• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Your Membership
    • Edit Your Profile
  • Services
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsored posts
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Events

Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

  • News
  • Features
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • White papers
  • Press releases
  • Featured companies
    • AMD Xilinx
    • BlueBotics
    • Elite Robot
    • RGo Robotics
    • SICK Sensor Intelligence
    • Vicor Power
rethink-robotics-korea

Fitzpatrick Manufacturing ‘increases efficiency’ with Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer collaborative robot

June 29, 2018 by David Edwards

CNC machine shop has “increased speed and adaptability” with collaborative automation solution

Fitzpatrick Manufacturing, a CNC machine shop and custom manufacturer, has installed a Rethink Robotics’ Sawyer collaborative robot at its Sterling Heights, Michigan, facility to increase operational efficiency and to counterbalance a tight labor market.

Founded in 1952, Fitzpatrick Manufacturing supplies parts to more than a dozen sectors, including aerospace, automotive, medical equipment and oil and gas.

The company is noted for its innovation and regularly brings new technology into the factory to increase speed, improve efficiency and remain competitive. 

As its first step towards deploying advanced automation, the Fitzpatrick team knew that selecting the right task for Sawyer was critical to success.

Kevin LaComb, co-president at Fitzpatrick Manufacturing, says: “We were very deliberate about finding the right job for Sawyer.

“This is the first time we’ve deployed advanced automation. In job shops, it’s hard to predict what project will come in. With Sawyer’s adaptability, we can automate the repetitive, mundane jobs and free up human workers for more skilled, higher value tasks.”

In the Fitzpatrick Manufacturing facility, Sawyer helps hone parts that become components for the motion control industry, which requires precise tolerance and repetitive action.

Sawyer identifies which part to run first – short versus long – and loads it into the honing machine.

When the first part is finished, Sawyer removes it, loads a second part into the machine and places the first part in the wash station.

From there, Sawyer dries the part at the air blow station before packaging it in a box for shipment. With 400 spots on the pinboard to process, Sawyer can package between 280 and 300 before a human worker needs to intervene.

This process could take five to eight hours, which allows Sawyer to run overnight, lights out, and have all the parts ready to go when workers arrive back at the facility.

The majority of Fitzpatrick’s employees have been around for years, and introducing Sawyer was initially met with uncertainty on the floor. However, once the team saw the cobot’s versatility, and were able to focus on more interesting work, Sawyer was a welcome addition to the line.

Jon Mutz, team leader at Fitzpatrick Manufacturing, says: “At first, there was some hesitation around Sawyer’s deployment.

“The older generation was a little unsure of the new technology, while the younger group was excited. Once the team realized Sawyer wasn’t here to take their jobs, but rather help them do their jobs better and give them opportunities for more rewarding work, there was universal acceptance of and appreciation for Sawyer.”

For Fitzpatrick Manufacturing, like other job shops, it’s all about machine utilization. Considering the success of the first Sawyer implementation, the team at Fitzpatrick already has ideas for additional Sawyer deployments.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Skype
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Pocket

You might also like…

Filed Under: Industrial robots, Industry, Manufacturing, News Tagged With: cnc machine shop, fitzpatrick manufacturing, rethink robotics, sawyer cobot

Join the Robotics & Automation News community

Primary Sidebar

Latest articles

  • 5 Benefits of Using 3D Interior Design Models
  • How Packing Machines are Making Their Way into Garden Shops
  • Plastic Injection Molding Machines: Types and Benefits
  • 6 Safety Tips for Riding an Electric Bike
  • Essential Types of Contact Center Automations
  • Acieta unveils new collaborative robotic system for welding
  • Amazon to acquire iRobot for $1.7 billion
  • Will Automated Pre Roll Machines Boost Your Revenue?
  • Telexistence to install AI re-stocking robots in 300 convenience stores across Japan
  • Volvo Group to establish battery production plant in Sweden

Most Read

  • Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
    Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
  • Stäubli Robotics and Quantum Surgical partner to develop robotic platform for cancer surgery
    Stäubli Robotics and Quantum Surgical partner to develop robotic platform for cancer surgery
  • Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
    Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
  • Beyond Imagination receives order for 1,000 humanoid robots
    Beyond Imagination receives order for 1,000 humanoid robots
  • Kuka receives ‘record orders’ in first six months of year
    Kuka receives ‘record orders’ in first six months of year
  • Track your lost Android
    Track your lost Android
  • Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
    Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
  • Denso and Honeywell to develop electric engine for Lilium Jet
    Denso and Honeywell to develop electric engine for Lilium Jet
  • Top 25 vertical farming companies
    Top 25 vertical farming companies
  • The Best Mechanical Engineering Design Software in 2022
    The Best Mechanical Engineering Design Software in 2022

Overused words

abb ai applications automated automation automotive autonomous business china companies company control customers data design development digital electric global industrial industry logistics machine manufacturing market mobile platform process production robot robotic robotics robots safety software solution solutions system systems technologies technology time vehicle vehicles warehouse

Secondary Sidebar

Latest news

  • 5 Benefits of Using 3D Interior Design Models
  • How Packing Machines are Making Their Way into Garden Shops
  • Plastic Injection Molding Machines: Types and Benefits
  • 6 Safety Tips for Riding an Electric Bike
  • Essential Types of Contact Center Automations
  • Acieta unveils new collaborative robotic system for welding
  • Amazon to acquire iRobot for $1.7 billion
  • Will Automated Pre Roll Machines Boost Your Revenue?
  • Telexistence to install AI re-stocking robots in 300 convenience stores across Japan
  • Volvo Group to establish battery production plant in Sweden

Footer

We are…

Robotics and Automation News was established in May, 2015, and is now one of the most widely-read websites in its category.

Please consider supporting us by becoming a paying subscriber, or through advertising and sponsorships, or by purchasing products and services through our shop – or a combination of all of the above.

Thank you.

Independent

Archivists

June 2018
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930  
« May   Jul »

Complex

Old-skool

This website and its associated magazine, and weekly newsletter, are all produced by a small team of experienced journalists and media professionals.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact us at any of the email addresses on our contact page.

We’d be happy to hear from you, and will always reply as soon as possible.

Future-facing

Free, fair and legal

We support the principles of net neutrality and equal opportunities.

Member of The Internet Defense League

Copyright © 2022 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT