No IKEA? No Problem: Askona Automates Bed Frame Manufacturing
Russia's Askona Group has launched the country's first fully automated, end-to-end production line for the serial manufacture of fully welded metal bed bases, marking another step in the modernization of domestic furniture manufacturing.
The production complex performs every stage of profile steel tube processing, from loading raw stock and trimming to bending, hole punching, and welding. At the end of the line, a robotic manipulator unloads a finished bed base that requires only painting. Machine vision and robotic welding are used at key stages: a camera identifies the weld seam, allowing the robot to orient each workpiece correctly before welding. This ensures millimeter-level geometric accuracy, directly improving product strength and manufacturing consistency.
Heading Toward Full Automation
Automation has significantly increased manufacturing efficiency. Previously, producing 800 bed bases per day required several dozen workers operating manually. Today, the automated complex manufactures up to 1,600 units daily. The entire line is supervised by just two operators, who load production programs and monitor operations. The system can manufacture 42 different bed models, while changeovers between product types take no more than five minutes.
The project was implemented as part of Askona Group's manufacturing modernization program with support from a preferential loan of 648 million rubles (more than $8.2 million) provided through the federal Industrial Development Fund (FRP) under its Development Projects program.
The company's next objective is to automate mattress manufacturing. Demand for these products remains strong not only in Russia and the CIS but also in friendly international markets.
One Billion Rubles Raised Through Blockchain
Askona Group is introducing digital technologies across its core business processes. Its manufacturing facilities and warehouses operate on 1C:ERP and Manufacturing Execution System (MES) platforms, creating a unified automated environment for production planning and operational management. To improve demand forecasting and supply chain optimization, the company is developing AI solutions together with Sber2B. Neural networks analyze freight flows, reducing processing costs by as much as 45%. In human resources, Askona has deployed KEDO (Electronic HR Document Management) on the VK HR Tek platform, digitizing document exchange for 8,000 employees across 82 Russian regions.
The company has also become the first furniture manufacturer in Russia to issue Digital Financial Assets (DFAs) totaling 1 billion rubles (approximately $12.7 million). The instrument enabled Askona to secure financing more quickly than through conventional bank lending while diversifying its sources of capital.
From Software to Machine Tools
Russia's manufacturing sector has accelerated the adoption of robotic production lines in recent years. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Rosstat, robot density in manufacturing increased from 19 robots per 10,000 employees in 2023 to 40 robots per 10,000 employees in 2025.
The trend has been particularly pronounced in furniture manufacturing. Furniture production has increased by 34% since 2022, driven by automation and import substitution spanning every layer of manufacturing infrastructure, from software to machine tools and industrial robots.
One of the market leaders in manufacturing software is the Russian CAD platform Bazis-Mebelshchik (Basis Furniture Designer). The system not only designs furniture products but also automatically generates CNC control programs and cutting layouts. When integrated with Russian-built machine tools and enterprise management systems, production data flows directly from the 3D model to manufacturing equipment. As a result, production preparation is completed 10 to 15 times faster while eliminating manual data transfer and reducing the potential for human error.
On the equipment side, the KAMI Association is deploying Russian high-speed CNC machining centers that are successfully replacing European alternatives. Meanwhile, Zavod Robotov (Robot Factory) and Kobotek supply industrial robotic manipulators and collaborative robots that are widely used in furniture manufacturing for frame welding, adhesive application, component sanding, and the handling of heavy workpieces.
End-to-End Automation
Built on these technologies, Russia's leading furniture manufacturers have established fully integrated digital production environments. For example, the Angstrem holding company in Voronezh and the Ulyanovsk Furniture Factory were among the first to integrate the BAZIS CAD platform into their manufacturing workflows. Engineering 3D models are now converted automatically into CNC machining programs, completely eliminating manual data transfer between departments. LightKukhni uses the platform to automate production preparation by generating cutting layouts, creating specifications, and sending manufacturing tasks directly to the shop floor. Aleandr and the Dyatkovo Furniture Group have adopted the platform for end-to-end order management. Integration between the CAD platform and enterprise management systems automatically generates production tasks, optimizes panel cutting, and tracks the status of every component throughout the manufacturing process, from engineering through final assembly.
As a result, automation has enabled Russian furniture manufacturers not only to replace foreign brands that exited the Russian market but also to expand their export capabilities.
