About us
Together we want to disrupt the status-quo offering Gap-Changing, Next-Generation Equipment that defies common sense
We are going where the market leaders will not go, because they do not want to risk their brand image with explosive Innovations.
We are creating Open Space Manufacturing – No Fixed Equipment – Providing Flexibility – Mobile Manufacturing that allows for change.
Next-Generation Manufacturing
MOBILE MULTI-TASKING MACHINE IS ABLE TO PERFORM NORMALLY DISSIMILAR OPERATIONS IN ONE LOCATION AND AT DIFFERENT ORIENTATIONS, THEN RELOCATE TO PERFORM ANOTHER OPERATION.
Our Focus
DISRUPT
L&J Omnico is a SME that wants to make a statement, disrupt the status quo. Statements aren’t made with incremental improvements.
AUTOMOTIVE
L&J delivers complete solutions including over 1,000 COTS Modular Components for end-users to self-build their own equipment.
AEROSPACE
Needs flexibility – add mobility to open space and remove walls and boundaries – travel anywhere. L&J Omnico is developing a mobile platform (AGV) – a mobile infrastructure that allows for ancillary equipment to be easily added or removed to provide manufacturing flexibility.
WIND
Omnico is focused on next-generation automation, to field-assemble wind blades. Taking manufacturing directly to the wind farm.
DEFENSE
Omnico has been working with DoD to develop an extreme large-size mobile robot platform for interrogation and disposing of improvised explosive devices (IED).
3-D PRINTED HOUSING CONSTRUCTION
Omnico has been developing an extreme large size mobile 3-D printer / additive manufacturing equipment that can self-drive to a work site – print a house, drive off and relocate to print another structure.
DISRUPTION IS CHANGING THE STATUS QUO
L&J Omnico wants to Reduce the Cost of Change
Think Different
A Standard Platform with Flexible Infrastructure that is Enduring (Allows for Change) that Everything Else Attaches To – A Platform that Accepts Change
- THINK – FLEXIBLE!
- THINK – MODULAR!
- THINK – Non-Proprietary Mechanical Structure!
- THINK – Non-Proprietary Operating System – Open Architecture!
- THINK – Self-Designing Your Own Equipment to Fit the Application!
- THINK – Self-Build and Self-Modify!
This all leads to an ALL-MODULAR system that encourages an eco-system where other manufacturers can develop technology including APPS where the end-user can self-install on site.
Automotive
Users of L&J Modular LEGO-Type Tooling
SYSTEM INTEGRATORS
- General Motors
- Ford
- Fiat Chrysler Automotives
- Toyota
- Nissan
- Honda
- Subaru
- BMW
- Mercedes Benz
- Volkswagen
- Freightliner
- Navistar
- Kuka
- Comau
- ValiantBenz
- ABB
- Magna
- Grob
- Gonzalez
L&J builds Custom-All-Modular “LEGO-type” material handling equipment for all of the above companies, providing complete solutions. A total solution includes L&J overhead runway with bridge to attached lift and transfer equipment. L&J has over 1,000 COTS modular components.
ADVANTAGES OF L & J MODULAR COMPONENTS
- Similar to ‘LEGO’. They will provide – enable your Design Engineers the freedom to experiment. You can start with a full design with BOM or Hand Sketch and build. Like LEGO, L&J Tooling is easy to adjust, reconfigure and provides substantial cost savings. You have the freedom to let your imagination create ‘disruptive new solutions’.
- When equipment-users, team members’ design and build their own tooling they develop pride and ownership.
- Build your own tooling, on-site. Building on-site improves their skill level and leads to constantly seeking ways to improve (KAIZEN, “change for better”) the process. Having in-plant L&J inventory allows for quick, on-site modifications resulting in Cost Savings.
- L&J designs and builds a complete solution. L&J suggests an equipment buyoff at our facility that includes all Team Members (Operators) participation. What we have found is each operator has a suggestion to improve the operation, when their suggestions are incorporated in the solution, they take ownership and pride in the equipment. This is a win-win for everyone. When we have a TEAM agreement on what changes to make, it usually takes 1 – 2 hours to perform the adjustments or reconfigure.
- Review for a final buyoff. There may be a few quick adjustments before final approval. This process allows the Team Members (Operators) to develop pride by contributing to the success, of the project taking ownership of the tooling. We encourage that our tooling be under constant review for improvements via the Team Members thus providing for KAIZEN process improvements.
Aerospace
- L&J Omnico has been developing a mobile platform for Open-Space Manufacturing – no fixed equipment. A mobile flexible infrastructure that allows for change. Quick change tooling that allows for equipment to be multi-purpose. We are creating flexibility, fit for one-off manufacturing – then readjust / reset to fit other products.
- Aerospace companies are taking advantage of large-sized AGV to improve efficiencies. There are many equipment manufacturers that custom-build these large platforms. These vehicles are constructed from plate steel that is welded together to form a weldment, then stress relieved and machined. Their construction does not allow for ease of change.
- L&J Omnico is suggesting end-users switch from fixed infrastructures to flexible infrastructures space-frame construction. This promotes dual use, adds flexibility, and allows for ease of self-upgrades, modifications, and re-configurations. An all-modular vehicle does not lock you into the equipment manufacturer. Having an open architecture control system also allows for self-programming and self-upgrading as new technology becomes available.
