Güdel plans to present a robotic grinding system at the Automate 2026 trade show that combines vertical and horizontal motion to expand the working range of industrial robots used in large-scale surface finishing applications. The demonstration will feature Güdel’s TrackMotion Vertical (TMV) and TrackMotion Floor (TMF) systems integrated with a FANUC R-1000 robot equipped with a grinding end-of-arm tool. The configuration is designed to allow a single robot to maintain consistent contact pressure and path speed across large workpieces that might otherwise require multiple robots or repeated repositioning of parts.
According to Güdel, the system addresses challenges associated with automating the grinding and finishing of large fabricated components. By adding vertical lift and extended horizontal travel, the company says the robot can access a larger work envelope while remaining in a favorable operating position.
Güdel states that the approach can reduce capital investment by enabling one robot to cover a broader area, potentially eliminating the need for multiple fixed robotic units. The company also says the design supports process repeatability by reducing operation at extreme joint positions and is intended for abrasive industrial environments where grinding debris can affect equipment performance.
Brenda Courim, director of sales and marketing at Güdel US, said the combination of vertical and horizontal motion expands the robot’s workspace and allows production systems to be adapted through software changes as part designs evolve, rather than requiring mechanical modifications.
The demonstration system was developed with systems integrator Titan Robotics for an application involving the grinding of large weldments used by an off-road equipment manufacturer. Lou Finazzo, vice president of FANUC America, said the integration of the FANUC robot with Güdel’s motion systems provides additional reach and stability for large-scale grinding applications. The exhibit is intended to demonstrate how coordinated robot and motion-platform systems can be used to automate grinding operations on large components while maintaining process consistency across extended work areas.
