Success of FANUC Robot Cell Leads to New Revenue Stream

With core competence in the field of CNC milling, WU Mechanische Werkstätte GmbH manufactures precision parts according to the requirements of its customers.

“We have two business areas: classic contract machining and mechanical engineering,” explains Managing Director Tobias Unger. “The latter builds robot systems for the automatic loading and unloading of CNC machines. For some years now, we have also been building complete solutions in partnership with FANUC, such as our WU Robodrill RZ-1/10 small automation cell, which features a FANUC LR-10𝑖A/10 fully covered industrial robot.”

The idea for diversifying into automation technology came to WU in 2010, simply because the company wanted to advance its own machining services. 

“After researching the market for a suitable robot partner, we found no supplier comparable to FANUC,” says Unger. “We then built our own automation cell to load/unload one of our machines. Two years later, a site visitor said he liked the concept so much, he wanted one too.” 

Among the prime advantages that WU’s automation systems provide is flexibility, a key attribute of industrial robots designed and manufactured by FANUC.

“With the WU Robodrill RZ-1/10, for example, users can benefit from automated workpiece handling [inserting parts directly into the vice], as well as automated pallet handling and tool handling.” 

According to Unger, the FANUC ROBODRILL CNC machining centre (for which the WU Robodrill RZ-1/10 is designed) is a very underestimated machine in Germany. 

The automated, unmanned running of the machines helps WU remain ahead of its competitors, even those operating abroad in low-cost economies.

“We work in a very demanding price segment, where we rely on technologies such as our automated FANUC ROBODRILL machining centres to keep us competitive,” says Unger. “It means many simple parts that would normally migrate abroad, remain in Germany.” 

He adds: “Choosing FANUC was absolutely the right decision. In 15 years we have yet to experience a service case! The reliability of FANUC machines, robots and software is outstanding. We also benefit from FANUC’s lifetime product support, which means we can always look to the future with complete peace of mind and confidence.”