A new Danish company has solved a well-known and previously unsolvable challenge in the metal industry. Made4CNC has developed the world’s first completely automatic door opening solution, which can be fitted to any CNC machine make in under an hour. The door opener removes the last barrier to the automation of component feeding at machine works.
Made4CNC is now launching its first official product – the Safedoor SD100. But several end users and dealers have already caught the scent of a killer app and have taken the technology into use. The team behind Made4CNC are three professionals who are well-known for robot disruption: Thomas Visti, Lasse Kieffer and Peter Nadolny.
Currently only a small percentage of the industry’s CNC machines are automatically fed components. Most makes of CNC machine in the word rely on the operator having to open and close the machines’ heavy doors every few minutes. For machine works, automation and competitiveness are two sides of the same coin. But investing in a new fully automatic CNC machine or upgrading an older model can be a tall order, both in practical and financial terms.
Automation must speed up
Today when CNC machines have to be automated, integrators often build “homemade” door opening solutions. But that risks errors, stoppages, and hazardous situations because the solutions typically require compressed air and are neither standardized nor tested. These challenges are overcome with Made4CNC’s Safedoor SD100.
“Around the world the need for faster and greater automation is a major trend, and for it to succeed, less time must be spent on each installation. With the SD100, we have integrated safety and robustness in a user-friendly solution, which we believe is the key to optimal productivity. Integration of cobots together with existing CNC machines makes a lot of sense, since the automation of existing machines generate low risk and a short payback period for the customer,” said Peter Nadolny Madsen, CEO at Made4CNC.
Global expansion in 12 months
Together with investors Thomas Visti and Lasse Kieffer, Peter Nadolny Madsen established Made4CNC in January 2021. The trio have played a central role in successful Danish robot companies like Universal Robots, OnRobot, Purple Robotics and Mobile Industrial Robots.
Investor Lasse Kieffer has contributed with his deep technological expertise, while investor Thomas Visti has provided market insight:
“Made4CNC has understood what is required to make the process easier. It’s win-win-win for the end customer, employees, distributors and the manufacturer. I therefore expect that Made4CNC will have established itself via robot dealers and integrators around most of the world in the next 12 months.”
Stable, safe door openers
Integrator Nordelektro has fitted two Made4CNC Safedoor SD100 door opening solutions at Randers Tandhjulsfabrik. “It took less than an hour for each CNC machine and they are good and stable door openers,” reported Lars Bo Nielsen, factory manager at Randers Tandhjulsfabrik.
For Nordelektro, it makes a huge difference that they can provide customers with a standardized solution, which is designed as a solution-in-a-box:
“Safedoor SD100 is a complete solution, which makes it simpler to work with automation. It is a huge advantage for us as an integrator. We don’t need to invent something complicated and expensive, we have minimum project risk,” said Jesper Storm Simonsen, sales manager at Nordelektro.
Flow and better work environment
Made4CNC has just entered into agreement with their first American distributor, Thinkbot Solutions: “Safedoor SD100 makes having a job as a machine feeder much more pleasant and easy-going, and the same time the employer will be able to optimize and get a better flow. Other people have tried unsuccessfully to develop a user-friendly door opener. Made4CNC has completely succeeded. I have chosen to distribute SD100 because attention has been given to all of the details in terms of the mechanics, software and safety. It’s because SD100 is UR+ certified and has a URCap, just like robot grippers from OnRobot and Robotiq, ensuring completely seamless integration with cobots from Universal Robots. Al operation can be done on the robot’s teach pendant,” said President Philip Courtois.
Safedoor SD100 opens doors that are up to 1 meter wide and weigh 400 kg, at a speed of 500 mm/s. The door opener is connected to a robot and CNC machine via galvanic insulated digital inputs and outputs.
