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For many manufacturers, introducing CNC automation is one of the most important investments for increasing productivity while addressing labour shortages and growing customer demands. This was exactly the situation facing RZ OLDA Innovation AB in Sweden. By combining two automated 5-axis machining centres with the EROWA Robot Compact 80, standardized tooling systems and the EROWA JMS process control system, the company successfully took its first step towards flexible, automated manufacturing. Their experience proves that sustainable automation begins with optimized production processes rather than automation hardware alone.
Strong order intake is a positive sign for any manufacturing business, but it also creates new challenges. RZ OLDA Innovation AB, located near Gothenburg, produces high-precision milled and turned components for a wide range of industries. As customer demand continued to increase, the company reached the limits of its existing production capacity. Instead of simply purchasing additional machine tools, the objective was to maximize the productivity of existing resources by increasing machining time and reducing manual intervention. With a high mix of components and batch sizes ranging from single parts to small production runs, flexibility quickly became the key requirement.
After evaluating different automation concepts, RZ OLDA selected two Mazak CV500 5-axis machining centres combined with the EROWA Robot Compact 80. The compact footprint, short setup times and straightforward integration into existing production made the solution particularly attractive. Rather than implementing a large-scale automation project, the company deliberately chose a scalable solution that would support future expansion while delivering immediate productivity improvements.
The biggest challenge was not installing the robot itself. Instead, the company had to redesign its manufacturing processes by introducing standardized workpiece palletization, tooling and workflows. These process improvements created the stable foundation required for reliable automated machine loading and repeatable production.
Today, the manufacturing cell includes two EROWA Robot Compact 80 systems, UPC pallets, ITS pallets and blank holding solutions. Approximately 80% of all workpieces can already be handled automatically, significantly reducing setup times while increasing machining time and process stability. Employees are now able to focus on value-adding activities such as programming and precision machining instead of repetitive loading operations.
Another important success factor is digital production management. Using the EROWA JMS process control system, RZ OLDA can prioritize production orders, centrally manage machines and robots, and react quickly to changing production requirements. For manufacturers producing many different parts in small batches, this transparency helps maximize machine utilization while minimizing unplanned downtime.
RZ OLDA's experience clearly demonstrates that CNC automation is not a one-time investment but a continuous improvement process. New machine tools, software, production methods and manufacturing strategies had to be introduced simultaneously. However, every standardized pallet, every automated production order and every additional hour of unmanned machining contributes directly to higher productivity.
Today, the company manufactures increasingly complex precision components, continues to improve machine utilization and has established itself within the RZ Group as a specialist for demanding milling applications. The most important lesson is that successful automation is not determined by the size of the robot or automation system. Long-term success comes from combining standardized tooling, automated machine loading and intelligent process control into one integrated manufacturing system.
