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Off-Grid Robotics Streamline Factory Logistics
MECAPREC deploys ROB'OCC's mobile robotic assistant to reduce operator travel distances and reallocate workforce hours to core production tasks.
www.robocc.fr
Photo credit: MONXY FILMS
MECAPREC, a manufacturing enterprise, collaborated with automation provider ROB'OCC to deploy a mobile robotic assistant at its Lavelanet facility. The implementation of this autonomous system handles repetitive material transport tasks and optimizes the plant's internal logistics operations without requiring complex network infrastructure.
Operational Challenges
Prior to the deployment, operators at the Lavelanet site managed material transfers manually. This internal logistics workflow required significant operator travel across the facility, consuming time that could otherwise be directed toward core manufacturing activities. Furthermore, the constant manual transport of loads involved repetitive movements, contributing to physical fatigue and increasing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among the workforce. The company sought an automation method to reduce non-value-added travel, improve workplace ergonomics, and optimize labor allocation.
Technical Solution and Selection Criteria
To address these workflow inefficiencies, the facility integrated the ROC-E mobile robotic assistant. The system operates as an autonomous transport unit designed specifically to handle repetitive intra-facility movements.
The primary selection criterion for this specific technology was its decentralized operational architecture. The robotic unit functions 100% off-grid, requiring no active Wi-Fi or 5G connectivity to navigate and execute missions. Additionally, the system operates without any necessary modifications to the facility's existing computer systems. This architectural independence made industrial mobile robotics accessible for a manufacturing environment that required immediate implementation without complex IT integration.
The robot in action at MECAPREC (Photo credit: MONXY FILMS)
Deployment Process
The physical and operational deployment of the system was completed in one day. Because the hardware does not rely on local network infrastructure, the integration incurred zero costs for IT modification or software adaptation. The integration phase focused on training the facility's existing production teams to dispatch the unit. The system was designed to act as a production assistant rather than a replacement for human labor, facilitating rapid adoption by experienced operators on the shop floor.
Quantifiable Results and Workflow Optimization
Over one year of continuous operation, the system executed 4,127 automated logistics missions. By delegating these transport routes to the robotic assistant, the facility eliminated 690.84 kilometers of manual operator travel. The reduction in manual handling enabled the company to reallocate the equivalent of three months of operator labor directly to production, preparation, and operational monitoring tasks.
Beyond the time reallocated to production, the automation of repetitive load-bearing tasks directly limited physical strain on the staff, supporting the company's objective to mitigate MSDs.
“We were looking for a French solution that was simple to implement and quickly operational. Since ROC-E went into operation in August 2024, we have seen a significant reduction in repetitive movements, better availability of teams for production tasks and an improvement in well-being at work,” says Paul Bermes, Industrial & Continuous Improvement Manager of MECAPREC.
Edited by Aishwarya Mambet, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
www.robocc.com
MECAPREC, a manufacturing enterprise, collaborated with automation provider ROB'OCC to deploy a mobile robotic assistant at its Lavelanet facility. The implementation of this autonomous system handles repetitive material transport tasks and optimizes the plant's internal logistics operations without requiring complex network infrastructure.
Operational Challenges
Prior to the deployment, operators at the Lavelanet site managed material transfers manually. This internal logistics workflow required significant operator travel across the facility, consuming time that could otherwise be directed toward core manufacturing activities. Furthermore, the constant manual transport of loads involved repetitive movements, contributing to physical fatigue and increasing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among the workforce. The company sought an automation method to reduce non-value-added travel, improve workplace ergonomics, and optimize labor allocation.
Technical Solution and Selection Criteria
To address these workflow inefficiencies, the facility integrated the ROC-E mobile robotic assistant. The system operates as an autonomous transport unit designed specifically to handle repetitive intra-facility movements.
The primary selection criterion for this specific technology was its decentralized operational architecture. The robotic unit functions 100% off-grid, requiring no active Wi-Fi or 5G connectivity to navigate and execute missions. Additionally, the system operates without any necessary modifications to the facility's existing computer systems. This architectural independence made industrial mobile robotics accessible for a manufacturing environment that required immediate implementation without complex IT integration.
The robot in action at MECAPREC (Photo credit: MONXY FILMS)
Deployment Process
The physical and operational deployment of the system was completed in one day. Because the hardware does not rely on local network infrastructure, the integration incurred zero costs for IT modification or software adaptation. The integration phase focused on training the facility's existing production teams to dispatch the unit. The system was designed to act as a production assistant rather than a replacement for human labor, facilitating rapid adoption by experienced operators on the shop floor.
Quantifiable Results and Workflow Optimization
Over one year of continuous operation, the system executed 4,127 automated logistics missions. By delegating these transport routes to the robotic assistant, the facility eliminated 690.84 kilometers of manual operator travel. The reduction in manual handling enabled the company to reallocate the equivalent of three months of operator labor directly to production, preparation, and operational monitoring tasks.
Beyond the time reallocated to production, the automation of repetitive load-bearing tasks directly limited physical strain on the staff, supporting the company's objective to mitigate MSDs.
“We were looking for a French solution that was simple to implement and quickly operational. Since ROC-E went into operation in August 2024, we have seen a significant reduction in repetitive movements, better availability of teams for production tasks and an improvement in well-being at work,” says Paul Bermes, Industrial & Continuous Improvement Manager of MECAPREC.
Edited by Aishwarya Mambet, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
www.robocc.com
