Automated production in the white goods industry

The use of robots enables flexibility and ensures that the manufacture of household appliances becomes productive and cost-efficient. We have an eye on the challenges posed by the different production processes – and offer simple robot operation.

Greater efficiency by using robots in the production and final assembly of household appliances

From electric cookers to fans – what exactly are white goods?

White goods is the generic term for the wide variety of electronic household appliances – from washing machines and freezers to tumble dryers and dishwashers.

Their manufacturing poses a wide variety of challenges: assembly inside appliances, including overhead work and heavy appliance components. At the same time, safety standards and quality guarantees have to be observed. Manufacturers need innovative and simple answers for automation if they want to keep their production efficient and cost-effective despite the many demands.

KUKA robotics for white goods assembly lines – from cobots to small robots to large robots

All of our robots are characterized by speed, reliability and absolute precision. There is always the right solution for every production task in our diverse robotics portfolio.

LBR iisy cobot (3-15 kg payload capacity)

The LBR iisy enables particularly sensitive screw fastening and assembly, simple and intuitive operation (human-robot collaboration) as well as flexible and rapid operational readiness.

KR AGILUS (6-11 kg payload capacity)

In assembly, the small robot not only works extremely precisely, but its extreme speed also greatly reduces cycle times.?

KR AGILUS EX (6-10 kg payload capacity)

With its integrated explosion protection, the painting robot is the best solution for painting tasks – particularly ones that are ergonomically challenging.

KR CYBERTECH nano (6-10 kg payload capacity)

Welding or screw fastening – when the precise handling of small parts is required, the specialized process robot for compact cells is particularly well suited.

KR CYBERTECH (8-22 kg payload capacity)

Particular precision is required when it comes to fastening screws, welding or handling bulky workpieces. The powerful multifunction robot specializes in this.

KR IONTEC (20-70 kg payload capacity)

Low space requirements for screw fastening and laser cutting – with its compact design, the flexible industrial robot makes optimum use of any space.?

KR QUANTEC (120-300 kg payload capacity)

When assembly or handling involves very large and heavy parts, this reliable and efficient all-rounder comes into its own.?

Our robot controllers ensure seamless integration into your production lines. Small robots can be connected to the?KR?C5 micro controller, which impresses with its extremely low space requirement. The KR?C5 robot controller integrates all robots and offers not only easy installation but also enormous energy efficiency.?

Robotic packaging and assembly line with conveyor belt for large household appliances.

Laser cutting

In many production facilities, laser cutting is often still a manual process that takes a long time and incurs enormous costs. With the world’s first laser cutting offline system, KUKA is bringing laser cutting processes for refrigerators to the production line – and ensuring cost savings for companies.?

Advantages

Laser parameters can be adjusted directly via offline interface
Works with over 150 different workpieces
Flexibility in the case of changed cutting formats

More info on fully automated laser cutting

The robot can be used to cut thicker sheets as well as micrometer-precise kerfs.

Welding

Different welding technologies are used in the manufacturing of electrical appliances, for example for connecting pipes inside refrigerators by means of high-frequency welding. The position of the pipes is detected and the high-frequency welding gun is applied with precision. Spot welding or roller seam welding is also used for joining sheet metal parts in washing machines and tumble dryers.

Applications

Braze welding
High-frequency welding
Spot welding
Roller seam welding

Advantages

Detection of the position of components
Flexible solutions for different pipe positions
Reduction of welding tolerances in spot welding
Space-saving

Robotic welding enables high quality with short cycle times.

Painting

Painting is often an?ergonomic challenge for production workers, for example when overhead working is required. If a painting robot takes over this task, this not only has a positive effect on employee health, but also reduces cycle times. It goes without saying that our robots have explosion protection.

Your advantages

Painting in ergonomically unfavorable positions, e.g. overhead
Integrated explosion safety
Highly compact

Find out more about automated painting

The KR AGILUS EX painting robot, mounted in a suspended position, impresses with its precision, speed and reliability.

Assembly

Assembly is especially challenging with parts that are bulky, heavy or hard to reach. With their payload capacity and reach, robots enable easy handling and can be used, for example, to mount weights in washing machines quickly and precisely.

Applications

Pre-assembly of small workpieces and subcomponents
Final assembly, including that of large and heavy components

Advantages

Very high-precision insertion
Heavy and bulky parts can be assembled
In-line automation is possible
Synchronized motion
Machining of components in continuous-flow operation

Find out more about automated assembly solutions

The robots provide support in the dishwasher assembly process.

Screw fastening

Especially in ergonomically unfavorable locations, such as inside electrical appliances, robotics play an important role in screw fastening in terms of ensuring employee health and fast cycle times. Material tolerances are compensated with the aid of a vision system.

Applications

Screw fastening overhead and in hard-to-reach places
Screw-fastening processes in continuous-flow operation

Advantages

Tolerance compensation with vision system
In-line automation
Improved ergonomic conditions for employees

Learn more about automated screw fastening in our case study

Thanks to its sensitive characteristics, the KUKA industrial robot can independently find the screw locations and fasten the screws.

Bonding and sealing

The requirements on bonding and sealing applications are high because the joints have to be stable over a long period and, at the same time, the joining processes must be cost-efficient. Precision is also of decisive importance: this applies to the precise fit of the components to be bonded on the one hand, and to the repeatability of the integrated supply of adhesives on the other.

Applications

Joining of multiple, and even different, materials
Insertion of seals
Adhesive bonding of logo labels

Advantages

Low-heat joining processes eliminate deformation of the components
Cost-effective processes
Permanent joining of materials

Find out more about automated bonding and sealing

Quality control

Reliable quality assurance has a major impact on the manufacturing costs of white goods. If it is automated and integrated directly into the manufacturing process, expenses and risks can be greatly minimized.

Applications

Glass leak testing
Gap measurement
Surface cleaning
Final quality control

Advantages

Integrated automated quality assurance
Reduced rejects
Higher quality

Further automation options for the “white goods” industry with KUKA software and digital services

KUKA’s range of digital services for the robotics portfolio creates new opportunities in Industrie 4.0 – from offline programming and remote maintenance to data-based automation. Discover innovations that will help you get ahead.

Are you interested in an automation solution?

Drawing on our wealth of competence and experience, we analyze your requirements and develop an individual solution for your white goods production.

KUKA robots in operation at household appliance manufacturers

How do industrial robots make production more efficient? Find out more about their use in the white goods industry.

Automated production in the white goods industry

Greater efficiency by using robots in the production and final assembly of household appliances

From electric cookers to fans – what exactly are white goods?

KUKA robotics for white goods assembly lines – from cobots to small robots to large robots