A fabrication assembly for automated metal fabrication on an elongate metal workpiece includes: a track; a set of rotator assemblies on one side of the track configured to rotate a received workpiece; at least one fabrication robot movable along the track and configured to perform metal fabrication on the workpiece received by the set of rotator assemblies within a fabrication operational range; a set of trolleys movable along the same track and configured to receive the workpiece thereon, the fabrication assembly being configured to transfer the workpiece between the set of trolleys and the set of rotator assemblies in a horizontal direction transverse to the track within a workpiece transfer range that overlaps with the fabrication operational range. To accommodate the overlap, the at least one fabrication robot may be movable to outside the workpiece transfer range, and the set of trolleys may be movable to outside the fabrication operational range.

A method of processing profiles in a profile processing assembly includes a working machine and a profile infeed assembly. The profile infeed assembly includes an infeed cross transport assembly, and an infeed conveyor assembly with an infeed conveyor and a measuring truck. The infeed conveyor has a first end remote from the working machine. The infeed cross transport assembly supplies individual profiles to the infeed conveyor assembly. The infeed conveyor assembly supplies individual profiles to the working machine by means of a measuring truck which engages a profile and moves the profile over the infeed conveyor to the working machine. The method includes determining the longitudinal position of a first end of a profile that is facing away from the working machine and moving the measuring truck to an optimal rest position which is closest to the first end of the profile to be fed onto the infeed conveyor.

An apparatus for performing operations on a part, and in particular on the fuselage of an aircraft. The apparatus utilizes movable arches which carry an and effector and which move along a track fixed to a structure. Additional, fixed arches are positioned at specific longitudinal positions and when the movable arches are aligned with the fixed arches, the end effector may move from the movable arch to the fixed arch.