Accurate Metal Products (AMP) has deployed Teqram’s EasyGrinder robotic systems across its fabrication facilities in Rockford, Illinois, and Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. By integrating AI-driven vision and proprietary software, the company has automated the removal of slag from flame-cut carbon steel parts—a move designed to eliminate the labor bottlenecks of physically demanding, repetitive grinding.
Breaking the Production Bottleneck
Hand grinding is a grueling process. For fabricators, it is often the hardest role to staff. At AMP, the strain of handling heavy or awkward components—such as 1.5-inch-thick carbon steel hooks used in hydraulic loading docks—had turned the grinding stage into a primary production choke point.
The goal isn’t raw speed. According to AMP manager Will Alverson, the robotic system is not intended to outperform a human operator in that regard. Instead, the objective is to automate tasks that are inherently hazardous or physically taxing. The result is a consistent output that no longer relies on a revolving door of temporary labor.
AI Vision and ‘Lights-Out’ Automation
The EasyGrinder operates via a magnetic gripper and an EasyFlipper folding table to manipulate parts. The system’s AI-driven vision software identifies specific workpieces on a pallet, allowing the equipment to run autonomously—or “lights-out”—without manual intervention.
Identifying metal parts against a shifting background of brown and gray slag is a complex technical challenge. Teqram director Frans Tollenaar noted that the system relies on proprietary AI algorithms to manage this. To handle the machine’s vision and logic requirements, the software stack is PC-based, intentionally avoiding the use of programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
Versatility Across Heavy-Duty Workloads
AMP uses the robots for both high-volume production runs and the processing of heavy parts that would typically require a crane for manual handling. To accommodate different cleaning needs, the robotic arm switches between a variety of tools, including ceramic discs, flap wheels, and chisels.
The system is capable of lead-in processing and multi-side grinding. The robot flips the parts, finishes secondary surfaces, and re-palletizes them once complete. This configuration allows AMP to maintain a steady flow for consistent jobs, such as batches of 800 parts, while stripping away the safety risks and physical fatigue of the manual grinding floor.
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