Heckler & Koch USA Selects Flexxbotics for Robot-Driven Manufacturing to Meet Growing Military & Defense Demand  

Boston, MA – July 16, 2024 – Flexxbotics, delivering digital solutions for robot-driven manufacturing at scale, today announced that Heckler & Koch USA (HKUSA), a leading designer and manufacturer of small arms and light weapons for military forces and law enforcement worldwide, has chosen Flexxbotics for robot-driven manufacturing with autonomous process control. Advanced robotic machine tending with Flexxbotics enables Heckler & Koch to increase capacity with precision quality to keep up with strong demand globally while addressing labor challenges through unattended operation.

With Flexxbotics HKUSA achieves a robot-enabled, multi-machine cellularized setup for machining complex geometry parts. The robot will operate both an Okuma 5-Axis vertical machining center and an Okuma horizontal machining center along with an integrated water dunk & blow-off station, a Hexagon Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), Renishaw inspection probe and SICK safety scanner all within an individual workcell. Automating the complete process of machining and inspection results in an 87% capacity increase and 24:1 machine-to-man ratio.

“Our main goals with robotic automation are  increasing throughput, maximizing machine utilization, and creating flexibility to react quickly to production volume demands which Flexxbotics enables us to achieve,” said John Mitchell, VP of Operations at HKUSA. “Flexxbotics’s ability to use the robot to coordinate multiple machines and have in-line inspection results automatically correct the machining operations is totally unique and was key for us.”

HKUSA is a provider of small arms to law enforcement, defense departments and the US civilian with a reputation for quality, innovation and safety. With operations in Germany, USA, UK and France, Heckler & Koch is a recognized leader in the development of technologically advanced products with high reliability.

The Flexxbotics solution seamlessly connects the robot to each piece of equipment and coordinates the work so the robot has full command and control of the workcell. Using closed-loop feedback CMM inspection results, Flexxbotics writes offset macro variable changes to the CNC machines’ programs. The real time corrections ensure all parts are built to spec for continuous operations using autonomous process control.

In addition, Flexxbotics communicates with the in-machine probes to ensure proper part seating before and after each CNC cycle. Based on the probe’s feedback, the robot either automatically remove and replace the part or escalates the problem via text & email if there is a workholding issue.

HKUSA selected Flexxbotics based on the following criteria:

• Increase production capacity by over 80% per week and achieving a 24:1 machine-to-man ratio
• Open connectivity and interoperability between the robots, CNC machines and inspection equipment
• In-line inspection with CMM for precision quality, 100% part coverage, and closed-loop optimization for uninterrupted production
• Solution flexibility to scale out across entire machining division with initial workcell success and quickly add additional workcells
• Integrated safety with robot+machine coordination and connected safety scanners for the highest levels of human safety
• Responsiveness from initial discovery workshop to deployment and on-going support

John Mitchell continues, “With Flexxbotics, we achieve full ROI in less time, without taking into account additional capacity, than alternative solutions which exceeds our expectations. From a business perspective we view Flexxbotics robot-driven manufacturing as an investment that enables autonomy in our factories.” 

Flexxbotics solution enables robot-driven manufacturing at scale. Flexxbotics robotic workcell digitalization delivers autonomous process control for next generation smart factory environments. Flexxbotics unique FlexxCORE™ technology seamlessly connects and coordinates robots with existing automation equipment, IT systems and people. More powerful, flexible and open, Flexxbotics revolutionizes the use of robotics in complex production.

“We understand the need for greater coordination between robots and machines in production as manufacturers look to increase output while maintaining six sigma quality,” said Tyler Bouchard, CEO & Co-founder of Flexxbotics. “What we are doing with the Flexxbotics solution is enabling the world’s most advanced smart factories to adopt robot-driven manufacturing at scale.”

About Flexxbotics

Flexxbotics enables robot-driven manufacturing at scale. Flexxbotics solution digitalizes robotic production with autonomous process control for next generation smart factory environments. Flexxbotics breakthrough, the unique FlexxCORE™ technology, seamlessly connects and coordinates robots with existing automation equipment, IT systems and people. More powerful, flexible and open, Flexxbotics revolutionizes the use of robotics in complex production. Visit www.flexxbotics.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn.