28% Productivity Gain with Mobile Cobot Machine Tending

AT A GLANCE

CLIENT:

LOCATION:

Coventry, United Kingdom

SECTOR:

Manufacturing

SUPPLIER:

Vention

TECHNOLOGY / PRODUCT USED:

Patented T-Slot Aluminium Extrusions

TARGETED APPLICATION

Machine Tending

LEARN MORE

Read The Full Case Study Here

Maximizing Returns with a Mobile Cobot Machine Tending Cell

28%

Productivity boost

↑↑↑

Operator Skills for Industry 4.0

✓

A model of innovation and resilience

"[...] Vention's intuitive design platform is also great at keeping track of budget, size and safety of the enclosure while being able to import and export models of legacy machines and shop floor layout."

Adam Hricik, Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, Harris RCS

The Challenge

Harris RCS is a leading supplier to the aerospace industry. They operate in a low-volume, high-mix environment with unique manufacturing challenges. One of the key challenges for Harris RCS was managing frequent changeovers, often up to three times a day on a single machine. Greater variance in batch sizes, from just 5 units to 2,000, made traditional automation solutions harder to implement. Harris RCS partnered with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) to find ways to explore robotics as a possible solution. Their goal was to not only boost performance, but also attract the next generation of talent. However, adopting collaborative robots meant more than just new equipment. They needed an easy way to learn robot programming and integration. Just as important was helping their team adapt to this shift. Harris RCS needed an automation partner who could offer flexibility, modular design, and an intuitive platform to build and scale automation quickly.

The Solution

A traditional, machining robot setup would offer limited efficiency gains for Harris RCS due to fluctuating workloads across machines. Instead, the team partnered with Vention to develop a mobile cobot machine-tending cell, equipped with a robot arm that can be repositioned as needed. This mobility allowed the mobile cobot to serve multiple machines, significantly improving return on investment and maximizing utilization. Vention's team assisted with the design of the cobot setup, which includes an automated drawer system that presents parts to the robot for machining—further streamlining operations. Fully enclosed with polycarbonate panels, the cell is engineered for both safety and accessibility. Since its initial deployment, the cell has continued to evolve. Vention's MachineBuilder™ platform, and modular, FastFactory™ hardware ecosystem has made it easy for the Harris RCS team to model, simulate, and implement updates quickly and efficiently.

KEY FEATURES

Mobile & Flexible Automation:

A mobile cobot solution that can serve multiple machines and includes an automated drawer system for part presentation, maximizing utilization and ROI.

Advanced Digital Design Platform:

Vention's MachineBuilder™ software used to model, simulate, and update the setup quickly and efficiently.

Modular & Safe Construction:

Built using Vention's patented T-slot aluminium extrusion system for structural strength and is fully enclosed with polycarbonate panels for safety and accessibility.

RESULTS

Post-deployment, Harris RCS has experienced clear and measurable improvements. The collaborative robot consistently outperforms daily production targets by 28% while also reducing scrap rates. By automating repetitive and physically demanding tasks, the system enhances operator well-being and mitigates the risk of long-term health issues.

Beyond productivity and safety gains, the project has become a springboard for operator upskilling and a tangible example of what SMEs can achieve with the right tools and mindset. As an early adopter, Harris RCS now serves as a model of innovation and resilience within modern British manufacturing.

The patented T-slot aluminium extrusion system delivered the strength and flexibility required to build a robust, fully customizable machine-tending robot cell. At the same time, intuitive MachineBuilder™ software made the entire process from design to deployment more transparent, quick, and easy.