Assembling high-tech robots and AGVs for industrial and agricultural applications requires specialised skills and experience. In a series of interviews, we bring together our leading technical specialists in assembly, parts manufacturing, and development to foster collaboration and innovation. For the fourth interview, we asked Daphne van Duren, a Mechatronics Technician at Hittech Comac, what makes assembling robots so special.
Daphne: ‘When we start a project, we first build the mechanical submodules before assembling them into the chassis. It requires skills such as assembling mechanical and electrical parts and testing with an eye for detail. Once all the parts are assembled, we mount them onto the robot’s frame and connect the cables. The fun part of assembling these robots is switching them on and testing them. This is when we really see what we have built together as a team. We assume what we have built works, but what if it doesn’t?’
How do you reduce the risk of errors during the assembly stage?
Daphne: ‘Thorough preparation is the key to success, I think. It’s vital to have all parts ready on time and to prepare clear, detailed assembly manuals. These include practical tips on specific sequences or the use of special tools we made. This way, we ensure that all colleagues achieve the same outcome. Troubleshooting is part of the job. It’s an interesting phase because I need to locate the source of the problem. Is it the software or something else? It’s challenging at times, but I do enjoy investigating the cause.’ngle fingerprint anywhere in the supply chain can cause immense damage!’
