Cripps & Sons Achieve 3x Productivity Increase with Robotic Sanding

cripps-sons-achieve-up-to-3x-productivity-increase-with-robotic-sanding

AT A GLANCE

CLIENT:

LOCATION:

Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia

SECTOR:

Manufacturing

SUPPLIER:

Vention

TECHNOLOGY / PRODUCT USED:

Rapid Series Sanding, FANUC CRX-25iA Robot Arm

TARGETED APPLICATION

Robotic Sanding

LEARN MORE

Read The Full Case Study Here

Streamlining Productivity and Quality with Robotic Sanding

Up to 3X

Productivity increase

↓ 50%

In sanding time

↑↑↑

Employee engagement

"One of the biggest things that drew us toward the Rapid Series Sanding was the simplicity of the interface and the ability to create different recipes. It made it easy for our team to use and feel confident with the machine."

Sam Cripps, Vice President, Cripps & Sons Woodworking

Discover how robotic sanding lowered production costs and timelines for Cripps & Sons woodworking, while improving quality of finished products.

The Challenge

Founded in 2009, Cripps & Sons are makers of high-end residential kitchen cabinets. As their business operations scaled up, the founders - Jim Cripps and Sam Cripps, both Red Seal certified cabinet makers, identified the need to automate. While installing a new spraying line, the Cripps & Sons team zeroed in on sanding as the task that also needed an urgent robotic upgrade. This way, their operators would be free from the messy task of sanding and be able to spend more time on spraying. Another key consideration for Cripps & Sons was the consistency of finish for the panels, which plays a huge role in the final output of their premium kitchen products. While they had identified automation and robotic sanding as the need of the hour, one of the biggest challenges for Cripps & Sons was finding the right partner and an automation solution that was intuitive yet powerful.

The Solution

Cripps & Sons Woodworking partnered with Vention to automate their biggest bottleneck with Vention's easy-to-use robotic sanding solution, optimized for 3M™ Abrasives. A key factor in the project's success was Vention's clear and ongoing communication throughout the entire journey. Vention also helped de-risk the robotic sanding project by testing products sent directly by Cripps & Sons. During deployment, Vention's intuitive and user-friendly interface enabled Cripps & Sons operators to manage the transition with minimal disruption. The on-site presence of experts from 3M further helped fine-tune the sanding process. Post-deployment, Vention continued collaborating on performance fine-tuning, ensuring Cripps & Sons extracts maximum value from their robotic sander.

KEY FEATURES

Customizable Robotic Cell:

Utilizes a FANUC CRX-25iA Robot Arm and Vention's MachineMotion controller.

Optimized for 3M Abrasives:

Solution was designed and optimized specifically for use with 3M™ Abrasives.

Intuitive Software Control:

Features Vention's MachineApps Software which provided an intuitive and user-friendly interface and the ability to create customizable sanding recipes.

RESULTS

Shortly after deploying the Rapid Series Sanding solution, the team saw a dramatic 2-3x increase in productivity for sanding. Replacing the manual and messy sanding process with robotic automation delivered immediate and measurable results for Cripps & Sons. They also reported noticeable improvements in finish consistency. As a result, the final coat of spray paint is significantly smoother, a critical factor in maintaining the premium quality Cripps & Sons Woodworking are known for. Automating has also produced a knock-on effect on other processes. For example, freeing up an operator from sanding has allowed them to focus better on other tasks such as spraying. Beyond the operational and quality gains, the introduction of the Rapid Series Sanding solution brought a positive shift in shop floor culture, improving satisfaction within each role.

Most importantly, the success of this deployment has built strong internal momentum for automation, positioning Cripps & Sons for continuous improvement and long-term growth.