Anton Paar

Ready for the future with new robotic welding cell

Building of Anton Paar

Anton Paar: world leader in precision measurement

Trendsetting Austrian company Anton Paar manufactures high-precision measuring devices for a wide range of industries. Anton Paar Austria GmbH is the world leader in density and concentration measurement, rheometry, material characterization, and the analysis of dissolved CO2.

Anton Paar, Austria

  • Company HQ: Graz, Austria
  • Sites: > 30
  • Employees: ±4000
  • Production of: Laboratory instruments, process measurement systems, customized automation and robotics solutions
  • Fronius products used: Handling-to-Welding robotic welding cell
  • Process application: TIG, MIG/MAG (CMT, PMC)
Dominik Santner, COO
The shortage of skilled workers and ever-increasing quantities call for new solutions in production. The new robotic welding cell represents a huge step towards automation of our manufacturing. If we were to weld our process sensors manually like before, we would encounter huge difficulties achieving the planned quantities in the coming years.
Dominik Santner, COO

The challenge:

Flexibility and cost-effectiveness in automated welding production

Ongoing sales growth and a shortage of skilled workers made the switch from manual to automated welding a must, despite small batch sizes of 1 to 400 pieces. The goal was flexibility all along the line, combined with a high degree of cost effectiveness. This meant flexibility in terms the number, shape, and size of the components, in their positioning, and in the use of different welding processes.

Last but not least, system autonomy was a high priority at Anton Paar. Once set up, the welding system needed to be able to process a complete order from start to finish in a single pass—for example, welding a batch of different objects such as oscillator housings, main carriers, or countercoolers. And the system had to be able to do this completely independently and without the intervention of welding specialists.

Challenge of Anton Paar

The solution:

Flexible robotic welding cell for maximum product variety

Anton Paar opted for a handling-to-welding robotic welding cell from Fronius. The company has access to custom workflows for welding its many different components, including the three main workflows, which are a prime example of the incredible flexibility in the range of components.

Handling-to-welding robot welding cell from Fronius in use at Anton Paar.
Three workflows for maximum flexibility
Workflow 1:
The components are welded on the turn-tilt positioner. A pallet loaded with components is removed from the pallet rack and temporarily stored on a pallet storage table. The handling robot then attaches a suitable gripper for picking up components, with six different ones being kept in what is known as a gripper station. Equipped with the gripper, the handling robot picks up the components and fixes them in a component-specific clamping device. This is already installed on the manipulator. The robot always removes one component at a time, which is then joined and returned to the pallet.
Workflow 2:
The components are welded directly on the pallets, with the handling robot transporting the pallets from the pallet rack and positioning them in front of the welding robot. The handling and welding robots can then perform coordinated movements together during the welding process, enabling them to weld not just simple seam geometries but complex ones as well.
Workflow 3:
The components are removed individually, positioned by the handling robot, and move in sync with the welding robot during welding. This is called “coordinated motion”.
Workflow 1:
The components are welded on the turn-tilt positioner. A pallet loaded with components is removed from the pallet rack and temporarily stored on a pallet storage table. The handling robot then attaches a suitable gripper for picking up components, with six different ones being kept in what is known as a gripper station. Equipped with the gripper, the handling robot picks up the components and fixes them in a component-specific clamping device. This is already installed on the manipulator. The robot always removes one component at a time, which is then joined and returned to the pallet.
Workflow 2:
The components are welded directly on the pallets, with the handling robot transporting the pallets from the pallet rack and positioning them in front of the welding robot. The handling and welding robots can then perform coordinated movements together during the welding process, enabling them to weld not just simple seam geometries but complex ones as well.
Workflow 3:
The components are removed individually, positioned by the handling robot, and move in sync with the welding robot during welding. This is called “coordinated motion”.

Products in use

Handling-to-Welding robotic welding cell
Customized solution from a single source - CMT, TIG, plasma
High degree of welding autonomy, 3 different workflows
Automated pallet storage for up to 30 different components

Downloads & press releases

On this page, you’ll find all relevant downloads related to the customer reference. These include photos available for download as well as a detailed case study with further information about the project.

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Media contact

Franziska Dopona, MA
+43 664 850 2106

Downloads