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FANUC’s CR-35iA, the first collaborative industrial robot that is capable of lifting a 35kg or about a 77lb payload!

The CR-35iA was designed to safely work alongside people without the need for fencing or other hard barriers. This unique green collaborative robot holds highly sensitive contact sensing technology and it would smoothly stop if it were to come into contact with a person while it is working. The outer green cover is soft and helps reduce the impact of forces and pinch points by creating a soft barrier between the robot arm and the operator. The highly sensitive robot arm has been awarded with the International Standard 10218-1:2011 Safety Certification to give you complete confidence that your operators will be safe while working alongside the CR-35iA.

Not only is this gentle green giant safe, but it is hardy and very reliable. The CR-35iA is capable of working in environments ranging from 32° F to about 110° F and is able to travel up to speeds of 2.46 feet/second and 10″ per second when Contact Stop is active. Do not worry, this robot can be ordered with FANUC’s state-of-the-art vision system, so you know it will be highly repeatable and accurate. What could you do with the CR-35iA or, as we like to call it, the Green Helping Machine?

If you would like to learn more or have questions, please contact us at sales@questindustrial.com or call 608-325-5850 and one of our robotic specialists would be more than happy to discuss those.

Quest Industrial is continuously working to develop innovative robotic and automation products and systems that are lighter, easier to clean and more effective for the food industry. Don Wickstrum, President and Owner of Quest Industrial, gave a presentation where he stated, “We have spent more money in developing innovations than we made in profits each year since we opened, and have spent over a decade to bring them to market in an effective manner.” The robotic experts at Quest Industrial have developed several robotic solutions including specialized coating and protection system for robotic arms, direct food safe end of arm toolings or EOAT, and several innovations in robotic ultrasonic cutting and robotics processes in general. Mr. Wickstrum said, “Fanuc Robotic Arms coupled with our systems has made us the only company that has direct contact food lines for cheese from brine to warehousing which have been approved after installation by both the WDA and USDA.”

Furthermore, Quest’s specialists have designed several complete systems that are capable of operating in washdown environments.” The engineers at Quest provide unique robotic and automation solutions that are able to withstand the actual process solutions, as well as the washdown chemicals and procedures within a food plant, while holding up in the large temperature swings that many facilities experience. The ability to endure the tough requirements of food environments and increase food safety, Quest Industrial’s robotic coating takes the robots to an IP69 or better rating for protection against harsh environments. Quest’s coating greatly reduces the hazards of contamination that is found to happen with stock epoxies and paint.

As stated previously, Quest Industrial’s robotic specialists have developed and are continuing to develop several innovations in Robotic End of Arm Tooling. Quest now offers several types of food safe tooling because of their vast experience working with the WDA, 3-A, and USDA has lead the engineers to develop tooling that is not only food safe, but is very reliable and easy to clean. One EOAT in particular, that is in operation, uses vacuum to pick the raw product with the use of no external vacuum sources, generators, or vacuum pumps – no holes or tubes to clean.

Additionally, Quest has created an Ultrasonic Cutting System for food that will tolerate the demands of the environment and process. Quest was able to design, over a 9 year time-span, a special tooling that allows the ultrasonic cutting technology to be coupled to the robot arm. The tooling has been accepted on site by WDA and USDA for direct cheese cutting applications. The cut from an ultrasonic blade leaves a remarkably clean cut with no chance of contamination, increasing shelf life and reducing fines.

One last item, not to forget, is how spectacular Fanuc vision really is – it allows our systems to not only track product, but also build in advanced quality measurements. Quest has been able to use vision to measure, qualify, and quantify product in a real time fashion that would otherwise need to be done with the use of additional labor or 3^rd party systems. Quest Industrial has been able to capitalize on using Fanuc’s vision and has used it to its fullest potential.

Quest Industrial never stops innovating their innovations. In robotics and automation, there needs to be constant evaluating and developing of new and trusted technologies. As a robotic integrator, Quest strives to identify new challenges and hurdles that their customers face. Don Wickstrum stated, “We evaluate the companies’ directions and efficiencies to help develop and form the next innovation. We understand that what we have already developed and designed cannot be taken for granted.” He went on further to say that constant development is needed and that is something that Quest works to excel at – bringing at least one new product to market each year. Keep an eye on Quest Industrial as they continue to grow and develop new robotic and automated innovations and redesign their already unique robotic innovations.

