Fabmatics has been a specialist in the automation of material flows and handling processes in the semiconductor industry and other high-tech production environments for more than 30 years. The need for a simulation solution was triggered by a very complex task that a customer had presented to Fabmatics.
“Due to the complexity of the project, we decided to validate the automation concept. Simulation is a helpful method for confirming and testing it in advance. This was and is not possible with a conventional CAD solution or Excel. We wanted to use 3D simulation to prove that the planned arrangement of automation solutions is the best way forward for the project in question,” says Martin Däumler, Department Manager Product Development & Product Support at Fabmatics.
After an evaluation phase, the 3D simulation platform Visual Components proved to be the solution with the best price-performance ratio. In the process, Fabmatics also became aware of DUALIS, an authorized reseller of the platform. Among other things, the tool offered Fabmatics an extensive component library on which the company could build. However, as functionalities for use cases were also lacking at the time, DUALIS provided support with individual developments or ready-to-use add-ons.
Goal: increase transparency and traceability
Today, 3D simulation is covering more and more areas at Fabmatics. “The requirements for automation processes are increasing – no mistakes should be made during the design phase and later during operation,” explains Karsten Budach, Principal Engineer Sales & Business Development at Fabmatics.
The use of Visual Components allows complex scenarios to be visualized and analysed in advance to ensure that planned measures achieve the intended effect. This makes design and commissioning much easier. The utilization of the production systems in real operation is also shown very clearly and comprehensibly.
Fabmatics aims to create absolute transparency and determine valid key figures when designing systems. Karsten Budach says: “We provide concrete proof of functionality and the associated effects. The customer can see impressively even before completion that our automation concept can fulfill its task.”
Easily integrate modern intralogistics solutions such as AGVs
The software components from Visual Components can be flexibly expanded and grow with the needs of Fabmatics. With the AGV component library, which DUALIS developed as an add-on for Visual Components, Fabmatics integrated a new feature in 2022. This allows Automated Guided Vehicles to be simulated, tested and planned before being used in practice. The AGV library comes with many functions that can be configured as standard. This saves manual development effort in the project and the model can be set up mainly via the configuration of the library modules.
Martin Däumler explains: “AGVs have a very high potential for quickly optimizing goods and material flows. With the AGV library and its integrated mission manager, we can also simulate special use cases without additional programming effort. This helps us to make better investment decisions and benefits our customers economically.”
The next step is to connect the fleet manager. “DUALIS adapts to our growing challenges and develops add-ons for us based on our needs or customizes the Visual Components solution. The solution therefore grows with us. This gives us security for the future,” explains Karsten Budach.
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Further links
👉 www.dualis-it.de
👉 www.fabmatics.com/de/
Photo: Fabmatics
