Top Design Agency Appoints Modular Automation to Build Assembly Equipment for New Windscreen Repair System

One of Britain’s top product design agencies, PDD has selected Modular Automation International to design and build production equipment for a new windscreen repair system.  The new device will be used by windscreen replacement and repair specialist Belron which trades under the name of Autoglass in the UK and Carglass in the rest of Europe.

John Robinson, director of Belron explained why the new system is so important:  “Windscreen repair is fast becoming the preferred option to windscreen replacement, last year it saved the automotive insurance & fleet industries around £400million globally.  It is obviously much cheaper to repair a windscreen than replace one and nothing is lost to the strength or integrity of the screen.”

Modular Automation was selected from six companies short-listed by PDD to design and build a machine to fully automate the production of the tiny disposable syringe used to inject a special resin into a damaged windscreen.  Engineers at Modular were able to configure the company’s off the shelf assembly cell, the MAC (Modular Assembly Cell) to assemble fill and test the fragile devices.

Tim Court, Operations Director of PDD said: “We were delighted that Modular Automation was appointed.  They understood our stringent design requirements and were able to implement the high levels of technology required for such a vital part of the process.”

One of the many challenges faced by the design team was to develop a method of feeding and placement of two very small ‘O’ rings.  This was accomplished using an ingenious technique involving ‘floating’ the rings using compressed air to prevent them twisting as they pass down the linear track.  While the integration of a six finger O-ring gripper allowed for high quality placement of the O-rings.  During the rigorous testing carried out by Modular  an efficiency of 98% was achieved.

Modular Automation International designs and manufactures a wide range of bespoke and standard production equipment for use throughout the industrial, medical, pharmaceutical and food & drink manufacturing industries.

All business enquiries to:
Mark Hendry
Modular Automation International Ltd.
Talbot Way
Small heath Business Park
Birmingham B10 0HJ

Tel:  0121 766 7979 Fax:  0121 766 6385

Email:  Hendry@modular.co.uk
Web:   www.modular.co.uk

Photo caption:  Components are bowl fed into the MAC cell.

High resolution images are available from enquiries@thewordsworkshop.co.uk