Teqram EasyGrinder Weld-Prep Expansion

Teqram’s announced EasyGrinder weld-preparation expansion could reduce intermediate crane moves for heavy plate by combining edge cleaning and weld beveling in one robotic cell, while pallet supply and finished-stack removal remain separate handling tasks.

The expanded EasyGrinder is scheduled for presentation at EuroBLECH, October 20–23, 2026, in Hanover, Germany, following the August 20 announcement and September 26 trade coverage. As of October 10, 2026, that presentation is still upcoming.

What the weld-preparation expansion changes

The EasyGrinder family removes slag, deburrs, rounds edges and removes oxide layers from thermally cut plate. Automatic tool and gripper changes support successive operations inside the cell.

The announced package expands weld-bevel creation and finishing, with automatic program generation from a geometry file carrying weld-preparation information. That does not replace specifying the joint edge: a weld bevel is a defined joint preparation, not simply a rounded or burr-free edge.

The beveling workflow uses predefined processing recipes and machine vision to detect a pallet-fed part’s position, contour and orientation. Plate components needing both cut-edge cleanup and specified bevels are therefore relevant work to evaluate, including batches with changing contours. The preparation drawing still needs to define which edges require which treatment.

Which heavy-plate moves could disappear

The previewed system can pick up individual components, position them for preparation and stack them again. For suitable components, a combined cell could replace crane lifts currently used between separate cleaning and beveling stations. That is a layout inference, not a verified saving; the announcement and follow-up coverage do not provide an independently measured crane-use reduction.

The meaningful comparison is the current movement of an individual component—not all crane activity in the bay. Incoming pallets, replenishment and finished stacks still need transport and staging. A cell may shift crane or forklift work toward batch supply rather than remove those machines from the process.

Gripping and reach matter beyond weight

The EasyGrinder 600 has a published maximum workpiece weight of 600 kg, and its robot performs both handling and processing. It is the heavy-part example here, not a universal rating for the announced package.

EasyGripper configurations use magnets, vacuum pads or mechanical clamps. Automatic selection considers size, estimated weight and center of gravity. The proposed gripper must also suit the actual contact surfaces, and the robot must reach the required edges while holding or repositioning the component. A weight below 600 kg alone does not establish fit.

Application drawings should show required edge preparation, part dimensions and weight, supported by photographs of incoming stacks. For a U.S. purchase, confirm the proposed configuration’s handling envelope, feature availability and retrofit suitability directly with the equipment supplier.

Leave room for pallets and safe access

The cell needs usable pallet positions within the intended material-flow arrangement, not just enough room for the robot. Crane coverage, forklift approaches and adjacent equipment should determine where supply and finished stacks can be moved without interfering with safeguarded operation.

Robot-system risk assessment should cover pallet exchange, fault recovery and maintenance as well as normal processing. Safeguards must prevent exposure to hazardous automatic motion; maintenance access also needs appropriate hazardous-energy controls.

For U.S. installations, 29 CFR 1910.212 requires guarding against applicable hazards such as rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Clearances around the robot and nearby structures should prevent trapping or pinch locations. Pallet storage should not consume the space needed for safe access.

Discuss the handling layout with Dave Graf

I’m Dave Graf, Regional Sales Executive at Mac-Tech. Call me to assess heavy-workpiece movement, crane access, machine placement, installation constraints and supportability. Bring preparation drawings, part weights and dimensions, incoming-pallet photographs, the current preparation sequence and a floor plan with crane coverage. I can help you compare the moves a proposed cell could replace with the material-handling work your shop still needs to accommodate.