble 12 basis-components per minute which not only increases efficiency in their production but also means a saving of 40 % in costs. “After two and a half years the machine will have paid for its initial purchase costs working just in a single shift cycle”, Pierre Rottiers praises the acquisitions as an extremely successful investment.
Assembly Welding Plasma (AWP) has over 10 years of experience in screwdriving technology and has represented the German company DEPRAG SCHULZ GMBH & CO. KG for over three years in Belgium and Luxemburg. Sales Manager Kurt Willems is committed to the DEPRAG solutions. DEPRAG offers full service solutions for almost every sector of industry and the company is well-known for their expertise and decades of experience. The specialists for screwdriving, automation, air motors and air tools have over 600 employees and are represented worldwide in over 50 countries. DEPRAG not only supplies systems integrators with innovative screwdriving- and feeding technology, but also offers comprehensive solutions for automation. A “One Stop Shop” company, which assume full responsibility, is an advantage to any client especially when considering service and maintenance requirements.
Press Contact:
Dagmar Dübbelde
DEPRAG SCHULZ GMBH u. CO. KG
Carl-Schulz-Platz 1
D-92224 Amberg
Tel: 09621 371-343
Fax: 09621 371-199
Email: d.duebbelde@deprag.de
