KUKA RoboCoaster “The Sum of all Thrills” Opens at Disney’s Epcot

The Sum of all Thrills ride opens at Epcot

Ever taken a ride on a robot? Now you can, at Disney’s Epcot, where the new “The Sum of all Thrills” ride created by KUKA, and opened October 2009.

The Sum of all Thrills lets guests create their own ride experience by choosing a ride theme: a roller coaster, bobsled or jet plane. Using multi-touch object recognition tables, guests use math and engineering-based tools to design and customize their ride by adding corkscrews, inversions or steep hills. In the process, guests can learn a little bit about mathematical and engineering principles to determine how much energy is needed for a jet to take off or for a roller coaster or bobsled to make it up its first climb.

When the design of the ride is complete, it is saved on a personal card with a unique bar code. The card is then used to allow each guest to experience his or her custom ride from beginning to end on the robotic KUKA RoboSim 4-D simulator.

Inside the simulator, guests experience their ride on high definition video with stereo sound and a fan to simulate wind.

Innovations like the RoboCoaster (an attraction at many parks around the world) keep KUKA on the cutting edge of robotic technology. Their industrial robots, renowned for sleek design lines and PC-based robot controllers, are as attractive and reliable on the manufacturing floor as they are in a theme park.

Flexicell
Flexicell provides robotic packing, palletizing and material handling automation projects for manufacturing facilities throughout North America.  Flexicell is a system integrator, integrating robots, such as those made by KUKA,  into automation equipment in order to increase speed and accuracy, and reduce downtime and injuries in factories.  For more information about Flexicell, visit their web site at www.flexicell.com.

5 Ways Robots are Green

Robots are among the most efficient machines available to manufacturers and can be part of any company’s strategy for green manufacturing, reports Brian Huse, Director of Marketing and PR for Robotics Industry Association (RIA). Faster cycle times, improved quality and less scrap contribute directly to a greener footprint, and robots are well known for these advantages. If you use robots you have a green manufacturing story already.

Here are 5 ways robots are green:

1. Robots reduce cycle time thus saving energy
2. Robots can multi-task and eliminate the need for extra, less energy efficient equipment
3. Robots improve quality which means less energy used for re-work
4. Robots can be “recycled” for new applications unlike most hard automation (a used robot is the first robot for some companies)
5. Makers of sustainable energy products in solar, wind and hydroelectric markets need robots for some tasks that people and hard automation don’t do well.

— Excerpted from “A Little Green in Every Robot,” by Brian Huse, Robotics Industry Association, October 19, 2009.  Copyright © // 2008 Robotic Industries Association

Flexicell, Inc.
Flexicell is a leading robotic system integrator specializing in case and carton packing, palletizing and material handling in markets such as food & beverage, pharmaceutical & medical, electronics, automotive, and household goods.
Learn more about Flexicell at www.flexicell.com.

Save Your Factory with Robotic Automation — Automate Now

As more companies struggle to maintain a competitive edge, robotic automation provides a key advantage for your manufacturing productivity. In the grand scheme of things, deciding to implement automation will most likely be the easy part. Deciding on the who, what, where, when and why is the difficult part.  Here are some tips to help you through the decision-making process.

1. Why automate? To improve throughput, reduce costs or improve quality.
2. What and where? What application do you plan to automate? Chances are there is a robot built specifically for your application.
3. Who will you select as an integrator? Using one company maintains consistency within your organization. In many instances, smaller integrators will prove beneficial to your project, particularly in niche or specialty applications.
4. Who on the shop floor is responsible for your new automation? Get the end user involved from the beginning.
5. When is the best time to invest? The best time to invest was 20 years ago; the second best time is NOW. There are many government programs and other manufacturing incentives available today. There are also tax incentives for purchasing capital equipment. Even power companies may offer incentives for purchasing equipment with better power efficiency.

Currently global competition is extremely aggressive and more companies are adopting robotic automation to reduce capital costs, improve quality and increase manufacturing flexibility. For industries in North America struggling to remain viable, the benefits of robotic automation can help improve their competitive position, and prevent them from moving offshore or closing altogether.

Whether small or large, a company’s goal should be to try their first robot. When they use the robot, they will realize increased productivity, better quality, and lower costs—all keys to staying competitive and profitable.

—Excerpted from “Save Your Factory with Automation—Automate Now,” from FANUC Innovations newsletter, 2009. (read the entire article in Flexicell’s  Case/Studies White Papers section of their web sit, or click this link:  Save Your Factory with Automation)

FLEXICELL, INC.
Flexicell, Inc. is a robotic system integrator, creating packing, palletizing, and material handling solutions including case packing, assembly, vision inspecting, collating, machine loading/unloading, conveying, palletizing/depalletizing, and automatic guided vehicles. Since 1992, Flexicell has installed automation systems throughout North America in food & beverage, pharmaceutical & medical, electronics, automotive, and household industries.  www.flexicell.com

Flexicell adds Trumpf Laser Cutting Technology to its Manufacturing Capabilities

Trumpf TruLaser 1030 added to Flexicell's manufacturing technology.

