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Encouraging The Future Workforce to Learn About Robotics

  Before Christmas, some of the Quest Industrial team had the opportunity to help install a robotic cell at the New Glarus High School in Wisconsin, just a short 20 minute drive from Quest Industrial Headquarters. The New Glarus School District was one of several applicants who inquired about a robot donation from Quest Industrial. Because of the enthusiasm, drive, and passion Dr. Thayer, Superintendent of the New Glarus School District, and Mr. Mihm, the Technology Education Teacher, expressed for having this cutting edge technology, their school was chosen. They were willing to make the project happen by pulling in the resources needed to help make the donation successful.  While installing the donated robotic cell, many of the teachers, including Mr. Mihm and Dr. Thayer, were so appreciative and filled with excitement because of what the robotic cell means for the current and future students of the school. Dr. Thayer, Mr. Mihm, and the New Glarus School District have a vision for where the jobs will be for the future workforce and they want to see these young adults succeed. The team was also able to speak with several interested students about working in robotics and what type of jobs are available at a robotic integration company. They discussed, mechanical engineering - the engineers who design the End of Arm Tooling for the robots and the peripheral equipment or automation that helps the robot perform its task, robotic engineering - the engineering and thought process of writing and developing code for the robots to make sure it can do its job correctly, efficiently, and repetitively, electrical engineering - the engineers who design electrical schematics and the layout of the cables so that the [...]

Encouraging The Future Workforce to Learn About Robotics2018-07-10T17:02:15+00:00

Racing for New Partnerships

With the New Year right around the corner, we look forward to new opportunities and some of our favorite sport seasons starting, one of those being racing.  It came to our attention that we didn’t have a formal process for selecting sponsorships or as we refer to them, partnerships. As the requests start rolling in, we wanted to get a jump start on things. We have developed an application that any driver or race team wanting to be sponsored by Quest Industrial can fill out to be considered for our partnerships. If your application is accepted there will be an interview to follow so we can ensure everyone is on the same page and ready to rock and roll for the upcoming season.  If we feel we are not a good match for you and your team, we will let you know. That being said, we hold our sponsored racers and their teams to a high level of professionalism, something, we hope, we can all agree is best for everyone. The drivers and teams we have sponsored in the past years have done a great job and we look forward to working with them again for this next season. Because several of Quest Industrial’s employees and owners are racers, we understand the need for sponsorships/partnerships and how crucial they are for everyone. We recognize that things break and new pieces are needed, not to mention the cost of getting your team into the track, gas, and tires. But the list doesn’t stop there. This next year is going to be great and we hope that you and your team are both safe and successful in your races. If you would like to partner with Quest [...]

Racing for New Partnerships2017-01-03T17:01:53+00:00

Beyond PACK Expo & Finding the Right Robotic Integrator

PACK Expo is a great place to explore new products, connect with potential vendors, and just see what is going on in the packaging world on several different fronts. Although this show is one of the largest gatherings in the country for packaging, there might have been a void in the particular area you were researching. Even though Quest Industrial didn’t exhibit at PACK Expo this year, we have been making great strides with automation in general. If you liked what you saw at PACK Expo, but are still looking for new or other ideas regarding automation equipment or robotic automation equipment, Quest has the solution. Don’t worry - what was at PACK Expo isn’t all that is out there. The Robotic Automation Experts of Quest Industrial have been modifying, perfecting, and analyzing their designs and have released new products  this year such as the Quik Pick & Pack Plus, a modular pick and pack or pick and place robotic cell with speeds of up to 400 pieces a minute designed specifically for washdown environments. We have also worked closely with FANUC to help with the design of new washdown robots. Additionally, we have helped develop the new 3-A standards for robotics in food, protecting our current customers as well as future clients and their customers, by holding robotic automation standards high so everyone stays safe. Our engineers are working diligently to release more standard products in the next year, which we will announce at a later time.   Quest Industrial’s team walked the floor of PACK Expo this week and saw a lot of very interesting pieces of equipment. However, we couldn’t ignore that there were at least 5 imitations of our Boxed-Bot – [...]

Beyond PACK Expo & Finding the Right Robotic Integrator2018-07-10T17:02:15+00:00

What Our Customers Expect in Robotics: Productivity and Hygienic Design for Robotic Automation

Quest Industrial strives to provide the total automated robotic system that is designed for wash-down applications. By providing unique robotic and automation solutions that are able to withstand the actual process solutions as well as the wash-down chemicals and procedures within a food plant all while holding up the large temperature swings, Quest has been able to become the nation’s largest direct cheese handling robotic integrator. Quest’s engineers have made huge strides in innovating robotic end of arm tooling and they now offer several types of food safe toolings. The vast experience working with the WDA, 3-A, and USDA has led us to develop tooling that is not only food safe, but is very reliable and easy to clean. One EOAT product line Quest offers, uses vacuum to pick the product with the use of NO external vacuum sources, generators, or vacuum pumps. This means no holes or tubes to clean, saving your plant time and money. Furthermore, Quest understands that customers have expectations. Owners of plants want more production, hygienic design but efficient, a reduction in cleaning time, a full understanding of the robot as well as a reduction in customer extraneous complaints. One of Quest’s customers stated, “We needed a system that will not only perform the tasks we are asking of it, but also do so with greater ease. All of this while meeting our food safety initiatives. With ever increasing need to produce more while reducing costs, quality issues, and while increasing food safety, our automation must not only be cleanable and hygienic, but reliable and faster.” As stated previously, Quest offers the total system design capable of being in a wash-down environment. Quest Industrial provides unique robotic and automation solutions [...]

