sortimat - Jetwing pulls in the crowds

Jetwing, the new addition to the sortimat family, made an impressive debut at the Motek 2001 trade show for parts assembly and handling held in Sinsheim, Germany. The innovative, low-noise modular assembly system was received extremely positively by visitors to the sortimat stand - over 900 in all. And this comes as no surprise. After all, Jetwing is not based on incremental improvements, but on an entirely novel approach to building assembly systems. It also features a unique drive system with two motors, a simple, uncluttered layout, and impressive performance - up to 80 cycles per minute and an accuracy of +/- 0.02 millimetres. Representatives of manufacturers for the medical and pharmaceutical industries, for biotechnology companies, auto-makers and the electrical industry all concluded that Jetwing is "an ingenious solution based on sound engineering."

The Jetwing system's revolutionary new drive system reduces dependence on electronics and exploits a combination of technologies to create synergy. Engineers and marketing experts agreed that the innovative system's neat, accessible layout is a clear improvement. And the positive response to sortimat's new product was also reflected in firm orders - the first two Jetwing systems are scheduled to be delivered in around three months.

"Making bottlenecks a thing of the past"

Visitors to Motek were particularly taken with Jetwing's drive system. The system's two drive motors mean that it has very few moving parts - reducing maintenance and improving reliability. The variable indexing speeds of the two independent drives allow process cycles to be optimised, particularly important for time-critical production. The delays caused by slow processes can be overcome by using shorter indexing times or multiple tracks - eliminating bottlenecks that would otherwise limit output. The standardised control system allows stations to be programmed individually, underlining the system's modular, flexible nature.

"I can always see exactly what's happening"

The Jetwing system's simple, uncluttered layout also offers significant advantages. Visitors to the sortimat stand at Motek were in no doubt; a modular assembly system that combines ease of access and visibility with excellent performance is in a league of its own. The machine operator can observe the system from all angles and can access all stations quickly and easily. Should a fault occur, the operator can identify and resolve it without delay. Clear evidence that sortimat's goal - a system offering exceptionally ease of maintenance - has been achieved.

"A lead time of just three months? How do you expect to achieve that?"

Jetwing offers unprecedented time-to-production of just three months. A capability that meets the market's ever growing demand for speed head on. The key to this remarkably short lead time is Jetwing's modular design - the system makes use of standard components, such as the assembly platform, functional and check/test stations, and transfer systems, without compromising on technological sophistication. The unique drive system allows the platform and the product-specific stations to be fabricated, installed and set-up simultaneously. Normally, individual stations need to be built in sequence, but with Jetwing, components can be constructed concurrently on multiple Jetwing platforms. The individual components are then installed and tested as a unit - slashing lead time to just three months.

Jetwing - Technical data

Basic dimensions:		1,100 x 1,400 x 2,300 mm
Material:		Stainless steel, anodised aluminium
Performance:		Up to 80 cycles/min. Infinitely variable Multiple track design possible, i.e. several parts can be assembled simultaneously Cycles/minute x No. of tracks = parts/minute
Workpiece holder:		Standard size 100 x 100 mm, max. 200 x 100 mm
Positional accuracy::		+/- 0.02 mm
Clean-room specifications:		Standard design suitable for class 10,000 clean rooms Custom design for class 1,000 clean rooms
Supported functions:		Ultrasonic welding, laser, punching and pressing, printing, application of adhesive, silicon treatment, dispensing and metering systems, tests/checks and vision systems.