Flexicell has upgraded its technology again with the addition of a new Trumpf TruLaser 1030 laser cutting system to the manufacturing floor.  The TruLaser features 3-axis flying optics for high speed and accuracy and will cut to a maximum thickness of 5/8” mild steel.

Almost all components in a Flexicell-created packing, palletizing, or material handling automation system are manufactured in house at Flexicell’s 70,000-square foot facility in Ashland, VA.  The laser cutter will provide outstanding highly-accurate results, enabling Flexicell to offer an even better product.

Flexicell is a leading robotic system integrator specializing in the manufacture of end-of-line automation equipment for case packing, carton loading, palletizing, and material handling.  Founded in 1992, the company has created and installed hundreds of systems throughout North America.

For more information, visit Flexicell at www.flexicell.com.

Flexicell Honored by FANUC Robotics with New Designation; Recognized in Strategic Relationship Program

Flexicell awarded additional FANUC designation

Flexicell, Inc. is honored to be recognized for its participation in FANUC Robotics’ Strategic Relationship Program by being named a Strategic Market Specialist. The program retains a strong association with FANUC’s Authorized Integrator program, and provides additional differentiation.  According to FANUC, the designation was awarded ” in recognition of Flexicell’s unique expertise applying FANUC robots in various secondary packaging operations.”  Flexicell was already a Level 4 FANUC Authorized Integrator.

Flexicell is a leading robotic system integrator specializing in case and carton packing, palletizing and material handling, and obtains many of its robots from FANUC Robotics to integrate into fully-functional automation systems for markets including food & beverage, electronics, pharmaceutical, medical, automotive, and household goods, among others.

Visit Flexicell at www.flexicell.com for more information.

Flexicell Showing New Product—A High-Speed Collator—at Pack Expo 2009 Las Vegas

Flexicell Introduces its New High Speed Flex Collator and Carton Loader

Although Flexicell will not have a booth at  Pack Expo 2009, it will be showcasing a new high-speed collator at the ADCO Manufacturing booth, #C-1043 in the Central Hall.
Named the High Speed Flex Collator and Carton Loader, this equipment is a new offering from Flexicell.

The Flex Collator allows your automation line to carton load or case pack at high speeds by providing proper orientation for the process.

• It provides: high speed collation of product including flow-wrap, bags, tubs, etc. at a rate to 220 products per minute (rate depends on product size).
• It features: high speed, quick changeover, high reliability, low maintenance and simple design.

For more information about the Flex Collator, please contact Flexicell at 804-550-7300 or www.flexicell.com.

PACK EXPO 2009
Pack Expo 2009 will be held October 5-7, 2009 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (3150 Paradise Road), Las Vegas, Nevada.

FLEXICELL, INC.
Flexicell, Inc. is a robotic system integrator, creates packing, palletizing, and material handling solutions including case packing, assembly, vision inspecting, collating, machine loading/unloading, conveying, palletizing/depalletizing, and automatic guided vehicles. Since 1992, Flexicell has installed automation systems throughout North America in food & beverage, pharmaceutical & medical, electronics, automotive, and household industries.  www.flexicell.com

What Packaging Teams Look For When Making Packaging Machinery Purchases

Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute, Inc.

More than half of the 184 packaging machinery purchasers surveyed in PMMI’s 2009 Customer Attitudes & Behaviors Study (formerly Purchasing Process Study) rely on a preferred vendor list (57 percent), emphasize line integration and solutions strategies (53 percent) and are conducting more rigorous evaluations of manufacturer proposals (52 percent) when making purchasing decisions.

Overall, 71% of the 2009 survey respondents indicate that a purchasing team exists in their company to make packaging machinery purchase decisions. Implementation of strategies or initiatives in response to current economic and market conditions are:

• 57% – Prequalifying machinery manufactures/creating preferred vendor lists
• 53% – Emphasize line integration and “solutions” strategies
• 52% – More detailed/rigorous evaluations of machinery manufacturer proposals
• 41% – Reconditioning or rebuilding machinery in the installed fleet
• 40% – Relying on machinery manufacturers used in the past vis-a-vis new vendors
• 34% – Involving more types of personnel in machinery manufacturer proposal review
• 32% – Delaying purchase of new packaging machinery
• 30% – Moving decision-making responsibilities

Flexicell has hundreds of satisfied packing, palletizing and material handling equipment customers located throughout North America.  If you’d like more information about Flexicell, visit www.flexicell.com.

— excerpted from “Customer Attitudes & Behaviors” Study 2009, issued by PMMI

Glossary of Robotic Terminology Added to Flexicell Web Site

What do terms like Awareness Barrier, Maximum Envelope Space, and Motion Control mean in the robotics industry?

Or function terms such as Palletizing and Pick and Place?

Flexicell has added a Glossary of Robotic Terminology to its web site to help people understand “robot speak,” the terms used in the robotics and automation industry.

