Automation Line – A Game Changer for Steel Processing

Say goodbye to manual inefficiencies and hello to the future of steel processing!

ASD’s new automation line – featuring a state-of-the-art coping robot, 2 shot blasters, a painting line, drilling, and 2 sawing lines -is the first of its kind in the UK. With cutting-edge technology, this system is set to revolutionise steel processing by streamlining operations and boosting profitability for customers.

To dive deeper into the reasons behind this major investment and explore the capabilities of this innovative line, we spoke with Dion Peirse, Head of Operations at ASD’s Leeds facility.

Q: What drove the decision to make this 5.5M investment in the automation line?

Dion: The £5.5 million investment in our new automation line was driven by our commitment to addressing key challenges in the construction industry, particularly manual labour-intensive processes, skills shortages, production bottlenecks, and the need to eliminate human errors. At ASD, we understand that these issues can lead to significant production slowdowns and rising costs. Our new automation line is designed to streamline workflows, reduce reliance on skilled labour, and minimise errors – ultimately helping our customers boost efficiency and productivity across their operations.

Q. The new automation line has some impressive technology, but it seems the star of the show is the new Coping Robot. Can you tell us more about its capabilities?

Dion: Our Robotic Plasma Coping Line truly is a game changer, capable of processing complex geometry. Where processes like drilling, milling and sawing could be restricted by operating range, robotic plasma processing offers an efficient alternative, capable of handling these tasks faster. It’s designed to handle a wide range of complex tasks with unmatched precision, speed, and accuracy. Whether it’s notches, bolt holes, flange mitres, bevels, weld preparation or layout marking, this robot can do it all.

Q: How does this coping robot compare to other offerings on the market?

Dion: What sets our technology apart from the competition is its exceptional ability to perform 8-side layout marking. While many of our competitors struggle to automate this critical process, our solution directly addresses a key customer challenge: the shortage of skilled platers. By automating tasks like layout marking and gas cutting, our coping robot significantly reduces the need for skilled operators to perform manual work, freeing them for other critical tasks.

Additionally, our robotic system ensures consistent, repeatable results with minimal deviation, essential for maintaining quality across large projects. This enables customers to receive fully prepared kits of parts more quickly, streamlining their fabrication process and enhancing overall productivity.

Q: What about the rest of the line, and how it delivers benefits to customers? 

Dion: The rest of the equipment’s capabilities are equally impressive:

• Drilling Line: Provides high-speed precision with options for oversized and slotted holes, weld preparations, thread tapping, countersinking, and layout marking, reducing the need for manual labour and ensuring accuracy. Additionally, the drilling machine can process both flanges and the web simultaneously.
• 2 Sawing Lines: Programmable for mitre and bundle cutting, these lines save time, helping to deliver parts faster.
• 2 Shot Blasters and a Paint Line: Both shot blasters complete surface preparation to the specified cleanliness standard, readying the material for further processing, Material preparation and painting are fully optimised, with paint applied only when material is present, contributing to more efficient and sustainable processing.

The entire setup is designed with the customer in mind, allowing us to provide efficient solutions that address key pain points. By automating these tasks, customers benefit from faster, more accurate, and high-quality output, giving them a competitive edge in meeting project timelines and maintaining quality standards.

Q: Can customers get a closer look at the automation line and see these solutions in action?

Dion: Absolutely! We invite all customers to experience our technology up close through ASD’s Solutions Discovery Tour at our Leeds facility. It’s a hands-on opportunity to see the full line in action, meet our experts, and explore how our solutions can address specific challenges in their own operations. Whether customers want to streamline their current processes or simply learn more about our capabilities, the tour provides real-time insights and tailored solutions to take their projects to the next level.

Get in touch to discover how ASD’s new automation line can elevate your projects.