Released on April 14, 2008

Intermet Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, recently installed a robotic press cell with vision system at its New River Foundry, Radford, Va.

The finishing system automates the removal of casting fins, reduces heavy manual labor and uses the laser vision system to verify results. At the New River facility, the cell will aid in the production of light truck differential carriers.

“Safety, quality and productivity—in the manufacturing world, those are the big three,” said William Nestel, general manager of the New River plant.

In the cell, a trim press clears flash from the interior and exterior of the carrier castings before a purpose-built robotic arm removes them and places them on a laser stand that gauges their accuracy. The trim press replaces the manual filing that operators once performed, and the robotic arm handles the heavy lifting of the 50- to 68-lb. carriers.

According to a press release issued by Intermet Corp., the new process will enable the differential carriers to meet higher quality standards and tighter dimensional tolerances than were previously attainable.

“By eliminating the manual lifting and handling of the castings, we have a more efficient operation and expect to see a drop in work-related injuries,” Nestel said.

Intermet employs 2,000 in its variety of facilities, producing castings for the automotive, commercial-vehicle and industrial markets.