Find the Glossary in the “Customer Support” section under “Glossary.”   http://www.flexicell.com/support/glossary.html

Flexicell, Inc. Flexicell is a leading robotic system integrator specializing in case and carton packing, palletizing and material handling in markets such as food & beverage, pharmaceutical & medical, electronics, automotive, and household goods. Learn more about Flexicell at www.flexicell.com.

When Considering Controllers…Do Operating Systems Matter? Flexicell Responds in Control Engineering Magazine

Traditionally, a programmable logic controller (PLC) was simply a black box that sported a proprietary operating system. The PLCs of 25 years ago were basically in the background, and most had to be programmed either on an attached keypad or with a hand-held unit that plugged into the system with proprietary programming methods. Today, there are many more choices of controllers and a push for open systems in information technology (IT) circles is affecting today’s programmable automation controlelrs (PACs), PC-based control software, and embedded controllers. Some vendors promote a Microsoft Windows-based product as a benefit, while others downplay the underlying operating system and talk only about functions. Linux open systems and a handful of real-time operating systems also have their proponents. With such a variety of opinions, we wanted to know: Do operating systems (OSs) matter?

[Among others, Flexicell's Service and Controls Manager Stephen Turner weighs in.]

As a system integrator in the packaging industry for more than 25 years, Stephen Turner of Flexicell, Inc. sees two types of user thinking: “Those who want to keep their cost down by using whatever we recommend, and those who will pay extra to match their own standards. Typically, the ones that pay extra for their standard are the larger companies that have more access to capital funds. The smaller companies want to enjoy the benefit of automation, but want to keep the initial cost down so that their payback timeline is as short as possible.”

As a system integrator, Turner doesn’t think the operating system has much impact on his company’s decision-making with regard to equipment. “We try to accommodate whatever the customer wants if they want something different than our standards, which is the Rockwell Automation line of products. If, in the future, we find that the Window or Linux operating systems offer better ways of standardizing our programming, and the cost comes down, then that might be a viable option for us as an internal standard.”

“Looking forward, I can envision a time when Windows- or Linux-based machine control might be a very powerful tool,” Turner adds. “At the current time, though, cost and efficiency are at the top of our list.”

—Excerpted from: “When Considering Controllers…Do Operating Systems Matter?” by Renee Robbins and Barb Axelson, Control Engineering, April 2009

Read the entire article at http://www.controleng.com/article/272352-When_Considering_Controllers_Do_Operating_Systems_Matter_.php

To learn more about Flexicell, a robotic system integrator, please visit www.flexicell.com.

Flexicell Sponsors Two Local LEGO Leagues in the FIRST Robotics Competition

FIRST Lego League

For the first time, Ashland, VA-based robotic system integrator Flexicell will sponsor FIRST Robotics teams at the LEGO level. The LEGO League level is comprised of elementary and/or middle school students grades 4-8 (ages 9-14) as an introduction contest to the more intricate FIRST Robotics competitions held by high school teams around the globe. For 2009, Flexicell will be sponsoring the Mechanicsville Mechanics and the Tobor Fanatics LEGO teams.

Previously, Flexicell had only sponsored local teams at the high school level.

Flexicell’s Involvement

Flexicell became involved in the FIRST Robotic Competition over 7 years ago, and helped establish a robotics team at Deep Run High School when it opened. The company has been a prime Deep Run (regional title winners 2009, 2008) and J.R. Tucker High School (regional title winners 2006, 2005) team sponsor ever since. Other schools Flexicell has sponsored include Mills Godwin (regional title winners 2007) and Goochland High Schools.

Each year, Flexicell, Inc. opens its manufacturing facility at 10463 Wilden Drive in Ashland, VA to provide assembly space, engineering assistance, and mentorship to the robotics teams during the 6-week period allowed in which to build their competitive robots. Teams are provided by FIRST with a common kit of approved parts and the robots have a size and weight limit. They must be designed and built to competition-ready completion with the 6-week period.

Flexicell engineers volunteer their after-hours time to mentor the teams, providing engineering and production resources, the use of the Flexicell facility to build and test their robots, and donations of materials and supplies for the robots. The mentors discuss problems, encourage solutions, and provide guidance and discipline for the complex task. Flexicell’s logo is featured on the robot bodies.

About FIRST LEGO League

FIRST LEGO League (FLL) introduces younger students to real-world engineering challenges by building LEGO-based robots to complete tasks on a thematic playing surface. FLL teams, guided by their imaginations and adult coaches, discover exciting career possibilities and, through the process, learn to make positive contributions to society.

Elementary and middle-school students get to:

• Design, build and program robots using LEGO MINDSTORMS® technology
• Apply real-world math and science concepts
• Research challenges facing today’s scientists
• Learn critical thinking, team-building and presentation skills
• Participate in tournaments and celebrations
• Earn a place in the World Festival

What FLL teams accomplish is nothing short of amazing. It’s fun. It’s exciting. And the skills they learn will last a lifetime. http://www.usfirst.org/community/fll/

Learn more about Flexicell and its community involvement at www.flexicell.com.