AVK

Production line for AVK and winner of the DIRA Automation Award

Optimized production

In collaboration with AVK International, a fully automated robotic solution has been designed that handles, assembles, and inspects 31 different variants of drinking water valves, weighing between 3.6 and 54 kilograms. The solution includes multiple robotic arms, advanced vision systems, and quality testing through pressure checks. In fact, it integrates a total of 16 processes into a single robotic solution.

Enhanced product quality

Production focused on workplace safety and flexibility

Strengthens competitiveness both nationally and internationally

Challenge

 

  • 31 different variants weighing between 3.6 and 54
  • 16 processes.
  • Broad range of product quality.

Solution


A robotic solution that handles 16 processes with robots, advanced vision systems for pick & place systems, pressing, thread cutting, screw processes, and quality testing through pressure testing.

Benefit

 

  • Product quality has been significantly improved.
  •  Repetitive and heavy tasks have been reduced, enhancing the working environment.
  • Styrker konkurrenceevne både nationalt og internationalt.

Background


AVK International has been working with production automation for 30 years, but until recently, the production of drinking water valves was performed manually. With different valve variants weighing between 3.6 and 54 kilograms, the production process was complex and involved repetitive, heavy lifting, putting both efficiency and the working environment under pressure.

 

Challenges


The company wanted to scale production, improve quality, and reduce manual, physically demanding work—while handling all 31 product variants on a single line. The valves were not designed for automation, making the project particularly challenging.

Results

 

  • Production can now be scaled flexibly according to demand.

  • Product quality has been significantly improved.

  • Repetitive and heavy tasks have been reduced, enhancing the working environment.

  • AVK International has strengthened its competitiveness both nationally and internationally.

 

Conclusion

 

The project demonstrates how a strategic investment in automation can transform a company. In partnership with Kilde Automation, AVK International has shown how complex product variants can be integrated into a fully automated solution that both optimizes production and improves working conditions.

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The project won the DIRA Automation Award in 2024

 

Kilde, together with AVK International, won the prestigious DIRA Automation Award 2024, which is presented by DIRA – the Danish Robot Network.

 

About the award-winning project


In connection with Kilde and AVK International receiving the DIRA Automation Award 2024, both the concrete benefits and the broader impact of the project were highlighted:

“We have improved quality, eliminated monotonous repetitive work and heavy lifting. At the same time, this solution makes us much more competitive,” says Lars Christiansen, Plant Manager at AVK International.

 

“This is an impressive automation solution implemented by AVK International. The company’s journey is also remarkable. They started in one place and ended up with a much larger and more comprehensive solution, which has led them to review larger parts of their production. AVK International is therefore a great example of how automation can help transform an entire company and raise its overall level,” said the jury.

 

Read more about the winning project of the DIRA Automation Award 2024 here:https://dira.dk/nyheder/vinderen-af-dira-automatiseringsprisen-2024-er-fundet/