ArcNC brings a fresh wind to programming software

Groupe Dubrulle is a family-owned company founded in the 1980s by Yves Dubrulle. Initially focused on public works, the group expanded into agricultural machinery and is now a leader in the transportation and handling of vegetables, particularly potatoes. Downs, acquired by Groupe Dubrulle in 2006, has grown from 20 employees to over 100, with a 10,000 m² factory in Northern France. With innovation at the core of its operations, Downs has embraced cutting-edge technology to meet the demands of their clients, such as their recent adoption of Valk Welding robots and ArcNC.

Charles Verbaere, head of methodology and continuous improvement who has been with the company for over 12 years, and Florian Catteau, project lead involved in the latest production chain extension, both emphasize the importance of adapting to new technologies. One of the most impactful changes has been their integration of robotic welding with Valk Welding and the ArcNC software.

"At first, we were a bit hesitant about the idea of using robots for our custom parts production," Charles explains. "Around 80% of what we produce is unique, custom-designed for our clients. We weren't sure if welding robots could handle the complexity and small batch sizes we deal with. But thanks to advancements in technology, especially with ArcNC, we've been able to embrace it."

Florian adds, "ArcNC is very user-friendly. It's simple to use and saves us an incredible amount of time. I can program a welding robot while working on another task, which optimizes our workflow immensely. In one instance, we didn't touch the output from ArcNC at all, and the first piece went straight to production—it was that precise."

Charles Verbaere, who has been with the company for 12 years, adds, "Even though it felt unsettling at first, ArcNC opened our minds. It suggests solutions that we wouldn’t have come up with ourselves, whether it’s optimizing welding trajectories or proposing parameters we hadn't considered." This flexibility has allowed them to streamline their operations, even producing small series of custom parts that would have been too time-consuming using traditional methods.

The speed and efficiency ArcNC brings to the table have transformed how Downs operates. "What used to take us a week to program, we can now do in a day. The ability to reuse programs for similar parts later is another huge advantage," Florian explains. "We’re not just saving time, but we’re able to focus on other critical tasks, thanks to the automation."

Beyond the practical benefits, Charles and Florian appreciate the continuous evolution of the software. "It's constantly improving, and the team's responsiveness is fantastic. We feel like we’re part of the software's growth, and that’s exciting," they say.

With ArcNC, Downs has found a powerful tool that allows them to keep up with their rapid growth while staying true to their commitment to innovation and quality. "ArcNC brings a fresh wind to programming software," Charles remarks, summing up the transformational impact it's had on their operations.

For companies like Downs, where small batch production and flexibility are key, ArcNC has proven to be a perfect fit. It’s clear that the future of welding at Downs will continue to be shaped by this partnership, driving efficiency, precision, and innovation.