02/01/2019

ION Machines have begun the making of a new fully automated marble tile line. The line was conceptualised 18 months ago, and the R&D process has now been completed. The line involves several novel methods in the application of epoxy on tiles. The system also involves automatic one-arm robots such as KUKA, which loads the pre-sawn and pre-sized slabs onto the line. These slabs, then, dried, automatically epoxy applied and mesh placed, cured, automatically epoxy applied onto the front of the slabs, and cured for the second time for the front. These slabs then are taken directly the tile polishing line, which means that there is no delay or storage of the tiles, therefore line production is achieved. This line also allows for an automatic packing line to be added to the end of the line, making the entire production line automatic. The capacity of the line can be increased to 70m2/hour with only 5 workers, depending on the stone being processed. 

The system shows many novelties, some of which are:

1) The cycle time of the line 40 seconds. The line involves a special cyclic oven tower. In order to achieve this speed, a special working system has been invented, and this invention is patented (patent pending). 

2) A new type of unit has been made for automatic epoxy and mesh applications. 

3) The entire line is Industry 4.0 compatible. 

The first line is being installed in Ionic Stone's factory. Ozcinar Marble, one of the largest firms in Turkey in the field, has placed an order for this line. For more information, +90 258 814 5747 or ion@ionmakina.com.

08/09/2018

Under normal circumstances, all automatic loading & unloading robots require teaching of how to handle slabs; in what position the slab should be taken from the gangsaw trolley and which platform it should be unloaded onto. The operator teaches the robot for the first slab, enters the number of slabs to be handled and the robot then begins operating automatically. If these slabs have cracks and areas of voids that lead to robot not being able to vacuum, then the operator intervenes in the process and shuts the valves that do not vacuum. Therefore, all automatic robots require operators' constant observation. 

Metamar, a firm based in Isparta and the largest stone processing factory in Turkey, applied ION Machines with this problem, and enquired if it could be solved. At the end of a 6-month R&D process, ION Machines successfully made and tested a robot that is completely autonomous and does not require any operator's intervention, other than pressing ON/OFF button. Metamar has now placed the second order for the robot. 

If you need any information about this robot, please contact us at +90 258 814 5747 - ion@ionmakina.com  

10/08/2018

ION Machines have recently installed a resinline with double oven towers in Amasya for Emmioglu Mermer, one of the leading marble excavation and processing firms of Turkey. This system processes 30 slabs/hour one side, or 15 slabs/hour two sides. In addition to various conveyors, lifts and a slab rotating unit, the systems includes the following machines: 

- AhtapotH automatic loading & unloading robot,

- Vatoz automatic unloading robot,

- 30+30 cyclic oven tower,

- Slab storage unit.