Mabey puts cutting-edge robotics to work
Leading bridge and engineering services specialist Mabey has put its new robots to work at its Mabey Bridge site in Lydney, Gloucestershire. Forming one complete cell, the new robots support the manufacture of the Mabey Compact 200 (C200) – the world’s most widely used modular steel bridge.
Investing £2.6m in the new robots, they will enable Mabey’s C200 bridging system to be manufactured more quickly, safely and efficiently, halving the manufacturing time for the C200’s panels and chords.
Prior to the robots, existing automated welding systems performed several functions in the manufacturing process including making the panels and chords of the C200 bridges, with smaller welds being completed by hand. Panels and raw materials were also manually transported between three separate machines.
In contrast, the new robots – which include one that is the first of its kind to be used in the UK for making steel bridges – forms one complete cell to manufacture both chords and panels, thereby removing the intermediary steps.
Employees load the raw materials, at which point the robots take over and manoeuvre the heavier components, weld all sections together and make it ready for drilling.
Michael Treacy, Chief Executive of Mabey Bridge, said: “Now operational, our investment in the next generation of industrial robotics demonstrates our commitment to investing in and accelerating our own manufacturing and construction processes.
“Significantly, the robots reduce manual lifting and handling while ensuring the quality, and consistency of our products – all part of our broader aim to maintain a faster, safer and more efficient way of working.”
Now operational, the robots ensure Mabey’s Lydney factory has the capacity to manufacture up to 2km of steel bridging a month.
Available to hire or buy, Mabey’s Compact 200 system is one of the world’s most widely used modular bridging products. The system uses standard, interchangeable steel components to provide robust, rapidly deployed and erected solutions for permanent bridges, temporary bridges, rural bridges, access bridges, floating bridges, footbridges and emergency and contingency bridging applications.
