Friday, May 23, 2025
According to Timber Products, Grants Pass Plywood added an automated panel repair section to their production line in the second quarter of this year. The plant has been using robots to fix panel flaws using the Con-Vey & Argos technology continually.
Timber Products began investigating an automated method to integrate into their “Patch Line,” or panel repair line. To make the panel’s surface more equal and smooth, this part of the job involved painstakingly identifying flaws and applying a layer of putty. Even though this part of the process produced positive outcomes, the division’s final objective was not met by the production time or the workforce. Following a review of various options, the Timber Products team chose to use the Con-Vey & Argos system, a collaboration that helped to meet the facility’s space and usage constraints. To make the line practicable, three different firms collaborated to install it. The in-feed, conveyors, vacuum table, and out-feed of the apparatus, together with seven robotic units, were installed by Con-Vey, an industrial automation provider.
Argos Solutions, a reputable Norwegian business that specializes in developing automated grading and repair systems, provided additional components such as the putty heads and router heads. In conclusion, the automated systems integrator PRE-TEC handled the delivery of putty for the patching repair. According to Josh Bratton, Plant Manager at Grants Pass: “TP went with this particular line due to the limited amount of space Grants Pass had available and to also open the doors of robotics to the company.”
The system’s operation is a true engineering wonder. First, a forklift is used to place a load of unpatched panels on the in-feed side. The in-feed robot, which can travel in four directions, then picks up the panels and positions them right on the patch line. After the panel is on the line, it passes through a scanner that determines whether it needs standard putty, poly putty, or routing for panel problems. Following application and successful patching, the panel is sent to a curing tower where a six-axis robot will flip it. “The out feed robot is a 6-axis robot, and the reason this one is a 6-axis vs the 4-axis on the infeed is because we needed a way to flip panels over that did not need to be puttied on the back side,” Bratton explained.
The establishment has seen success with its new Con-Vey & Argos Putty Repair line. Six panel patchers were needed for the previous patch line, which put other production areas at risk because of a staffing shortage during normal business hours. In mills where spots are difficult to fill, the company will be able to look into patching more items in the future with fewer staff, thanks to the additional line, which requires only one operator to patch the same number of panels. With the company implementing robotics in its facilities for automated solutions, the team is excited to discover what these robots can do and all the advantages they offer in other mill processes.
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