EMO premier Hyundai Wia: HS6300 with Pallet Line System for flexible automation

Hyundai Wia is showing for the first time in Europe at EMO 2019 the Pallet Line System, an in-house developed FMS system with 12 to 72 pallet locations for flexible automation. At the EMO, the Pallet Line System is paired with an HS6300 horizontal machining center from Hyundai Wia. "A good combination for many Dutch job shoppers" says Theo Coffeng, director of Dymato, the Dutch dealer for Hyundai Wia.

During the opening of its European technical center TechCube in Germany earlier this year, Hyundai Wia already announced its intention to bring more of its own automation solutions to the European market. With the EMO premiere of the Pallet Line System (PLS), the Korean machine builder fulfills this promise. "For smaller and medium-sized companies that have yet to make the step to flexible automation, this is a professional system," continued Theo Coffeng. The setup as demonstrated in Hanover consists of a magazine with space for 12 pallets (630 by 630 mm), a loading station and the HS6300 horizontal machining center (with Fanuc control), exactly the machine type from the line of horizontal machining centers of which Dymato has sold most of them in the Netherlands. Because Hyundai Wia stores the pallets in two layers one above the other, the space occupied by the total production cell remains limited, despite the storage capacity of 12 large pallets. The total cell (PLS with machining center and an additional tool magazine) takes up 8.3 by 7.76 meters of floor space.

Expandable automation solution

This combination allows smaller and medium-sized machining companies to flexibly automate their production. Either they clamp one large product on the pallet (maximum load 800 kilograms) or they work with a clamping tower and can machine a large number of smaller products unmanned on weekends and at night. Thus, in principle, they can process a large number of different products randomly through each other unmanned, while for repeat orders they can make enough products with a limited number of pallets as production continues each night. The pallet system can be further expanded with additional storage capacity (up to 72 pallets) and then accommodate multiple machining centers (up to 10), a washing station and four loading stations. Theo Coffeng: "In terms of space layout, the system can grow with the company." This allows manufacturing companies to invest in phases.

Hyundai Wia HS6300

Extra tool magazine

For complex operations that require more tools, Hyundai Wia additionally provides a tool magazine to match the system. Depending on the design and size of the tools, it counts between 195 and 360 positions. Programming the PLS system is done with the Pallex software, which the machine builder developed for the FMS system. This not only allows the companies to plan production based on priorities. The software also provides real-time insight into production, and the data can be used afterwards for analyses of both pallet utilization and the CNC machine itself. Part of the software is a tool management module, including monitoring the remaining tool life.

Dutch interest

Hyundai Wia also supplies the PLS system with other pallet sizes, such as 500 by 500 (for the HS5000) and 800 by 800 (for the HS8000). Theo Coffeng has already brought the automation system to the attention of several Dutch customers. In combination with the horizontal machining center, he believes it is a typical solution for the high mix low volume market in which most Dutch suppliers operate. "Dutch companies that want to take the next step in flexible automation, I can only recommend visiting the EMO. There they can see the Pallet Line System in combination with the HS6300 live in action."

Hyundai Wia will be at EMO 2019 in Hall 26 booth number B62. The HS6300 is one of ten CNC machines that the manufacturer is showing in Hanover. The EMO lasts from September 16 to 21. Free tickets can be requested from Dymato.