In short

Fire Ice, S.L. is a Spanish SME that manufactures and sells fire extinguishers and other firefighting products. Systems integrator Ergos Technology S.L. recently developed a robot solution for Fire Ice that utilizes a 7-axis cobot from Kassow Robots. Since April 2024, the KR1018 has been in action for Fire Ice, applying all types of labels to their fire extinguishers. The labels, which assign each product to a specific dealer or fitter, were previously applied manually. This is the first time that the Salamanca-based firm has deployed a collaborative robot. Ergos’s solution using a cobot from Kassow Robots makes it possible to work safely in tight spaces also occupied by human employees.

‍

Challenge

While the precision application of labels to products like fire extinguishers is a simple task, it is also one in which people are prone to errors. This is because Fire Ice has nearly one thousand different labels for its wide range of fire extinguishers and its numerous dealers and fitters. An additional challenge is that each fire extinguisher is assigned a different type and dealer or fitter. It is therefore essential to ensure that every label is the right one and that it is accurately affixed. Despite the precision and focus required, this task proved highly repetitive for employees. It also involved a very unergonomic sequence of movements. Finally, each employee had to place the fire extinguisher in a tight space before searching for and applying the right labels—in some cases at different points on the product.

‍

‍

Solution

In simple terms, a KR1018 lightweight robot from Kassow Robots takes two labels directly from a printer and affixes each to a different section of the fire extinguisher. In practice, this seemingly rudimentary task is actually quite demanding. The process for each label can be broken down as follows:

‍

1) An employee places the fire extinguisher in the designated holder.

2) The printer generates one of nearly 1,000 different labels, as called for by the production order.

3) Using a camera installed above the labeling station, the vision system identifies the correct zone, position, and orientation for the label.

4) The cobot grabs the label with grippers specially developed by Ergos Technology.

5) The cobot applies the label in the prescribed position on the fire extinguisher. After further processing, the fire extinguisher is picked up by another employee, packaged, and placed on a pallet for shipment.

‍

‍

Benefits

The KR1018 is always ready to work 24/7, if necessary! It operates with the utmost speed and precision. The automation also allows the production manager better control of the labeling process. And the versatile Kassow Robots 7-axis cobot offers another big advantage: because it is designed to work in confined locations, it relieves human employees of having to stand in a cramped space for an extended period. The cobot can even share space in the production area with human employees, for example working alongside the person tasked with placing the fire extinguisher in the holder.

‍

‍