A FANUC M-20iB/35S robot in a shipping container. Deploy anywhere. Drill, cut, deburr, and inspect precision parts on site — from mine to shipyard.
Take the factory to the work. Not the work to the factory.
A standard 20ft shipping container fitted with a 6-axis industrial robot, high-speed spindle, vision system, and dust extraction. It arrives on a flatbed, connects to power, and starts producing precision parts within hours.
No permanent building. No planning permission. No 12-month lead time. When the job is done, the container moves to the next site. Manufacture locally — eliminate import lead times, reduce logistics costs, respond to demand where it happens.
20ft Container (6058 x 2438 x 2591mm internal) ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ ┌─────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ │ │ │ R-30iB │ FANUC M-20iB/35S │ MATERIAL │ │ │ │ Plus │ ┌──────────┐ │ RACK │ │ │ │ Control │ │ ╔════╗ │ │ │ │ │ │ Cabinet │ │ ║ ║ │ │ Raw stock │ │ │ │ │ │ ║ ║◄─┤ │ Finished │ │ │ │ HMI │ │ ╚════╝ │ │ parts │ │ │ │ Panel │ └────┬─────┘ └──────────────┘ │ │ └─────────┘ Work Table │ │ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ │ │ ┌─────────┐ │ T-Slot │ │ TOOLING │ │ │ │ DUST │ │ Fixture │ │ │ │ │ │ EXTRACT │ │ Plate │ │ Drills │ │ │ │ + CHIP │ └──────────┘ │ End mills │ │ │ │ COLLECT │ │ Deburr │ │ │ └─────────┘ Safety Scanner └──────────────┘ │ │ │ │ ═══════════════ ROLLER DOOR ═══════════════════════ │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ Power: 3-phase 415V / 50A Air: 6 bar, 200 l/min Cool: MQL
| Step | Operation | Tool | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vision locate workpiece | iRVision 2D | 1.5s |
| 2 | Drill 4× M6 clearance | 6.5mm HSS | 8.0s |
| 3 | Drill 4× M8 clearance | 8.5mm HSS | 8.0s |
| 4 | Countersink all 8 holes | 90° CS | 6.0s |
| 5 | Profile trim outer edge | 10mm end mill | 12.0s |
| 6 | Deburr edges | Flex deburr | 8.0s |
| 7 | Blow off + place finished | Air / gripper | 3.0s |
| Total cycle | 46.5s |
~77 parts/hr · 616 parts/day (8hr shift) · 13,552 parts/month (22 days)
Manufacture replacement brackets, mounting plates, and structural components on-demand at the mine. Eliminates 6-week lead times from distant fabrication shops.
Pre-drill connection holes in steel framing on the construction site. Ensures precise alignment between modules. Programs loaded per building design.
Thousands of unique brackets and mounting hardware for renewable installations. Container arrives with the turbines, manufactures fitments as installation progresses.
Container positioned dockside for drilling hull plates, bulkhead brackets, and pipe flanges. IP67 handles the saltwater environment.
Mobile factory visits farming districts during harvest to manufacture and repair equipment components — combines, planters, irrigation systems.
Deployable manufacturing for military or humanitarian operations. Produce critical replacement parts in the field. Runs from generator power.
| Item | Estimate (ZAR) |
|---|---|
| FANUC M-20iB/35S + R-30iB Plus | R1,200,000 |
| Drilling spindle + 6-pos tool changer | R350,000 |
| iRVision 2D system | R180,000 |
| Work table + modular fixtures | R150,000 |
| Container fitout (power, extraction, safety) | R320,000 |
| Tooling (initial set) | R80,000 |
| Commissioning + programming | R200,000 |
| Total | ~R2,480,000 (~$135,000 USD) |
| Item | Monthly (ZAR) |
|---|---|
| Power (3-phase, 15kW avg) | R8,000 |
| Tooling consumables | R12,000 |
| Operator (1 semi-skilled) | R25,000 |
| Maintenance + coolant | R7,000 |
| Transport (quarterly move) | R8,000 |
| Total | ~R60,000/mo |
The robot does the work. AI does the thinking.
CNC Solutions & Product Development · scengineering.co.za
Murray leads SC Engineering's CNC solutions and product development practice. Specialist in precision machining, robotics integration, and deployable manufacturing systems. Partner in the 2nth.ai ecosystem for industrial robotics and CNC automation projects.