Reference Cases

An integrated manufacturing system from Fastems improved Lockheed Martin’s forward fuselage production – 75% reduction in span time, plus minimized process and labor costs.

Fastems helped Gilbert to double the production output with the same number of employees. That enabled Gilbert to expand the product line and to more than double their sales revenues in just a few years.

FMS for Low-Volume, High-Mix shop provides stable, predictable process. Increased requests for complex components? The solution: Fastems FMS.

Flexible manufacturing system takes care of pallet and workpiece handling – SKF manufactures bearing components in a highly automated process   The production of small batches down to single workpieces is not something generally associated with highly automated systems – especially if the production involves complex machining, with additional, sometimes difficult process steps, and when […]

With Fastems MLS and tool management the average spindle utilization of all machines is between 95 and 98 percent.

The word “flexible” takes on a completely new meaning with the Fastems Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS), Multi-Level System (MLS).

Development-mindset and flexible automation make a local machine shop pioneer Joensuun CNC-Machining Oy has grown to be a local pioneer of metal shops in Finland. This development is based on significant investments in flexible, automated, and intelligently controlled manufacturing, thanks to which the company has multiplied the value of its multi-axis machining expertise for its […]

Automating has lowered the unit cost and cut down the setup times in KP Component’s production.

Kongsberg automotive successfully automated five existing makino 4-axis machine tools boosting productivity and usability.

Automating existing machine tools has increased Supset’s production capacity by nearly 50 percent.

Productivity in a double pack – Flexible robot cell automates two machine tools

Manufacture highly complex workpieces for up to 40 hours unmanned with the Fastems MLS.

As the shop’s production mix and volume grew, the time required to construct multiple setups grew as well. The solution was Fastems FPC

Fastems Robot Cell increases productivity by more than 50 percent at Märkische Werk

“Our kind of High-Mix, Small-Batch production would have been a challenge without Fastems FPC.”

To maximize the production capacity of its machine tools, MTU signed a contract with Fastems for the delivery of a Multi-Level System (MLS).

“Many manufacturers were shaking their heads about my idea for automated changeover. With Fastems, we have mastered this challenge”

CNC Industries invests in Fastems FMS. The result? Maximized spindle uptimes and flexibility to schedule for just-in-time delivery to customers.

“I cannot think of anything that would make us more productive or efficient!” Says Tuukka Pasanen, Head of Quality Assurance.

“Fastems is a world leader in FMS logistics but this installation pushed even them to the limits of their technology.”

“Being able to gain a real increase in productivity of 25 percent, as promised in advance, was something that really impressed us.”

With Fastems MLS, nearly double productivity, save on labor costs and significantly increase throughput while reducing setup times and manufacturing costs per piece

We communicate the due date and the quantity required, then MMS can ‘play chess’, says Peter Doyle, COO at Hirsh Precision.

“All this comes with a ROI time for the automation of less than two years” Jarmo Tuohimetsa, CEO

Kvalitetslego from Hälsingland – From 6 to 18 pallets in a smaller footprint with Flexible Pallet Tower The locality of Alfta in Hälsningland in Sweden has long been a cradle for entrepreneurship and technology. What started as a village smithy in 1913 eventually became the forestry equipment company ÖSA, which reigned in the area for […]

The benefits from the new manufacturing systems of Wärtsilä include high and uniform quality, shorter delivery times, and cost efficiency.

MMS is Fastems’ answer to the entire Industry 4.0 issue

Smothers knew to expect increased savings when he incorporated the FMS, reorganized the cell layout, and made lights-out production possible. What he didn’t expect was just how much USNR would save.

Extension of Fastems MLS with automatic loading and unloading of clamping devices, and robotic deburring of the workpieces.

Fastems robot cell servers two 5-axis machines and is controlled by MMS – true industry 4.0 combination.

Robot-based system that processes cast-iron components for truck brake systems solves the problem around finding skilled labor.

Benefits include an increase of machine tool utilization up to 7.000 hours per machine & quicker time-to-market for new products.

“Companies are increasing the spindle hours of their lathes and milling machines by using the non-workable evening and night hours.”

