Moapa, Nev. — Lasco® Bathware recently introduced the use of cutting-edge robotic technology at their Moapa, Nev. manufacturing plant. As one of the first players in the bathware industry to adopt this type of automation, Lasco has furthered their long-standing commitment to quality products and plant efficiencies.

“This new robotics initiative is indicative of the direction we’re heading across all of our plants and is a giant step toward realizing a company-wide lean manufacturing commitment,” stated Lasco’s president, Stuart Leigh. “We’ve made a significant investment to ensure that as a company, we are doing everything we can to provide our customers with the highest quality product and remain a leader in an increasingly competitive manufacturing environment.”

Lasco worked with FANUC Robotics in Toledo, Ohio and Magnum Venus Products (MVP) in Seattle, Wash. to implement the initiative at their Moapa, Nevada plant. Lasco has been working with FANUC in an effort to automate their tub and shower production facilities throughout the U.S. The FANUC Robotics system in Moapa consists of five robot cells; each includes a P-200E robot for gelcoat, barrier coat, and three laminate processes for tubs and showers manufactured on an overhead conveyorized line. "Lasco Bathware, our largest fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) customer, has taken the FRP industry to the next level in terms of automation," said Steve Trzeciak, general manager, FANUC Robotics Toledo. “They have taken a proactive engineering approach by automating their production facilities with state-of-the-art process and controls technology.”

Lasco also worked very closely with MVP to incorporate several UltraMAX™ pumping systems into their chop, barrier coat and gelcoat lines. Each station is set up with two pumps so that downtime for maintenance is not an issue. MVP designed a new upper seal arrangement on the pump in order for it to run 24 hours a day. Additionally, Lasco incorporated the automatic DuraMax and ATG-3500 guns into their systems. The automatic DuraMAX Gun delivers filled resins, high volume applications or standard chopping/saturating flows with precision and efficiency.

“As one of the largest bathware manufacturers in the U.S., Lasco has a long history of providing customers with some of the highest quality bath fixtures in the market. By implementing robotic automation, we can now further elevate that standard of quality,” said Mike Seymour, vice president, engineering/research & development, Lasco Bathware. “The new technology provides an automated spray deposition process that significantly improves material transfer efficiencies, resulting in both greater product quality and consistency, as well as a reduction in overspray waste.”

Lasco hopes to launch the use of robotics in all of its plants over the next three to five years.

About Lasco Bathware

Lasco Bathware, a Tomkins Industries company, supplies one-fourth of all bath fixtures sold annually in the United States. Offering the largest selection of soaking tubs, whirlpools, showers and tub/showers, Lasco creates bathing experiences that inspire “Good Clean Fun.” Customers can choose from luxury to affordable design styles with solutions to meet all their bath and shower needs. For more information about Lasco Bathware, visit www.lascobathware.com