How SHL is expanding the surface treatment market with Wandelbots NOVA

SHL partnered with Wandelbots to develop a custom surface treatment application on NOVA. With an easy interface and automated path generation, SHL makes robotic grinding, polishing, and deburring more accessible for high-mix, low-volume manufacturers.

Use Case Overview

Automating grinding, polishing, and deburring is particularly difficult in high-mix, low-volume production. Frequent changes in workpiece geometry often require extensive robot reprogramming.SHL developed a surface treatment application using Wandelbots NOVA. A 3D camera captures workpiece geometry, while automated path planning generates suitable robot movements, even for complex setups involving external positioners.The application allows process experts to configure robotic surface treatment without extensive programming knowledge, making flexible automation practical for smaller production batches and frequently changing workpieces.

Random orbital sanding app on Wandelbots NOVA

ABOUT

SHL AG in Boettingen is a systems integrator for automated surface processing, specializing in robotic grinding, polishing, and deburring systems.

OBJECTIVE

Create a solution that enables surface treatment specialists to program KUKA, ABB, and FANUC robots more easily.

SOLUTION

An easy-to-use application on Wandelbots NOVA lets process specialists automate robotic surface treatment across different workpiece materials and surface types.

IMPACT

SHL can provide a self-service robotic surface treatment solution for customers with high-mix, low-volume production.

Challenges & process

SHL saw rising demand for robotic automation among SMEs, especially where small batches and frequent workpiece changes require repeated reprogramming. That need can block companies without in-house robot programming expertise from starting automation projects.

Together with Wandelbots, SHL created a NOVA-based end-user application that helps process experts teach robots new workpieces. The app combines a user-friendly interface with automated path generation for sanding and weld grinding. A Zivid 3D camera scans each workpiece and generates point cloud data.

NOVA visualizes the data alongside generated paths, using conventional path planning when no positioner is needed and MAGMA when a multi-axis robot-positioner setup is required.

“NOVA helps remove the fear of robots from SMEs by letting process owners program robots through easy-to-use apps and keep grinding, polishing, and deburring work in Germany.”

Daniel Welte

Head of Project Management, SHL AG

Impact & results

Wandelbots NOVA allows SHL to work with SMEs that were previously difficult to serve. The application automates programming for robotic surface treatment and makes industrial robot benefits accessible to users without robotics experience. SHL’s customers can save on reprogramming effort, while SHL’s programmers gain more time for ongoing and new projects. This makes it easier to respond to changing customer requirements in the future.