Storage racking systems and lean manufacturing
Harderwijk, the Netherlands, machine engineer AWL has recently supplied three integrated production lines for manufacturing parts for racking systems. The parts include uprights, beams, diagonal sections, shelves and heel sections. A Belgian customer already has these production lines working at full capacity. The system was designed and constructed by AWL from start to finish.
We develop and manufacture machines of which ninety per cent are exported. These days ‘lean manufacturing’ is very much a hot issue with our customers, according to director Brand van ‘t Hof. AWL is a world player in the area of manufacturing fully automated and robotically controlled production lines where the main focus lies on welding. ‘We make complete robot production lines for the automotive supply industry for example. This involves mainly production lines for manufacturing seat frames and dashboards.
One of our recent successes was a new production line for the above-mentioned storage racking systems. The production line consists of eight stations where lean manufacturing is in full operation. A line which is being delivered to a French customer is currently being tested in Harderwijk.