- All-Modular build allows for no size or weight limits to transport the AGV to your location. The AGV can be constructed onsite by the equipment manufacturer or self-built with your own team. L&J Omnico encourages self-building and self-modifying and will support with design and supervision as needed.
- Space-frame constructed AGV can be linked together with the use of long frame bars with their ends staggered. This allows for an endless length of connected vehicles, 100, 200 ft. or more. Attached AGV can connect to a common controller allowing them all to act as one.
- Modular-connected vehicles will allow for a 100 plus feet mobile assembly fixture that can be used to build up a Boeing 777X wing.
Wind
2009: Omnico and Michigan State University (MSU) partnered to compete for DoE – ARPA-E Funding.
Omnico’s interest in manufacturing on-site offshore wind turbine blades started in 2007. Our focus was on developing automated manufacturing equipment to assemble modular carbon fiber space-frame wind blades on-site. We had contracted Wetzel Engineering to support our development of a field-assembled all modular wind blade. In 2009, the Department of Energy (DoE) and NREL were seeking new technology proposals – Disruptive changes in energy technology for a new breakthrough blade concept. MAG had the winning proposal.
2009: NREL focus was on current technology and could not understand the benefit of a modular CF space-frame design.
2014: 5 years later Wetzel Blade won a NREL award for breakthrough blade concept, a space frame blade design that is prefabricated and field assembled.
The new approved production tax credit will spur new innovations to automate wind blade construction. L&J Omnico is suggesting modular components that are field-assembled with automated equipment.
We are looking to repurpose our existing technology for wind blade automation.
For the last year Omnico has been designing a mobile 3-D printer for home construction, drive to a location, print a structure, then drive off and relocate to print another structure. The robot we developed is a Rostock Delta style. Many robots of this type can be stacked along the mobile platform length. The robot is a 3 arm x-y-z machine tool that uses an advanced machine controller with g-code programming to fit any application. Add two additional axes to the end effector and create a 5-axis machine. Attachments that can be added:
- Milling Spindle
- 3-D Printing Material Extruder
- EOAT Tooling to do assembly type work
On-site off-shore wind blade manufacturing
We have a design where we can stack 16 or more robots along the mobile platform length of 200 ft. or longer, this will allow all robots to simultaneously run their own NC program and enter the adjacent robot work envelope to blend surfaces. Each robot can make use of an automatic tool changer to switch tooling to perform other tasks. When all work is complete the mobile platform can self-drive away and relocate for additional work.
Defense
2007 one of the Army’s top 10 innovations was the use of a COTS 30 ft. long-reach load arm – interrogator arm kit (IAK) to be mounted to a mine-protected vehicle (MRAP) for the interrogation of improvised explosive devices (IED).
2012 the DoD and Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) were looking to increase the stand-off-distance between an IED threat and the operator assisted vehicle; a new design long-reach arm with increased capacity to interrogate, keeping our soldiers out of the kill-zone was needed.
2012 JIEDDO was also developing a directed energy system (DES) requiring a mobile platform with 40 ft. long-reach arm to carry this device, 1,000 lbs. on a 40 ft. long arm in front of a vehicle moving at 15 mph.
2009 Omnico had just developed a space-frame concept of extreme long length capable of high loading. Our design seemed a perfect fit to create a long stand-off distance between the IED threat and the vehicle-operator.
Omnico’s previous investment in technology could be used to protect our war-fighters. Over 5-year development process starting in 2009, Omnico invested over 2 million dollars. Omnico designed an IAK with a 40 ft. reach arm, lift capacity at end-of-arm 1,000 lb. and ground penetration force 2,000 lb., we mounted the IAK on a sliding carriage which tracks on a 30 ft. runway attached to the side of a military type vehicle. All tests performed well, but, our timing was off – the war was now over and the defense department was out of money.
3-D Printed Housing
Omnico’s interest in developing an extremely large size mobile 3-D printer was in 2015. American Makers – Ohio 3-D Printer Technology Center had listed a NASA – funded competition to print a 1,000 Sq. Ft. dwelling suitable for our astronauts to live on Mars. NASA also wanted to support low cost 3-D printed housing. Omnico was already working on a mobile platform of extreme large size for CNC manufacturing using Rostock delta style robots. A 3-D printer is a CNC machine with an extrusion nozzle laying down material.
University of Southern California
Professor Behrokh Khoshnevis won an award for best new technology for 2014. NASA is supporting Dr. Khoshnevis and the University, as well as America Makes to 3-D print housing. His website shows use of a gantry-style robot of a large size capable of printing a house. The problem I see that makes this concept not cost effective for mass home construction is the equipment set-up time. There could be two days to prepare the site for the equipment, erect it and level-adjust for printing. One day to print a house and one day to disassemble, then move to another work site and repeat the same operation.
3D Mobile Printer that Self-Drives to Location
No ground preparation for the mobile platform required. The vehicle can self-level then run a NC program to calibrate the robot. Each robot will simultaneously run its own NC program including entering the adjacent robot work envelope to blend surfaces. Each robot end-effector with attached material extruder nozzle will be tracked with a motion capture system to self-adjust in real time for any deviations in planned NC path. Optics will also self-adjust the material extruder output to match the nozzle speed.
With many material extruders operating simultaneously, the production time is reduced. After printing is completed, the mobile platform can self-drive off the work site and relocate to print another structure.
A mobile 3-D print platform that requires no site preparation – can self-drive to work site – print a structure – self-relocate to another work site – THIS WILL MAKE PRINTED HOUSING AFFORDABLE.