Duif Project engineering
From patented concept to high-precision automation
In the In-Vitro (IVD) industry, precision is not a luxury but a requirement. For this project, Duif Project Engineering - DPE (www.dpe-bv.nl) developed an innovative machine capable of both assembling and filling components within a single automated process. The concept, patented by the end customer, demanded a solution that could guarantee maximum precision, repeatability and process reliability.
To achieve these objectives, Duif Project Engineering - DPE partnered with HUPICO for the selection and integration of the most suitable EPSON robotic technology.
The challenge: combining assembly and filling in one process
The machine was designed to process products used in the In-Vitro (IVD) diagnostics applications. These products require a high level of accuracy throughout the entire process, from handling and assembly to filling and final processing.
In addition to precision, the machine also needed to offer sufficient flexibility. Different products had to be processed on the same platform, requiring fast changeovers without compromising quality or process stability.
The challenge therefore went beyond simply integrating a robot. It required identifying the robotic solution that could deliver the optimal balance between speed, accuracy, repeatability and flexibility.
Selecting the right robot through simulation
As EPSON robotics importer for the BeNeLux & France, HUPICO was involved from an early stage in the development process.
Rather than selecting a robot based solely on specifications, different robotic concepts were evaluated through simulations and performance analyses. Together with Duif Project Engineering, we examined which robot configuration would best support the machine's requirements and future production needs.
Questions such as "What is the right speed?", "Is additional precision required?" and "How can product changeovers be optimized?" were analyzed during this phase.
This approach allowed the theoretical machine concept to be validated and translated into a practical automation solution with predictable performance.
Why Epson SCARA robots?
For this application, EPSON SCARA robots proved to be the ideal choice.
Their combination of speed, positioning accuracy and repeatability makes them particularly suitable for assembly and filling operations where process consistency is essential.
Combined with the machine engineering expertise of Duif Project Engineering - DPE, the robots form the technological core of the solution.
A successful collaboration
This project demonstrates the importance of involving robotics expertise early in the design process. By combining the machine-building know-how of Duif Project Engineering – DPE with HUPICO's application knowledge and robotics expertise, the optimal solution could be selected before the machine entered production.
The result is a technically advanced machine that combines assembly and filling within a single process while meeting the stringent requirements of the in-vitro diagnostiek (IVD) sector.
We would like to thank Duif Project Engineering - DPE for their trust and the pleasant collaboration throughout this project.
