Is introducing robots into industrial production chains a sure-fire way to boost productivity? Nicolas Fontaine, co-founder of the Sierre-based start-up Workshop 4.0, which specialises in robotics services, certainly thinks so. With robots now becoming available more cheaply, a growing number of projects involving robots are springing up, including in Valais-based businesses.
“Robots help SMEs not only to become more competitive, but also make work more enjoyable for their employees,” says Nicolas Fontaine. Nicolas has previous experience of using robots in the timber industry, working in a large joinery business in Valais, which uses articulated robotic arms to move the wooden panels being cut or assembled between the different machines.
Robots already in action in Valais
There are other examples of robots already being used in Valais, in a variety of industries. One of these is the DaVinci medical robot in use at the Clinique de Valère hospital in Sion, along with the robots used by some cheese producers to automatically turn and cure the rounds of cheese. Robots are used in the steel construction industry, too. “There are robots that can weld or paint, entirely autonomously.”
At Workshop 4.0, a Kuka KR210 six-axis robot is installed in a machining cell (for working with timber, expanded polystyrene and polyethylene) that makes reproduction statues and casings for use in civil engineering, and is also used for a host of other 3D machining applications.
In recent years, Workshop 4.0 has also launched various demonstrator projects, including the Roboclette (which serves raclette cheese), the wine-pouring ApéroBot, and the SiropBot, which can serve up to 20 different fruit cordials – and not forgetting the Robofondue, which was presented for 10 days at the 2022 Paris International Agricultural Show.
“These types of projects are mainly for show, but they do serve a serious purpose: to encourage more use of robotics and make people aware that robots can be used closer to home, too. Robots are not just for large production plants; they’re also useful to small SMEs in Valais.”
That said, the Roboclette is Workshop 4.0’s real success story, featured at major events such as CES in Las Vegas, the World Economic Forum, a recent event in Rabat celebrating 100 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Morocco, Milan Fashion Week, and the main stage at the Paléo rock festival in Nyon. In September 2022 the Roboclette travelled to the USA for a showcase tour to Washington DC, New York and Boston.
Laser engraving and cutting is another important sector for the start-up. Having acquired a number of Trotec lasers, Workshop 4.0 specialises in customising items for individuals and businesses, supplying labelling products, signs, corporate goodies and a host of other lasered products.
In addition, industrial uses of 3D printing are set to become much more widespread in the coming years. “3D printing can be used to repair things and produce prototype parts, including in metal (Delémont) and even glass (Univerre). The possibilities offered by this technology, which we are also developing at Workshop 4.0, are vast. If you combine automation with
robotic arms, you can automate a large number of production-chain tasks.”
Workshop 4.0’s premises are on Route de Salquenen in Sierre. The company is always delighted to receive visitors, so feel free to get in touch if you would like to go and see them to gain further insight into the world of robotics.
Videos of robots in action:
The Roboclette: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6KpHR6jkSc
The SiroBot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsOrd7Huyy8
The Workshop 4.0 premises: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B47oKR38Jec / ‘Couleurs locales’ TV feature
Machining: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzZ3OKoDfs0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qba1-500vBA
