Hyler

For Hyler, it started six years ago in a 600m2 building, but after several expansions and a move, Hyler is clearly a strong player today. The constant search for growth opportunities translates not only into size, but also into machines.

A strong team has been responsible for the welding work of the machines for years, but for manager Niels Baert it was clear. That team needed reinforcement and the leap to automation came: “Our production went up sharply and we needed a lot of extra welders. At that point we made the choice to automate pm with welding robots”, says Niels. “Then we started looking for what was the best solution. Which robots are the best? Who's nearby?”

Hyler eventually searched and found some second-hand automatic welding robots, but Hyler did not have the expertise in automation. After deliberation, Hyler quickly ended up with Motionn. Automation Engineer at Motionn Thomas Bourgeus received a clear question from Hyler: “Their first question was to put the installations back into service so they could use them in their production. After that, the question was which products they wanted to weld and how those robots could help with that.”

“We also saw other parties, but at Motionn the feeling was right away. The approach was extremely easy and Motionn was very accessible, unlike larger companies. Motionn thinks along with us from the first step”, Niels knows.

Motionn immediately added the action to the word and operationalized the welding installations. Subsequently, together with Hyler, it was examined which products would result from the automatic welding work and which parts the welding robots could make.

Also in the workplace they felt the input of Motionn from the first moment, Teamleader Welding Area at Hyler Robby Vanpoucke knows: “Motionn has supported us from A to Z, from the purchase of the robots, over the construction to the programming in what we want. They also made adjustments immediately and we should not care about that. That is actually also a big plus, so that we can really focus on our product.”

Meanwhile, the Motionn team has already completed several impressive projects at Hyler:

• Both ABB FlexArc welding cells are now in production. The Fronius welding equipment was completely renewed, while the robots and automatic rotary positioning station were fully restored and brought back into optimal working condition. Around 12 different components can now be welded using these robots, thanks to a system of easily interchangeable welding fixtures.
• In 2025, Hyler purchased another second-hand ABB robotic welding cell in Austria. This cell features a dual indexing table with a capacity of 600 kg, allowing Hyler to automate the welding of large and heavy structures. Squadron worked closely with Hyler on the dismantling in Austria, transport, reassembly in Meulebeke and testing. The robotic welding cell is now fully operational and ready for production.
• Squadron is currently working on a major refurbishment project at Hyler involving a Cloos installation: an XZ gantry with a longitudinal reach of 21 metres and a vertical reach of 1 metre.
• Motionn is completely rebuilding this installation, which dates from 2002, and equipping it with a new ABB robot, Fronius welding power source, new cabling, a new safety system and updated controls. Once completed, the installation will enable Hyler to weld large chassis and structures fully automatically.

Thomas Bourgeus: “There are a lot of manufacturing companies in Flanders, often slightly smaller companies that may also need automation. We can be a good partner for such customers because we are effectively not a giant multinational ourselves and can think along well.”