KDT Robotic Cell: Game-Changing Automation

At Ligna 2025, KDT's Radu Munteanu showed us the robotized drilling cell that promises to change the way we think about furniture production. The system we filmed combines a 6-sided CNC drilling machine with an industrial robot that not only manipulates parts, but also "thinks" for the operator.

"Very productive, up to 300 parts a day," Radu tells us as we watch the system work. And it really is impressive to see a part go into the machine and come out fully machined, without human intervention.

How the system works

The heart of the plant is the drilling machine with two upper groups, a lower group and a milling cutter with automatic tool change. The side aligner clamps the workpiece at the zero point, the clamps grip and machine it on all six sides, then it is sent back to the robot.

This is where the interesting part starts. The robot doesn't just pick parts and put them on pallets. "Very importantly, the robot knows lay optimization and takes pictures," explains Radu. The system calculates by itself the most efficient layout of the parts and documents everything photographically.

What this means for a furniture factory

Radu and I discussed the practical applications. For a manufacturer who works with furniture fixtures or repetitive items, this cell can constantly process parts without the need for continuous supervision. The robot collects, arranges and prepares everything for the next production step.

Flexibility is another strong point. The system quickly adapts to different sizes - from small parts of 70×35 mm to widths of 1200 mm. For a factory working on diverse orders, this means quick reconfigurations without long production stops.

The technology behind automation

KDT uses serious components: INVT servo drives for precision, DELTA control systems from Taiwan, Siemens electrical components. It's not toy technology, it's industrial equipment built to withstand intensive production.

The software side is just as important. The system can work with external optimizers, scan barcodes and integrate into existing production workflows. For a factory already using optimization software, integration should be straightforward.

The context of KDT on the Romanian market

KDT Machinery, with main factory in China and R&D in Italy, produces over 20,000 machines per year and exports to 40+ countries. In Romania, WoodMatic is the official distributor since 2022.

What I've learned

It's not just automation, it's intelligent automation. The robot even "thinks" the optimization and documentation.

It seems to be built for the reality of Romanian factories - efficient, flexible and reasonably priced. For a manufacturer thinking about automation but afraid of huge investments, this could be the solution to convince them to take the plunge.