Manufacturing Partner
Oberg Industries – Medical Division
A leading precision manufacturer of complex, high-performance components for the medical device industry, Oberg is committed to innovation, quality, and operational control through advanced manufacturing technologies.
Learn more: Oberg Industries – Medical Division
Challenge
To strengthen supply chain resilience, optimize production capacity, and improve part quality, Oberg’s Medical Division aimed to bring additional component fabrication in-house. Specifically, they sought to integrate a new product into an existing automated work cell originally designed for production of another component. This required updates to robot programming, process simulation, and system coordination without disruption to current operations.
Solution
The Penn State Digital Foundry at New Kensington (DFNK) partnered with Oberg to design and validate a prototype automation solution. DFNK applied a systems engineering approach and delivered the project in four structured stages:
- Software Design: Developed modifications to robot code to support new part geometries and workflows.
- Simulation: Built and validated a full robotic cell model using FANUC RoboGuide, integrating CNC, CMM, and safety elements.
- End-of-Arm Tooling: Engineered a flexible gripper design to accommodate both existing components and new components using a common end-of-arm tool.
- On-Site Support: Assisted with validation of software and process updates on existing equipment and provided operator hand-off and training.
The updated cell logic enabled the robot to retrieve a work order, identify the appropriate component, handle raw materials from a designated staging area, and route finished parts to outbound inspection—automating the entire process.
Impact
This collaboration resulted in a validated automation prototype that enables Oberg to produce multiple part types within a single robotic work cell. The solution improves asset utilization, reduces lead times, and enhances quality control while maintaining flexibility for future part integration. Oberg now has a scalable automation framework supported by simulation, standard tooling, and modular software—empowering smarter, faster decisions across its production operations.
“From the start of our project to the finish, the Digital Foundry team was on schedule and provided excellent communication with a cost-effective solution to our manufacturing challenge. Our team had positive comments across the board and have already started conversations on our next endeavor together.”
– Jim Hoffman, General Manager Oberg Medical
