WEFAG AG Automates CNC Machine Tending with OnRobot 3FG15
Swiss manufacturer WEFAG AG has automated CNC machine tending with the OnRobot 3FG15 gripper to improve efficiency, support short delivery times, and handle smaller batch sizes with greater confidence.
Based in Fällanden, Switzerland, WEFAG AG has spent 35 years producing high-quality components for the fluid technology sector. As customer demands shifted toward faster turnaround times and smaller production runs, the company needed a way to maintain precision and process reliability while reducing manual workload.
Working with cobot solutions AG, WEFAG implemented a collaborative automation solution built around a Doosan robot arm and the OnRobot 3FG15 gripper. The result is a flexible CNC tending setup that helps employees focus on higher-value tasks while supporting reliable, precise part handling.
The challenge
WEFAG increasingly faced two pressures at the same time: shorter delivery times and smaller batch sizes.
Manual CNC tending required an employee to spend the day loading and unloading workpieces, which limited efficiency and tied up resources in repetitive handling tasks. At the same time, the company needed to maintain the high accuracy and repeatability required for fluid technology components.
The automation project also had to fit into a production environment with limited space between CNC machines. That meant the solution had to be compact, precise, and flexible enough to handle a wide variety of part shapes and sizes without damaging components.
The solution
To solve the challenge, WEFAG partnered with cobot solutions AG, a Swiss specialist in collaborative automation solutions.
Together, they developed a CNC machine tending application that combines a Doosan collaborative robot with the OnRobot 3FG15 electric three-finger gripper.
The 3FG15 was selected because it met the key technical requirements for the application:
Precise handling of parts with different shapes and sizes
Flexible gripping range
Compact integration into a constrained production environment
Easy setup and short changeover times
Its three fingers can be mounted in different positions to support varying gripping forces and diameters, while the gripper’s symmetrical rotational motion enables accurate placement of workpieces. Its IP67 rating also makes it well suited for CNC machine operation.
According to WEFAG, not every gripper was able to handle the part geometry involved in the application. In the end, the 3FG15 was the one that met the requirements.
Key benefits
Automated CNC machine tending
Flexible handling of different part shapes and sizes
Reduced operator workload
Supports short delivery times and small batch sizes
Fast payback expectation
How the application works
The automated cell uses an Easy Robotics Pro Feeder together with the robot and gripper.
Employees load trays with raw workpiece blanks and enter the required parameters into the software interface. From there, the system automatically:
Pulls out trays from the feeder
Picks raw material
Places the workpiece accurately into the CNC machine
Removes the finished component after machining
Places the completed part back into a free position in the tray
This allows the machine tending process to continue with minimal manual intervention and makes better use of machine uptime.
Why it worked
A big part of the project’s success came from usability.
Before the solution went live, WEFAG and cobot solutions carried out test runs to validate the application. The gripper’s firmware supported external interfaces, including serial communication, which gave the team flexibility in how the cell was controlled.
Cobot solutions also developed input screens that make it possible to configure and automate new tasks in just a few minutes. That means the cell is easy to use, even for employees without prior robotics experience.
The results
With the application in operation, WEFAG has been able to make its CNC tending process more efficient while reducing the workload on employees.
The solution helps the company:
Respond to short delivery times more effectively
Handle small batch sizes more efficiently
Improve machine utilization
Reduce repetitive manual handling
Maintain precise and reliable part placement
WEFAG also expects the investment to pay for itself within a few months.
Looking ahead
Although the automation solution was only recently introduced, WEFAG is already looking at the next step. The company is considering adding another OnRobot gripper, the 2FG7, to support additional production processes.
The project shows how even smaller manufacturers can use collaborative automation to improve efficiency without sacrificing flexibility or quality.
Partner quote
“The main challenge was the variety of workpieces, as it placed enormous requirements on the gripping range and flexibility of the gripper.”
Beni Zimmermann, Managing Director, cobot solutions AG