Automation – A Driver of High Importance to Modern Production Hakfelt Produktion AB is a contract manufacturer from Bräcke municipality in Sweden with capabilities in gas and laser cutting, CNC machining and welding. The cornerstones of their operations are to work strategically, and with a determined, long-term mindset. The business is blooming at the moment: […]

“Today, we wouldn’t be able to produce economically without this automation solution,” says Jörg Maier, CEO of Gressel AG.

Flexible “just-in-time” technology down to a batch size of 1 in plastics machinery.

MAN Diesel is in fierce competition but can utilize the FPC system to keep the machine running without stopping for a long time.

“We must remain competitive” says Peter C. Berger, company director, as the reason behind acquiring Fastems FPC-3000.

Fastems MLS enables a third unmanned shift daily and also production without personnel on the weekends.

The aim of this FMS was not only to optimize spindle rotation but also to reduce setting times and set-up connected with series launch.

“Now it is profitable to manufacture small batches and even single parts, because the FMS reduces setup times almost to zero.”

“With a 12-pallet storage and 1 or 2 machines, the Fastems FPC-750 allows us to make very short series with no stops and all flexibility.”

“What convinced us was the MLS-concept: a standard system comprised of modules that can be constructed and expanded according to needs.”

“A high degree of productivity can only be achieved here with highly automated systems.” Uwe Glöckler, divisional manager of production.

“The beauty of this software is that it can respond to changes in part mix, part quantities and part due dates without additional planning by the cell team.”

“The system is able to operate completely independently, even in unmanned production.”

As downtime through changeover has effectively been cut to nil, it does not matter whether a single product or a series must be manufactured.

Challenges of accuracy and high-mix-low-volume production solved with Fastems MLS.

“Using a pallet system in place of standalone machining centers allows each machining center operator to deliver 26 % greater value.”

Fastems MLS provides increased capacity, greater availability, and a better working environment.

With various modernizations, Fastems extends the lifetime of customer’s investments.

“For us, a medium-sized batch is on average 6 parts, so that we are basically talking about an individual series or small series production.”

Fulfilling demands for higher productivity, longer machine running times and wide product range with intelligent automation.

Milltamo is a family-owned company located in Ylöjärvi, Finland. This small yet feisty machine shop has been operating since 1987, and it manufactures parts for the needs of e.g. the mining and sawmill industries. In addition to the CEO Kaisa Juortamo, the company employs 12 machinists and a foreman.  Milltamo had been struggling with an […]

“Better, Faster, Stronger” – Joensuun CNC-Machining improves productivity with Fastems software upgrades   Joensuun CNC-Machining Joensuun CNC-Machining Oy is a local pioneer metal shops in Finland, thanks to their significant investments in flexible, automated, and intelligently controlled manufacturing. Fastems’ Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) and Manufacturing Management Software (MMS) have been the key enablers for Joensuu […]

Flexible automation cut down the setup times in gearbox housing manufacturing ABM Greiffenberger is the leading manufacturer of sophisticated and powerful drive solutions for machines, plants and mobile devices. Together with Fastems and WEMCO, the company developed a flexible, low-labor production system for gearbox housings – in which the setup times are no longer an […]

Fastems’ automated laser-ablation cells increase efficiency and quality in F-35 lightning II wing assembly. In December of 2020 Fastems announced an agreement for the delivery of two automated structure laser ablation (Auto-SLC) robot cells to Lockheed Martin’s Fort Wort site. The cells are used in the F-35 Lightning II wing assembly line. As the delivery […]

Flexible automation enables round-a-clock production and higher employee retention for Koneistus Suomi Koneistus Suomi, a Finnish contract manufacturer of hydraulic blocks, wanted to achieve more flexible and efficient production. After deciding to work with Fastems and invest in CNC automation, their competitivity is in another level with higher production capacity and 24/7 production that runs […]

From a garage shop to a multi-billion listed company eComponent of Engcon group multiplied their productivity with the help of automation ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN SWEDISH IN MASKINOPERATÖREN NO 6 | SEPTEMBER 2022 EDITED BY ULF SAMUELSSON Rapid technological development and globalization are reshaping the playing field of Swedish manufacturers – in order to be and […]