Automation in the Paint Shop: Robots with a Human Touch

Key Points:Learning Robots can enhance human effortsThe goal is to make paint shop workers’ lives easierNew solutions derive from the needs in productionDerek DeGeest, President, DeGeest Steel Works, Co. and Lesta USA, went on a search for ways to automate business processes, utilize software and technology, and help his employees accomplish more. Little did he know he was about to come across a solution that would revolutionize his business.As DeGeest Steel Works’ automation processes grew, a bottleneck formed at the final stage of production: the paint shop.“We were looking for ways to add automation to our paint process,” DeGeest said.But the nuances in the very human process of painting steel products proved a difficult challenge to automate.How did DeGeest solve this problem? Enter Emanuele Mazza, Co-Founder, Lesta Srl, in Italy. Mazza’s company manufactures robots that learn from the actions of human painters and duplicate the process. DeGeest watched online videos of Lesta’s robots but could not believe what he saw. Before long, and after a phone call to Mazza, DeGeest was off to Italy to see these self-learning robots for himself.It didn’t take long for DeGeest to realize Lesta had the solution he needed, and he purchased two robots on that trip. These robots enhance the skills of the trained painters, who now can do more, and add customization to their workflow.DeGeest Steel Works began to design their paint systems around these new learning robots and came to the quick realization that a partnership with Lesta made perfect sense. Mazza agreed, and LestaUSA formed. The collaboration and robots made their North American debut at FABTECH in November 2019.Mazza said the focus of the creation of these robots was to make life easier in the workplace and add flexibility for the people who work in the production areas.“Together, working in partnership with DeGeest Steel Works, and now as LestaUSA, we are developing new products and solutions to solve many different problems,” he said.