What Our Customers Expect in Robotics: Productivity and Hygienic Design for Robotic Automation2016-08-31T14:12:00+00:00

Quest Industrial’s Original Boxed-Bot Vs. The Imitators

We feel that Oscar Wilde got it right when he said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” Quest Industrial's Boxed-Bot is the original space saving fully functional robotic palletizer of its kind. Not only is the footprint of our Boxed-Bot smaller, less than 8' x 10' - effortlessly fitting into a standard truck, its software is more user friendly and technologically-intuitive than other robotic palletizers of its kind. The QBOX pallet Building Software from GOT-BOT.COM not only allows operators to design and produce exact pallet patterns quickly and easily, but allows for on the fly changes to box sizes and patterns; both of these allowing for easy change over from product to product. Just click and drag to change box or bag patterns and sizes, even rotate or flip layers, change box length, width and height, and even adjust pallet sizes or types or let QBOX do the work for you by creating its own most efficient pallet usage patterns based off of your products dimensions. Boxed-Bot has enough memory to hold all of your customers’ pallet patterns - all you have to do is select the program you want the robotic palletizer to run and it will! The Boxed-Bot is incredibly versatile because it is able to switch from one product type to another with just the press of a button. If you are worried about label location, Boxed-Bot’s QBOX software will account for label out or in orientations, if needed. Companies no longer need to bring in expensive and experienced robotic programmers, saving time and money. Our software is so easy to use and understand that training takes an average of 15 minutes and your operators will [...]

Quest Industrial’s Original Boxed-Bot Vs. The Imitators2018-07-10T17:02:15+00:00

Join Quest Industrial at booth #1119 During the 2016 International Cheese Technology Expo April 13th – 14th

The largest ICTE to date, the 2016 International Cheese Technology Expo is offering a wide variety of exhibitors, seminars, and presenters. New this year is the Artisan Cheesemakers Master Workshop, held on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. The exhibition is also the largest it had been in its 35-year history, being fully sold-out at 512 booths. Back by popular demand is the Ideas Showcase on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons as well as the Student Dairy Showcase. Wednesday night is the World Championship Cheese Auction and Thursday is the Champions Reception and World Championship Cheese Contest Awards Banquet. This year, Quest Industrial is bringing a full robotic cell to the 2016 ICTE. We will be displaying one of our newest standard products, the Quest Quik Pick & Pack. Our robotic pick & place automated cell is fast! It is quick, accurate, and compact. The Quik Pick & Pack is a modular cell that can be expanded upon and is perfect for items from 1 oz. to 50 lbs. This robotic machine boasts product in-feed rates from 20 to over 400 pieces per minute. The same robotic cell can accept a wide range of boxes or cases and product types, sizes and textures from cups to shreds, with continuous change over from size to size. Our robotic experts are able to create custom orientations of product to meet your needs from pile stacks to 2-3 stacks, we ensure your product is packed how you specify. The Quik Pick & Pack can be made in mild steel or 304 stainless steel and is constructed for contact with water and a high-moisture environment. For mild steel we are able to offer matte and powder coated finishes. The base machine size [...]

Join Quest Industrial at booth #1119 During the 2016 International Cheese Technology Expo April 13th – 14th2018-07-10T17:02:15+00:00

FANUC’s CR-35iA Collaborative Industrial Robot

We Would Like to Introduce You to... FANUC's CR-35iA, the first collaborative industrial robot that is capable of lifting a 35kg or about a 77lb payload! The CR-35iA was designed to safely work alongside people without the need for fencing or other hard barriers. This unique green collaborative robot holds highly sensitive contact sensing technology and it would smoothly stop if it were to come into contact with a person while it is working. The outer green cover is soft and helps reduce the impact of forces and pinch points by creating a soft barrier between the robot arm and the operator. The highly sensitive robot arm has been awarded with the International Standard 10218-1:2011 Safety Certification to give you complete confidence that your operators will be safe while working alongside the CR-35iA.     Not only is this gentle green giant safe, but it is hardy and very reliable. The CR-35iA is capable of working in environments ranging from 32° F to about 110° F and is able to travel up to speeds of 2.46 feet/second and 10" per second when Contact Stop is active. Do not worry, this robot can be ordered with FANUC's state-of-the-art vision system, so you know it will be highly repeatable and accurate. What could you do with the CR-35iA or, as we like to call it, the Green Helping Machine? If you would like to learn more or have questions, please contact us at sales@questindustrial.com or call 608-325-5850 and one of our robotic specialists would be more than happy to discuss those.

