After 15 months’ development, T&D Robotics perfected their Lapisystem Top worktop production line in Switzerland last year. A second system is now being installed at another customer’s factory.
For the installation in Switzerland, T&D spent six months carrying out research and development into ways of achieving the requirements of the customer and six months more testing and further development in its factory before the plant was ready to be delivered to the customer’s premises. It took another three months further refining the system there until the final Lapisystem Top was perfected as a worktop production unit.
Now, says T&D’s Foreign Sales Manager, Roberto Antichi, with almost a year’s production under the belt, T&D feel confident in saying the Lapisystem Top has reached its goal of proving that robotic automation in the countertop business is not just possible, but possibly the best solution for the production of worktops.
Because the robot can work with an electrospindle, a saw disc, a waterjet cutter and vacuum lifts, it can operate autonomously, loading the slab, processing it and unloading the finished worktops. T&D say its versatility means it can produce up to 20 worktops in a
three-shift day with just one operator per shift.
The development of the Lapisystem Top took up a lot of T&D’s time last year, but the company still managed to work on several other projects while it was being developed. One of them was a new compact robot, intended particularly for the memorial side of the industry. It was exhibited at Marmomacc in Verona in September.
It comes complete with a cabin, so the whole lot can be carried together for easy installation. In the relatively small area there is a fixed table and an automatic, rotating table.
T&D also entered the materials handling field, with robots specifically designed for unloading and palletising finished work from polishing and CNC machines.
And the company continued to install robots for carving, both in Italy and the rest of the world.
Since 2009, T&D have sold 21 Lapisystems, opening markets in France, Bulgaria, India, Mexico and Turkey to bring the number of countries now using the system up to 17.
For 2012, a budget has been allocated specifically for the development of the UK market and T&D expect to be announcing installations in Britain during the year. They are already working with four companies in Britain, the latest of which, Calvert Stone, is getting its Lapisystem this month (February).
Roberto Antichi: “We strongly believe that the internationalisation of
T & D Robotics has enabled it to cope with the economic downturn without too much difficulty.”
In Italy, T&D has more than 40 plants installed in the factories of companies that include big names of the Italian stone industry – Fratelli Testi, Margraf, Bagnara, Pimar, Tonoli Marmi (two robots there), Tor Art (five robots). There are another 40 plants worldwide and T&D expanded its commercial network last year by opening new partnerships in Benelux and Germany, India, Mexico, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Roberto says: “We are covering right now many areas of the planet but 2012 will see the opening of new branches, specifically in the English market. Read as a gateway to the world, the UK represents for us a source of great interest.
“Robotics in stone in England have had a difficult start, with problems that caused apprehension and distrust in the robot capacity. But T&D is proud to count on the satisfaction and trust of its UK customers – Joe Rotherhams, Rob Parker, Brian Wright.”
With T&D predicting that its growth this year will equal last year’s rate of 40%, the company is confidently predicting it will break the 100 barrier for its robots by the end of the year.
The feedback from all those customers is enabling T&D to improve and update its technology all the time and it is proud of its focus on research and technology innovation.
To facilitate the expansion of the company last year, two more technicians and an extra sales person were recruited. This year has already seen another mechanical engineer employed and the plan is to bring two more technicians on board during the course of 2012, bringing the number of people in the company up to 15.
The growth has also been helped by T&D’s association with Donatoni Macchine, the major Italian manufacturer of CNC bridge saws. Donatoni’s financial backing, as well as the space it gave T&D in its factory, allowed the robotics business to develop rapidly.
But T&D has grown so rapidly that last year it moved into its own 1,000m2 factory in Pescantina Verona. And in April this year it will also be moving its sales office in Carrara into larger premises that have an area where customers can experiment with the Lapisystem for themselves.
To find out more, contact T&D’s Foreign Sales Manager, Roberto Antichi, at antichi.r@tdrobotics.com or on 0039 0585 271 780917 / 0039 345 271 3074.
Comments from UK customers:
J Rotherham Masonry Ltd, Holme upon Spalding Moor, Yorkshire
Satisfaction comes from knowing that within the masonry business the working limits of the robot are the material, not the robot.
T & D Robotics has been a great help to us in developing the software for the robot after our original supplier of the machine failed to deliver on the promises made.
In the past three years the market conditions have been far worse than we could have predicted when we first ordered the machine. We feel that when the Robot is fully functional we will be in a better position than most to make the investment pay off. In the correct market conditions then, yes, we would certainly consider a second Robot.
Stoneworld (Oxfordshire) Ltd, Oxfordshire
It has opened up new markets to us, but you have to be brave to enter the unknown. Improvements and modifications are always worthwhile as long as the expense is justifiable.
If the conditions were right and the need was there, yes, we would take another robot from T&D Robotics, although I have other pieces of equipment on my wish list first.
Wrights of Campden, Gloucestershire
We wanted the robot for large pieces of stone – which our other CNC machine cannot manage – so we can complete orders a lot quicker and can take on larger projects. It is able to work very large pieces of stone. It is definitely a worthwhile investment. We wouldn’t have been able to accept some orders without it – it would have taken us much too long to complete large projects without the robot. Under the right conditions we would definitely think about taking another robot from T & D Robotics.
A D Calvert Architectural Stone Supplies, Leyburn, North Yorkshire
We want the robot for counter tops, architecture, artistic, modern art, classic art, busts, reproducing ornate figurines for private clients… work for large private dwellings and large housing projects.
We are hoping for a hassle free installation and the smooth running of a high quality machine which can add a new element to the business. The aim is to achieve faster production, being able to complete more detailed designs and take on more projects.
Wrights of Campden, Gloucestershire
We wanted the robot for large pieces of stone – which our other CNC machine cannot manage – so we can complete orders a lot quicker and can take on larger projects. It is able to work very large pieces of stone. It is definitely a worthwhile investment. We wouldn’t have been able to accept some orders without it – it would have taken us much too long to complete large projects without the robot. Under the right conditions we would definitely think about taking another robot from T & D Robotics.