{"id":50582,"date":"2026-01-12T11:55:52","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T11:55:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/une-technologie-qui-relie-vecoplan-et-valk-welding-automatisent-la-production-de-rotors-grace-a-une-installation-de-soudage-robotisee\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T09:34:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T09:34:06","slug":"une-technologie-qui-relie-vecoplan-et-valk-welding-automatisent-la-production-de-rotors-grace-a-une-installation-de-soudage-robotisee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/en\/une-technologie-qui-relie-vecoplan-et-valk-welding-automatisent-la-production-de-rotors-grace-a-une-installation-de-soudage-robotisee\/","title":{"rendered":"Technology that connects: Vecoplan and Valk Welding automate rotor production with robotic welding system"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen experience drives innovation, it often looks like the collaboration between Vecoplan and Valk Welding: two companies with strong technical expertise joining forces to rethink production processes. At the heart of their joint project is a fully automated robotic welding cell for the production of rotors \u2013 the core component of many recycling machines. Handling, positioning, welding and even the complex hardfacing process are now automated at Vecoplan \u2013 thanks to a precisely coordinated system of two robots, intelligent software and integrated safety measures.

Valk Welding impresses as a partner<\/h4>
As part of the \u2018Rotor production with a robotic welding system\u2019 project, an intensive and comprehensive market analysis was carried out to select suitable suppliers. Five potential candidates were identified and evaluated in detail.

In order to arrive at a well-founded decision, the project team carried out an analysis based on criteria such as technical performance, service quality, level of innovation, cost-effectiveness and implementation expertise. Two suppliers achieved almost identical overall scores, which made the final choice challenging.

To confirm the internal analysis, an independent assessment was requested from an external institute. At the same time, in-depth discussions were held with the two selected suppliers to take additional qualitative aspects into account.

After completing all evaluations and discussions, Valk Welding was selected. The decisive factors were the company’s professional and competent approach, as well as its convincing presentation of technical solutions and project processes.

The implementation phase fully confirmed this choice. Valk Welding proved to be an extremely reliable and powerful partner. The collaboration was \u2013 and still is \u2013 efficient, solution-oriented and focused, clearly demonstrating that the right choice was made.

Martin Selbach emphasises:<\/h4>
\u2018Valk Welding convinced us not only with its technical expertise, but also with its reliability and genuine partnership. The collaboration clearly showed that we had chosen the right partner \u2013 both professionally and personally.\u2019\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Rotor production reinvented \u2013 From handling to wear protection<\/h4>
Rotors are among the most heavily loaded components in shredders. Their production requires maximum dimensional accuracy, precision and \u2013 especially when applying wear-resistant material \u2013 in-depth knowledge of materials and processes. Until now, many of these steps were carried out manually at Vecoplan. Skilled welders ensured quality, but the process was time-consuming, labour-intensive and difficult to scale.

This led to the desire to automate the process \u2013 not with a conventional robot solution, but with a holistic, scalable system that fully integrates and autonomously performs handling, welding and wear protection. This is exactly what has now been achieved in collaboration with Valk Welding.

The solution: Twin robot system with storage tower and smart welding concept<\/h4>
At the heart of the system is an arrangement of two cooperating welding robots, supplemented by a central storage tower for tool holders. This configuration enables fully automated production:

\u00b7 Robot 1<\/strong> ensures the precise positioning of tool holders from the storage tower. A specially designed gripper ensures correct alignment and safe transfer to the rotor, after which Robot 2<\/strong> secures them.

\u00b7 Once the components are fixed in place, both robots start the welding process simultaneously \u2013 a highly productive approach that significantly reduces cycle times.

A particular highlight is the welding process itself: in addition to conventional MAG welding, the system also performs fully automated hardfacing \u2013 a process that is normally done manually due to the high demands on positioning accuracy, layer thickness and repeatability. Both robots now perform this task simultaneously, without compromise.

Software as the key: QPC programming based on design data<\/h4>
A decisive success factor was software integration. Valk Welding implemented its own QPC \u2013 Quick Programming Configurator, a parametric offline programming solution that automatically generates welding programmes based on design drawings.

Instead of manually teaching each robot position, geometry is interpreted directly from the CAD drawing. This saves a tremendous amount of time \u2013 especially with new variants, series changes or different rotor dimensions. The flexibility of this solution enables Vecoplan to efficiently automate even small series or single pieces.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Safety and ergonomics: Workplace protection integrated<\/h4>
Modern automation goes beyond robotics. Safety and environmental requirements are integrated into the system design from the outset. The installation at Vecoplan includes integrated torch extraction and a large-scale extraction system with an extraction hood. Welding fumes, particles and gases are captured directly at the source \u2013 an important contribution to occupational safety and regulatory compliance.

Cooperation on an equal footing: Vecoplan & Valk Welding<\/h4>
The project was realised through close cooperation between the automation experts at Valk Welding and the process engineers at Vecoplan. Both partners worked in iterative steps, with realistic simulations and short decision-making lines \u2013 from the initial design to commissioning.

“From idea to success \u2013 with friends in a great team! Together, across borders, we achieved our goal. It was a real pleasure to be part of this. A big thank you to Dortmund and Alblasserdam! Here in Westerwald, we are enthusiastic about the new system \u2013 and we are already looking ahead: with new ideas and further cooperation with Valk Welding. Gl\u00fcckauf \u2013 here’s to new opportunities and innovations!” says Klaus Weinbrenner, Head of Welding at Vecoplan.

\u201cThis project was one of last year\u2019s technological highlights and impressed many visitors to our facility. It also convincingly demonstrated what is possible when two partners work together openly, honestly and as equals \u2013 in the spirit of our motto: The Strong Connection,\u201d adds Christian H\u00fcser, Sales Director at Valk Welding.

Technology partners at a glance<\/h4>
Vecoplan AG<\/strong>, based in Bad Marienberg (Germany), is a global leader in machines and systems for reducing, transporting and processing primary and secondary raw materials. With more than 500 employees, the company offers solutions for the recycling, plastics, wood and waste industries.

Valk Welding B.V<\/strong>., headquartered in Alblasserdam (NL), is a technology leader in the field of robotic arc welding systems. In addition to hardware, Valk Welding offers innovative software solutions, comprehensive service and modular production cells \u2013 specifically tailored to medium-sized companies.

\u2018Gl\u00fcckauf\u2019 is a traditional German miners’ greeting, meaning \u2018good luck\u2019 or \u2018come back safely\u2019. It expresses hope for success and a safe return.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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When experience drives innovation, it often looks like the collaboration between Vecoplan and Valk Welding: two companies with strong technical expertise joining forces to rethink production processes. At the heart of their joint project is a fully automated robotic welding cell for the production of rotors \u2013 the core component of many recycling machines. Handling, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1614,"featured_media":50488,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[34,2,242],"tags":[],"edition":[204],"class_list":["post-50582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-en","category-uncategorized","category-welding-week-en","edition-advanced-manufacturing-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1614"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50582"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50582\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50589,"href":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50582\/revisions\/50589"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50582"},{"taxonomy":"edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.advanced-manufacturing.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/edition?post=50582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}