Containers are the core equipment of modern logistics supply chains, and welding, as the core manufacturing process, directly determines the structural strength and sealing performance of the container. The welding conditions of containers are complex, with numerous points and variable angles. Traditional manual welding has problems such as poor quality consistency, low efficiency, high labor costs, and difficult operation and maintenance, which cannot meet the needs of large-scale standardized production. Therefore, robot automation welding has become the core path for enterprises to improve quality and reduce costs, stabilize production and increase efficiency, and is also the key to the intelligent transformation of container manufacturing.
CIMC Container (Group) Co., Ltd. has been deeply involved in the container manufacturing industry for over 40 years and is a leading enterprise in the global container industry. Shanghai CIMC Yangshan Logistics Equipment Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as CIMC Yangshan), a subsidiary of the company, launched the "Longteng Plan" intelligent transformation project in 2019 to systematically promote intelligent manufacturing upgrading. The project focuses on completing the automation welding upgrade of two core production lines, the container chassis line and the final assembly line.
The mass production of containers requires extremely high equipment stability, repeatability, and low failure rate. After comprehensive comparison and selection, Fanuc robots have become the preferred equipment for the project due to their outstanding advantages of high repeatability, stable operation, and low failure rate. At present, CIMC Yangshan is equipped with more than 140 Fanuc robots, which fully cover the core welding processes, establish a large-scale intelligent welding production system, and achieve standardized, efficient, and stable production.
Project Highlights:
M-10 series robots: With excellent load capacity, the robots are equipped with laser line scanning sensors and visual inspection equipment to achieve weld seam positioning, tracking, and detection functions
Covering all component welding: The M-10 series robot is known for its lightweight and flexibility, making it easy to handle welding scenarios from different angles and orientations at all workstations
Complete service system: Shanghai Fanuc distributed network covers 30 service outlets across the country, achieving efficient coverage of the entire area, rapid response to services, and providing users with efficient and convenient localized services
The core characteristics of Fanuc robots, such as high reliability, low failure, and easy operation and maintenance, can ensure the long-term continuous and stable operation of the production line, significantly reduce equipment downtime losses, and help CIMC Yangshan optimize the full life cycle cost of equipment. Meanwhile, Shanghai Fanuc relies on its nationwide service network to quickly respond to on-site service needs.
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In September 2024, Shanghai was hit by a rare double typhoon, causing 250 millimeters of water accumulation in the CIMC Yangshan workshop due to the terrain, resulting in water ingress to 23 workstations, robot control cabinets, and other equipment on site. After receiving the repair report, the Shanghai Fanuc service team responded immediately and completed the recovery work of 17 workstations after 2 consecutive days of hard work. Within 5 days, the overall recovery of all workstations was completed. All components of the robot can work normally after being cleaned and dried. After resuming work normally, CIMC Yangshan highly appreciates the professional ability, service attitude, and response speed of the Shanghai Fanuc service team.
Wang Hui, the head of the robot team at CIMC Yangshan Production Department, said, "In terms of equipment selection, we value the stability of equipment operation the most. Container production lines require long-term continuous mass production, and equipment stability directly affects production capacity and delivery. After comprehensive comparison, Fanuc robots have significant advantages, such as high repeatability accuracy, low failure rate, stable operation, highly adaptable to our production conditions, effectively ensuring consistent welding quality and efficient and controllable production lines. They are a high-quality choice for our intelligent manufacturing upgrade
Relying on high-performance robot products and a professional full process service system, Shanghai Fanuc has deeply cooperated with CIMC Yangshan to jointly build a highly reliable intelligent welding production line, effectively solving the pain points of traditional welding production, and smoothly achieving the intelligent and standardized upgrade of container manufacturing, setting a high-quality benchmark for the application of intelligent manufacturing in the industry.
