Inacore in Ergoldsbach, Lower Bavaria, has created a completely new style of core making. The joint venture between Laempe Mössner Sinto GmbH and R. Scheuchl GmbH produces inorganically bound sand cores for the BMW light metal foundry in Landshut, 20 km away. In one of the world's most modern foundries, the carmaker manufactures structural components, engine blocks, cylinder heads and electric motor components.
Consistent digitalization
What is essentially new about Inacore's production is the 100 percent part tracking and data transparency of all machines and systems, and Inacore is also completely networked with the BMW warehouse. Thanks to its consistent digitization approach, Inacore is able to provide customer quality management with specific production and storage parameters for each individual sand core in real time if required - the high-tech core shop sets new standards in digitization and efficiency.
Six robot cells in a harsh environment
Fully integrated ABB industrial robots are an important part of Inacore's automation solution. They must function very reliably under the harsh external conditions in the production of inorganic cores: Temperatures of up to 45 °C are accompanied by the presence of abrasive dusts and an atmosphere with high humidity and a high pH value.
A total of 18 ABB industrial robots handle and process the freshly blown sand cores. Rudolf Wintgens, Managing Director Technologies at Laempe Mössner Sinto, explains: "Each of the six core blowers is equipped with identical but independent production cells, each equipped with an IRB 6700 extraction robot and two IRB 1200 deburring robots. The IRB 6700 simultaneously removes all sand cores from the core boxes with a large gripper. Inacore works with different core boxes; the complete core package for an engine block is assembled by BMW in the correct sequence when the cores are inserted into the moulds.
Flexible machining methods as required
Depending on the type of core, Inacore turns to three optional processing methods after removal: In the first version, the IRB 6700 places the cores on the deburring table on core specific support pallets. There, the IRB 1200 moves the dividing plane with a steel needle for deburring. The IRB 6700 then picks up the cores again and places them on the removal shuttle. The shuttle takes the cores out of the safety area of the cell and presents them to the operator for clearing into the core racks and for manual visual inspection. In the second operating mode, suitable for simple core contours, the removal robot removes the cores under a chain field for deburring. The cores are then deposited on the removal shuttle. In the third version, the IRB 6700 removes the cores from the core box and places them directly on the removal shuttle without an intermediate deburring step.
MultiMove reduces space requirements and costs
The IRB 1200 controls Inacore with MultiMove. "We will never operate the two deburring robots per cell individually, so this configuration was the obvious choice," says Rudolf Wintgens. "In production, every cubic centimeter of space counts. Because we only need one robot control unit in the MultiMove, we reduce space requirements and costs".
Pioneer appreciates reliability
Andreas Mössner, Managing Director of Inacore and Laempe Mössner Sinto, explains: "We appreciate the reliability of the ABB robots in harsh environments and the good adaptability of the programming, especially during deburring. In addition, ABB was able to score with our other requirements and also with the price."
The companies behind Inacore have extensive experience with robots for core making and casting; Laempe and Scheuchl implement ABB robots for customers worldwide. Laempe is a pioneer in the automation of sand core production using robots. Together with ABB, Laempe installed the first robot in a core-making application back in 1996. Laempe is an ABB Authorized Value Provider. For many years, Scheuchl has relied on robots for casting production and raw casting machining. During the new installation for Inacore, the assembly team and the programmers from Laempe and Scheuchl provided all services for the implementation of the ABB robots.
Basically, automation solutions with robots are the suitable instrument to produce with high reproducibility and quality. "We achieve shorter cycle times and lower personnel requirements and can thus reduce costs," says Dr. Udo Dinglreiter, Managing Director of Inacore and Scheuchl. "From a business point of view, ABB robots are favored for their low overall and implementation costs. In addition, the robot relieves employees of physically heavy, repetitive and dangerous tasks, thus increasing occupational safety”.
About INACORE
INACORE GmbH is a joint venture founded in 2017 by the leading international foundry technology companies Laempe Mössner Sinto GmbH and R. Scheuchl GmbH. INACORE manufactures inorganic sand cores and core packages for the foundry industry using state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly processes.
