By Astrid Helene Mortensen, AAU Communication og Public Affairs

In a bustling factory, where the roar of machinery and the sharp scent of metal saturate the air, a row of advanced robots stand at attention. These are no ordinary welding machines—they are sleek, synchronized, and tireless. Welding heads flare, sparks fly, and with mechanical precision, each weld fuses metal into form. Structures rise swiftly, shaped by the seamless rhythm of automation.

Sjørring Maskinfabrik is in the process of digitalizing and automating its value chain and production. Behind this development lies a close collaboration between Sjørring Maskinfabrik and Aalborg University, which has undertaken the task within the framework of the research and development platform MADE FAST under the Manufacturing Academy of Denmark (MADE).

Aalborg University as a technology partner
MADE FAST aims to strengthen the competitiveness of Danish manufacturers through increased flexibility, agility, and sustainable production – supported by digitalization and skilled employees. Aalborg University contributes research and solutions that make it possible for companies like Sjørring Maskinfabrik to implement advanced technology directly into production.

With the help of several MADE projects and in close collaboration with Aalborg University, Sjørring Maskinfabrik has established a proof of concept and partially implemented it, thereby creating a digitalized design process and automated programming of welding robots, which has reduced both design and production time.

One of the key elements of this improvement is the use of digital product models. These make it possible to program robots to perform complex welding tasks. This allows for the use of technology to ensure high quality and efficiency while keeping costs down and handling more varied production.

“It has been extremely challenging because the structures are highly customized, and the trend is that they are becoming even more customized. We're approaching one on one production, which requires a solid production foundation so that the robot doesn't have to be reprogrammed for every new welding task,” explains Professor Brian Vejrum Wæhrens from Aalborg University’s Department of Materials and Production.

Digital innovation delivers
In 2017, Sjørring Maskinfabrik was close to bankruptcy but turned things around through a strategic shift, a new customer approach, and the creation of digital solutions. Aalborg University helped the company develop a digital product configurator that allows customers to design and order custom-made loader buckets with just a few taps on a screen.

The configurator has not only succeeded with loader buckets but also laid the foundation for a more advanced excavator bucket configurator. This solution sends the unique drawing of the bucket directly to production along with all relevant information, allowing the company to quickly produce buckets in many variants.

The digital approach has significantly reduced the time it takes to design and generate production documentation compared to traditional methods.

“Sjørring Maskinfabrik, in close collaboration with Aalborg University, has created new technological solutions that are truly unique – pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. That’s why the company continues to develop and refine its digital solutions, ensuring it remains a technological leader in its field,” says Klaus Kalstrup, CEO of Sjørring Maskinfabrik A/S.

A new chapter for Danish robotics
For Ioan-Matei Sarivan, former PhD student at Aalborg University, the MADE project marks the beginning of something bigger.

“I see the work we’ve done during the MADE project as just the beginning of rebuilding a strong industrial ecosystem in both Denmark and Europe,” he says.

Several companies from Germany, France, the USA, and Canada have since shown significant interest in the technology developed through the collaboration between Aalborg University and Sjørring. This has led to the establishment of RoboSynapse ApS – a company with ambitions to commercialize a solution for automatic programming of welding robots based on CAD design.

“The company will also support metal processing firms aiming for an efficient value chain characterized by high product variation and low volume – a production paradigm in growing demand,” says Ioan-Matei Sarivan.
 
Aalborg University and Sjørring remain key partners in ongoing development. “As a former PhD student at Aalborg University, I consider it a great privilege to have had the opportunity to contribute to this project,” he adds.
 

Future goals
Sjørring Maskinfabrik has already achieved significant results with MADE Digital, and continues to benefit from MADE FAST. Looking ahead, MADE has a clear ambition to upscale its initiatives and spread the achieved results to more companies and sectors. With a focus on flexibility and agility, sustainability, and talent development, the MADE FAST platform is well on its way to shaping the future production landscape in Denmark.