AVK International wins DIRA Automation Award 2024

AVK International wins the DIRA Automation Award 2024. We were nominated for the award by our partner Kilde Automation.

Fully automated robot cell for assembly and pressure test of 31 valve variants

AVK International has invested in a fully automated robot cell for gate valves for drinking water. Robots and advanced vision systems ensure that the valve components are picked up and assembled automatically. Pressing, threading and screwing processes are used in the assembly, and the valves are finally quality tested via pressure testing.

AVK International took its first steps into the world of automation 30 years ago with its first robot, and since then we have constantly invested in robotic solutions e.g. for machining and assembly of valve stems. However, the fully automated robot cell, which assembles and pressure tests 31 different variants of drinking water valves weighing from 3.6 to 54 kilos, is by far our largest automation solution to date.

'‘We have raised the quality, we have removed a lot of one-sided, repetitive work and removed some heavy lifting. At the same time, we become much more competitive with this solution," says Lars Christiansen, Plant Manager at AVK International.

'‘It's an impressive automation solution that AVK International has implemented. And the company's journey is also remarkable. They started somewhere and have ended up somewhere bigger and more thorough, which has led them to look at larger parts of the production. AVK International is a good example of how automation can help to move the entire company and raise the level," says the jury.

DIRA has made a video about AVK International's nomination for the Automation Award. You can watch it here: AVK International - nominated for the DIRA Automation Award 2024 (video is in Danish).