FANUC’s CR-35iA Collaborative Industrial Robot2018-07-10T17:02:15+00:00

Innovation in Direct Food Contact Robotics

Quest Industrial is continuously working to develop innovative robotic and automation products and systems that are lighter, easier to clean and more effective for the food industry. Don Wickstrum, President and Owner of Quest Industrial, gave a presentation where he stated, “We have spent more money in developing innovations than we made in profits each year since we opened, and have spent over a decade to bring them to market in an effective manner.” The robotic experts at Quest Industrial have developed several robotic solutions including specialized coating and protection system for robotic arms, direct food safe end of arm toolings or EOAT, and several innovations in robotic ultrasonic cutting and robotics processes in general. Mr. Wickstrum said, “Fanuc Robotic Arms coupled with our systems has made us the only company that has direct contact food lines for cheese from brine to warehousing which have been approved after installation by both the WDA and USDA.” Furthermore, Quest’s specialists have designed several complete systems that are capable of operating in washdown environments.” The engineers at Quest provide unique robotic and automation solutions that are able to withstand the actual process solutions, as well as the washdown chemicals and procedures within a food plant, while holding up in the large temperature swings that many facilities experience. The ability to endure the tough requirements of food environments and increase food safety, Quest Industrial’s robotic coating takes the robots to an IP69 or better rating for protection against harsh environments. Quest’s coating greatly reduces the hazards of contamination that is found to happen with stock epoxies and paint. As stated previously, Quest Industrial’s robotic specialists have developed and are continuing to develop several innovations in Robotic End of Arm [...]

Innovation in Direct Food Contact Robotics2018-07-10T17:02:15+00:00

2015 International Dairy Show – Is your Robotic Equipment Designed for Your Application?

Quest Industrial, located at Booth #7661 during the 2015 International Dairy Show, takes pride in creating Robotic Automation that is designed for the Dairy Industry. Don Wickstrum, President and Owner of Quest Industrial, has been selected, out of 100’s of applicants, to present at the 2015 International Dairy Show at the McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. His topic will be “How to Evaluate Your Plant and Process for Robotic Automation” and will discuss getting ready for robotic automation. There are many considerations that need to happen to make sure that the best area in the plant is indeed being automated. Don will thoroughly explain the first steps in preparing a plant for robotic automation. If this topic has sparked your interest and you or someone you know would like to attend the International Dairy Show, please request a free registration Here. Don will be speaking Wednesday, September 16, 2015 from 3:00PM – 3:30PM in Room: iDairyShow Theater, Booth 9413 at the 2015 International Dairy Show held at the McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. He will have a few minutes for questions, however, if he is unable to answer all of the questions from the audience during that time, please visit him at the Quest Industrial booth #7661 to discuss your questions in more detail. If you are unable to make the presentation, but are still interested in speaking with Don during the show, please schedule an appointment with him by emailing sales@questindustrial.com. The Robotic Experts with Quest Industrial will not squeeze you into a cookie cutter piece of equipment, but rather we work with you to design equipment that meets your needs. Additionally, we do not fit our equipment to washdown environments, but our equipment [...]

2015 International Dairy Show – Is your Robotic Equipment Designed for Your Application?2018-07-10T17:02:15+00:00

President & Owner of Quest Industrial, Don Wickstrum, to Present at the 2015 International Dairy Show

Don Wickstrum has been chosen, out of 100's of applicants, to present at the 2015 International Dairy Show at the McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. His topic will be, “How to Evaluate Your Plant and Process for Robotic Automation” and will discuss getting ready for robotic automation. Robotic Automation is merging as one of the fastest growing automation plant improvements in the last five years. Robotic automation allows a plant to be flexible and reliable all while operating at lower overhead costs. However, putting in robotics isn't as easy as ordering up a cell and placing it within the plant's system. There are many considerations that need to happen to make sure that the best area in the plant is indeed being automated. Don Wickstrum, Owner & President of Quest Industrial will thoroughly explain the first steps in preparing a plant for robotic automation. Don will discuss what considerations need to be thought of, benefit factors from robotic automation, preparing staff members for robotic automation, gathering information for the decision making process & choosing an integrator, and with how to properly plan for the project. Once these concepts are grasped, the sky is the limit & the project will be more than successful. Because Robotic Automation can be a daunting task, Don Wickstrum will cover the five steps to help prepare managers for robotic automation integration. The first objective will be the considerations that need to be thought of when looking to automate. Secondly, what are the benefit factors from robotic automation. Thirdly, preparing staff members for robotic automation. Next, gathering information for the decision making process and choosing an integrator. Lastly, how to properly plan for the project. If this topic has sparked your [...]

President & Owner of Quest Industrial, Don Wickstrum, to Present at the 2015 International Dairy Show2018-07-10T17:02:16+00:00
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