To give Danish KP Komponenter A/S a foothold in the Swedish market, the company acquired Trestads Precisionsmekanik AB. In 2019, the name changed to KP Components AB, and a new machine hall with a new highly automated production system was implemented by Fastems.
KP Components initially started in 1987, now the company has 30 employees and a production area of 4,500sq/m. In 2014 and 2018, the company was chosen as the supplier of the year by VBG Truck Equipment – and this is where much of its work lies.
Production Manager Magnus Strömberg says: “We want to invest in automation. We have automation cells that are 10 to 20 years old – but with the latest technology and systems, we can produce unmanned around the clock. This means much higher utilisation rates. Automating is also the best way to remain competitive against countries with lower labor costs. Previously, we had long set-up times and various other factors, we were left with long machine idle times and the inability to utilise our capacity. Now, we have truly unleashed our potential with the automation solution that helps us run production around the clock.”
Looking to the machine investment, Henrik Brodén, Scandinavian Sales Manager for Fastems says: “We streamline customer processes and the automation solutions we have today, both hardware and software-wise, provide safer and simpler processes. It’s important to notice that even for semi-automated systems that also include manual operations, there are options such as pallet systems and intelligent production control software that can increase utilisation rates.
Stenbergs, supplies CNC machines and tools. As a representative of OKUMA, Stenbergs can ensure high quality and the latest technology. The automation equipment from Fastems at KP Components consists of a so-called Flexible Pallet Container, an FPC 1500 which has a storage of 10 machining pallets. The FPC is installed directly against a machine’s APC and has an ergonomic loading station for clamping and detaching parts. Having all the pallets and fixtures available in the system ready for production and being able to buffer jobs for unmanned operation are some of the advantages.
Looking at the equipment at KP Components, Magnus Strömberg, the Production Manager, says: “We needed to replace an old faithful servant. It was time to switch out an OKUMA with a pallet system to something else. I was worried every morning, that the machine would break down and it would not hit our customers’ needs in respect of delivery times. That’s why I contacted Stenbergs – after all, we still are a satisfied OKUMA user. We discussed our concerns and in Stenberg’s showroom in Jönköping we saw the machine we needed.”
The customer requirements were fast delivery, integration capability for automation, and to take advantage of Fastems and Stenbergs software and mechanical components. The end goal was to reach higher productivity levels. The subcontractor sealed the deal and installed and ramped up in just three weeks. The machine purchased was an Okuma MA-600HII fully loaded horizontal machine with OKUMA Intelligent Technology. It weighs over 26 tons with a 12,000rpm 37kW spindle, an 171 tool ATC with tool ID.
Working in synergy with the Fastems automation system, the chip basket is continually being filled and increased lights-out production is being achieved, as is more machining hours per day.