The team at Quest Industrial has had a very busy first half of the year. Not only have they been out in the field with customers, but they have been
involved in numerous school demonstrations and tours.

First, Quest visited the New Glarus High School where the specialists were able to speak to over 100 youth about Robotics, the various careers that are available in the industry, and give a live demonstration of a Funuc LR Mate. Our specialists were so excited to be able to speak to youth who were interested in the industry where they could share their passion for robotics. Don Wickstrum, Owner of Quest Industrial said, “We greatly appreciate being invited to a school where they are really letting kids explore numerous avenues within the Robotics Industry. The New Glarus school district has done a great job with recognizing where the future is going and has capitalized on that by bringing in businesses around the area that specialize in technically advanced industries.” If Quest is able to help one student find their passion in life by directing them closer and guiding them to the right schools, classes, and people, every second is worth every penny.

Next, Quest hosted a large group of men from the Monroe Behring Senior Center. Two specialists gave these gentlemen a tour of the facility during which a demonstration was given of the Boxed-Bot where the specialists taught about robotics, safeties, programming and gave an overview of the history that surrounds Quest Industrial. At the end of tour, the gentlemen were so appreciative and were excited about what they had learned was in their backyard for more than 10 years! Our specialists found that a handful of the men previously worked with robots and in just the few years that these men had retired from their positions how far the technology has come and were very impressed with the innovations that Quest has come up with to improve Human Machine Interface. Boxed-Bot is a one line in, one line out robotic palletizing cell that has the most technologically advanced HMI available, with the ability to change pallet and product size, orientation and pattern all within the Q-Box software that was designed by Quest Industrial’s Programming Engineers.

The last event that the Quest Industrial team participated in was a demonstration at St. Victors School, here in Monroe. The team gave two different presentations, one geared towards younger students and the second geared towards the older students. It was during the first presentation that the Long Arm Fanuc LR Mate was named – French Fry. It was an honor for the team to be invited, but as the day went on, they came to find out that this event had been highly sought after for about two years. Don Wickstrum was able to speak about starting the business, learning how to program robots and how he developed a team to help him get projects completed. Videos were shown giving the youth a brief look into what a robot really does and how the programming engineers make them function. Not only did the kids have fun learning about the movements of the robots, explained as joints in an arm, but one of Quest’s programming engineers was able to demonstrate those exact movements while the kids were learning, finding that he could make “French Fry” move in very weird positions for an “Arm.” It was a very fun day for all and the Quest Industrial team looks forward to more demonstrations and tours in the future.

A few weeks ago, Quest Industrial had the opportunity to participate in the 2014 Cheese Days Parade. Quest Industrial teamed up with Ruchti Stainless to build a float like no other. Our programming engineers developed the concept for the float months ago and had been working to perfect it during the months and weeks before the event. The past couple of years have been difficult for dairy plants across the nation with rules and regulations coming at them from every single direction, the economy not being the best along with loyal, hardworking and knowledgeable employees hard to keep. Quest Industrial and Ruchti Stainless wanted their customers, friends and the other people attending the parade to know that the two companies work diligently to provide quality products that will help dairy plants to successfully meet and surpass industry standards, rules and regulations.  We understand how difficult that can be and we strive to develop and create products that are strong, reliable, efficient and USDA compliant.

If you were at the 2014 Cheese Days Parade, we hope that you enjoyed the float! We cannot even express how much fun we had at this event and what an honor it was to be able to represent our community. Please click the link below to see footage of the Quest Industrial/ Ruchti Stainless Cheese Days float.

Click here to watch the float!

With the Quest Tote Loader/ Collator!

The Quest Tote Loader/Collator robotic cell is designed with the end user in mind! The Tote Loader/Collator has the capacity to load a bulk container of cheese or butter in minutes.

With vision tracking and verification, there are endless possibilities in product mix. It is capable of pick- ing and placing many different sizes, shapes, and textures of cheese and butter. From butter to mozzarella to wheels of Swiss the Quest Tote Loader is able to do it all.

Does your system require a separator sheet between layers? No problem – we have the solution.

With rate capabilities to match any production schedule, Quest Industrial is ready to assist you in your loading applications!

Don’t forget to ask about our REVOLUTIONARY Robotic PUMPLESS VACUUM CUP SYSTEM! NO HOLES, NO VACUUM TUBES, and NO MESS!!