Fully automated production line processes plastic and aluminum profiles completely autonomously

Originally, they wanted to buy similar machines. Until they came into contact with Soenen Hendrik, who presented them with a DEM ALU hybrid, a fully automatic production line that can machine both aluminum and PVC profiles and even do so unmanned for long periods of time. This customized system fits perfectly into the new workshop of the manufacturing company. Thanks to Mixed Reality glasses, the customer was able to see in advance, what their production line would look like and how it would be integrated on the shop floor.

In March 1996 Henk van Lipzig and his wife Riek started supplying window frames, doors and conservatories, among other things. After a short time, they invested in a number of machines so that they could produce the plastic and aluminum systems in-house. The van Lipzig family business is exactly 25 years old this year.

"We specialize in producing and assembling window frames, doors, sliding doors and skylights in plastic and aluminum," says Koen van Lipzig, who runs the company with his brother Frank. 

"We have 20 employees in our workshop in Venray and recently opened a new showroom in Venlo, allowing us to receive and inform our customers in an even more professional manner. We also continue to invest continuously in the modernization and expansion of our machinery. For example, two outdated processing machines for aluminum and plastic profiles, respectively, were in urgent need of replacement by the end of 2019. We went looking for a suitable solution at Polyclose. At various machine builders and distributors, we received demonstrations of processing machines for plastic or aluminum respectively. At Soenen Hendrik, however, they gave us the guarantee that they could offer a fully automatic production line tailored to our needs that could process both plastic and aluminum profiles." 

First hybrid production line in the Netherlands

Soenen Hendrik made a thorough study of the needs and available space on the shop floor, after which a design was worked out. A demo followed in March 2020, which proved to be the deciding factor for the customer to place the order. The line was commissioned at the end of last year. 

"We strive to always be one step ahead with our automated, high-tech production lines. This is also evident in this solution, as this is the first hybrid machine in the Netherlands. With this line they can process both aluminum and plastic profiles with a width of up to 235 mm and a height of up to 250 mm," explains Technical Sales Engineer Jurgen Dekeyser. 

"The operator places the profiles on the feed table. The machine recognizes the profiles and performs all milling and drilling operations perfectly, after which they are counter-profiled fully automatically. Each workpiece leaves the production line fully finished and labeled."

Unmanned operation = more efficient production

This intelligent DEM/ALU hybrid, completely controlled from the computer, operates unmanned. The operator places up to twenty profiles on the feed table, after which he or she can simply assist in other phases of the production process. Meanwhile, the system performs the job completely autonomously, ultimately enabling more efficient work and increasing productivity. The open source software can be controlled with any package, making adding new profiles or operations child's play. 

"This is our first fully automated production line and it has caused a complete turnaround in our production, in terms of implantation, but especially in terms of productivity," concludes Koen van Lipzig. "Thanks to the Mixed Reality glasses, we were able to perfectly imagine the new flow, long before the machine was actually in place. This also allowed us to make the necessary preparations. Thanks to the support of Soenen Hendrik and the open source software, the implementation of this fully automatic line went very smoothly."