Customers Visit Customers: Lively Exchange of Information through Compass Software

The stair builder Verschaeve has been utilizing this solution for about a year and the company is still very satisfied with the production outcome. The robot and CNC machine are working non-stop and fully automated as needed. The machine operator merely has to provide enough material for production, all other processing steps, including the loading and unloading of the machine, run completely autonomously without further monitoring of the facility by an employee. The machine-robot combination is currently processing posts, risers and treads. The parts are manufactured with alternating processing, i.e. while the machine is processing parts on one side of the machine table, the robot is unloading finished parts off the other side of the machine and loading new raw material. This process guarantees gapless production. In concrete terms that means 2 tread combinations can be processed simultaneously on 4 stations, including tread separation, or tread combinations are processed on 3 stations in alternation with posts, which are milled completely from all six sides.

Since the processing center with robot still has additional capacity, the stair builder is now planning to use even more parts for fully automated processing. The required developments will be implemented in collaboration with Compass Software in the future. Verschaeve produces approx. 2000 staircases per year with the current solution and an additional CNC machine which processes stringers and railing parts.

All in all, the visit at the modern, high-tech stair workshop was a full success and very stimulating. We are happy to have such open and satisfied customers and to be able to boost such a lively exchange between stair builders. We would like to thank Trappen Verschaeve for their valuable cooperation and the company Wiehl for their interest and curiosity in new technologies.