Egidija Rainosalo
Ajay Sharma
Manoj Sharma
RoboPinta project at Centria University of Applied Sciences is driving the development of technology in additive manufacturing and machining in Central Ostrobothnia region. The project will demonstrate the robotic application for 3D printing, automatic tool changing, and then milling operation for fine product quality.
Driven by Centria University of Applied Sciences, RoboPinta supports local industry and organizations by transmitting knowledge and developing solutions to make them work seamlessly in an industrial environment. The project is calling attention to producing big boat molds by means of ‘Robotic Additive Manufacturing System’. These imprints will allow companies to examine and implement new technologies and methods for high productivity using bio-based plastic materials and robotic technology on the production shop floor.
Project At a Glance
The project officially commenced on January 1st 2024 with the aim of developing a robotic cell that caters the multiple processes to produce a fully machined product. The robotic cell will accommodate 3D printing of a large-scale boat mold and surface machining (Milling and Buffing) of the produced part. RoboPinta project is forming a good amalgamation of high-end robotic system engineering which spearheads the Central Ostrobothnia industrial sector with sound knowledge and confidence to implement. At the same time, it showcases the usability of plastic polymers and bio-based materials for a sustainable and economic future.
Mapping The Terrain
To gain deeper insight and get a clearer picture of the current state of automation and technical advancements in 3D printing of plastic composites, RoboPinta team has been proactively engaged in technical conferences and exhibitions from time to time. In the view of this approach Egidija Rainosalo (Project Manager) along with the RDI Expert Ajay Sharma visited to FormNext Exhibition, Frankfurt, Germany in November 2024. The agenda of the visit was to explore the ongoing automatic printing technologies and software developments for better and refined slicing and simulation work of a 3D printing model. During the visit RoboPinta team has convened to assess different strategies of printing complex structures, material used for additive manufacturing and prospective initiatives of multiple organizations related to the field.
While the printing process is underway in the robotic cell built by the RoboPinta team, the takeaways from this visit would be incorporated to maximize the utilization of the setup.
Preserving the routine of market intelligence gathering, RoboPinta recently made an official visit to FAME Symposium at Tampere University, Finland on 13th and 14th April 2025. RDI Experts from RoboPinta project team Ajay Sharma, Manoj Sharma and Rathish Rajan participated in the two days program. In conjunction with attending workshops and presentations from different national and international companies and educational institutions, RoboPinta marked Centria’s participation by presenting about the ongoing research work about different polymers and bio-based materials and shredded the light on upcoming projects.
RoboPinta team was also enlisted in a poster exhibition session to provide a glimpse of 3D printing of large parts carried out with robotic operations. RoboPinta caters the 360-degree vertical for industries in Central Ostrobothnia, as it is committed to developing a multifunctional robotic cell while caring for the scale and size of products to achieve targeted dimensions. The continuous program development process has been effectively going on in Plast-Lab to print big parts with different materials.
On The Horizon
To mitigate the present challenges in ‘Large Scale Automatic Additive Manufacturing’ of Central Ostrobothnia industrial cluster, the RoboPinta team has already begun the system development and integration activities. The robotic cell and its fully automatic operations for 3D printing and surface machining will be tested and fine-tuned to validate their effectiveness and adaptability in a real industrial environment. Feedback from companies and their technical teams is important and can be used to develop appropriate robotic programs and integration methods.
The project will carry out three demonstrations of robotic cells with automatic operations for 3D printing and machining of mold, surface machining of composite material part and surface machining of metal part. The trials will provide information aligned with the latest standards and operations of ‘Vertical Articulated’ robotic system along with 3D printing and automatic surface finishing tools for companies in the region.
As RoboPinta moves forward, the project team is excited to gather and share knowledge and information with more organizations, share outcomes of robot programs, and collaboratively develop robotic innovations that can make a real difference for companies. Whether it’s streamlining the already setup production line or supporting the company looking for this specific solution information, RoboPinta is aiming to build a more adaptive automation-ready future for Central Ostrobothnia and Nation.
The RoboPinta project, funded by the Central Ostrobothnia Regional Council (ERDF), strives to advance the integration of multifunctional robotic system and automation in Central Ostrobothnia.
Egidija Rainosalo
Project Coordinator
Centria University of Applied Sciences
P. 044 725 0264
Ajay Sharma
RDI Expert
Centria University of Applied Sciences
P. 050 407 1534
Manoj Sharma
RDI Expert
Centria University of Applied Sciences
P. 050 577 0776
