SPOT ON WELDING CONTROL HELPS PRODUCE NEW LINE OF GRILLS
In an industry that faces considerable foreign and domestic competition, changing demands in public taste and the constant challenge of product innovations, this new automated spot welding system from Contour-Arc uses Siemens controls to provide R.H. Peterson with complete flexibility to produce all of the models, sizes, and quantities they need at any time to stay ahead of the competition.
Robert H. Peterson Company (City of Industry, CA) has produced premium-quality Fire Magic gas grills and Real-Fyre gas logs for American homes since 1937 that are sold domestically and internationally at specialty dealers of patio, barbeque and fireplace fixtures and furnishings.
Over the years, the company has grown steadily and their commitment to quality and craftsmanship has remained unchanged, despite considerable foreign and domestic competition, the changing demands in public taste and the constant challenge of product innovations.
What has changed is the company’s approach to manufacturing, where the major shift is from single station operations with one man/one machine orientation to more automation, both in the fabrication and assembly done here. At this facility, which comprises nearly 230,000 sq ft of manufacturing area, every facet of the production process is housed, including sheet metal fabrication, laser cutting, robotic welding, die and press brake forming, grinding, polishing, assembly, testing, packaging, and distribution.
In addition to the Fire Magic gas grills, R.H. Peterson also produces the popular American Outdoor Grill line and Real-Fyre line of vented and unvented gas logs for home fireplaces. In order to maintain its competitive advantage over the competition, the company has totally integrated manufacturing capability on its factory floor, including cutting and marking lasers, punch presses, CNC press brakes and folders, Robotic MIG and TIG welding, CNC spot welders, manual MIG and TIG welding, grinding, polishing, plus concrete pouring and mixing equipment used for the production of its more exotic outdoor fireplace bases.
Recently, as part of the continuous flow manufacturing line for its new Echelon and Aurora gas grills, the company looked to Contour-Arc, Inc. (Laguna Hills, CA), a local integrator of robotic and automated welding systems for a custom CNC controlled spot welding system. Contour-Arc produces a complete line of pre-engineered or custom built stand-alone or in-line robotic welding systems, as well as CNC- and PLC- controlled rotary and linear welding systems for MIG, TIG and Plasma welding processes.
