How it works

Airborne has developed a plug and play kitting & sorting system for composites. Our system starts as automatic ply picking from the conveyer belt and then moves to a sorting system which recognises plies and sorts them automatically. The process is completely hands free and can be fully integrated with the cutting system. But also allows you to already use automated sorting, without having to worry about integration in a cutting system.

Automated Kitting solutions

Our Automated Kitting solution places the cut composite plies into kits in the right order.

STEP 1: Our automated kitting system starts as automatic ply picking from the conveyer belt and then moves to a sorting system to automatically sort the kits in the right order. The system is completely hands free and fully integrated with the cutting system.

STEP 2: The robot takes the plies from the conveyer belt automatically. To do that it needs to make a different movement for every different ply, which is automatically generated.

STEP 3: The robot places the plies in the sorting station.

STEP 4: In the sorting station the robot can move a ply from one tray to another position, and then place the ply back. This will sort the plies in the correct order and generate a sorted kit.

STEP 5: The operator can take the sorted kit of plies to laminate it.

Automated Sorting solution

Our fully standalone (plug and play) Automated Sorting system allows you to use automated sorting, without having to integrate it in a cutting system.

STEP 1: The operator places the plies in a bin.

STEP 2: The system recognizes which ply is on top by the use of a camera system, and takes the ply and puts it in the sorting system.

STEP 3: In the sorting station the robot can take a ply from one tray. The tray moves to another position and the robot places the ply back. This way it can sort the plies in the correct order and generate a sorted kit.

STEP 4: The operator can take the sorted kit of plies to laminate it.

Let’s get technical

Ready to dive in deeper? Our Automated kitting system is offered in two sizes: medium and extra-large. To get more details about main properties, floor space utilisation etc. you can download the Automated Kitting Solutions – Technical Specifications.

A quick example

The highlights of the Automated kitting system properties as implemented for Gulfstream G650:

• Integrated with our ply cutting machine

• Maximum ply size of 1400 x 300 mm

• 38 kits, 490 plies (CF+GF)

• 300 plies/hour

• Cabinet with 40 drawers

• Digital traveler

Tackle your industry challenges

Many industries face the challenge of operating in a constantly changing production environment. By using standard, affordable robots that can switch end-effector easily and quick (within 1 minute), you can create a system that can perform multiple tasks. By adopting a modular, building-block approach the development becomes faster and more flexible. This will ultimately reduce costs.

Example: In the Commercial Aircraft Market manufacturers are ramping up the production of their single aisle aircraft. Leaving suppliers no other choice than to follow suit. In order to meet scale-up demands, the supply chain must look at ways to modernise their production lines. 

Why our solutions are not just machines

Automating doesn’t automatically mean that quality will improve because there is no more manual labor. For manual labor offers implicit control of quality interpretation and direct process adaptation. Putting that into machines is not easy and requires processing know-how of explicit quality requirements as well as implementing the right control and adaption strategies. That’s where we come in to play. By using our combined composite manufacturing experience we provide you not with ‘just a machine’ but an automated process, that truly reduces the cost of quality issues.

Any questions? Feel free to contact us

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