Helix is new at DANREC, but unlike other employees, Helix requires neither salary nor breaks. Helix is a robot – an AI-powered agent created to support the fibre laser in production. The result is better workflow, less downtime and fewer interruptions for employees.
Several times a week, Paw Sørensen Vogensen used to wake up to his phone ringing.
On the other end was a colleague needing technical support. As Head of Marketing – and especially Head of Technology – Paw is the person colleagues turn to when technology causes problems.
But his phone no longer rings at all hours. The reason is Helix – a patient and pedagogical AI agent that enables employees to solve issues themselves when they arise.
“AI handles routine tasks and acts as a tool to support our employees, so they can spend their time on something more valuable. Many think of artificial intelligence as something complex and over-engineered, but it’s great to use it in a very practical way and actually create something that adds value for employees,” says Paw Sørensen Vogensen.
The idea of using AI in production arose when Paw Sørensen Vogensen, as part of his further education in AI, needed to develop an exam project.
Fed with manuals
He chose to build a support client for the fibre laser used in production. The fibre laser engraves logos and customer names onto products. Paw himself wrote the original training manuals for the laser – partly because he was the one receiving the calls when production stopped at three in the morning due to fibre laser issues.
“Besides being frustrating to wake up at night, it’s also unpleasant for the employee calling about what often turns out to be a simple issue,” he explains.
Helix is software trained on the manuals Paw has developed and refined over his four years at DANREC.
“The first manuals were very technical, but when people struggled to understand them, I rewrote them to be more pedagogical,” he admits. Helix has also been trained on Panasonic’s manuals and instructed to communicate clearly and simply.
“Not everyone is technically inclined, so explanations need to be straightforward,” says Paw Sørensen Vogensen.
Can’t bake pizza
Helix is programmed to generate short step-by-step guides to resolve problems. Employees can also interact with it directly. Since Helix recognises all error codes, simply entering the code is often enough to receive a solution. This reduces production interruptions and minimises downtime when machines would otherwise be stopped.
The name Helix was chosen by the AI itself. “I thought it was fun to let it name itself. It suggested options and ended up choosing Helix,” Paw says.
In the production hall, the AI has been well received. It has even been trained in various emergency scenarios. In case of fire, Helix sensibly advises switching off the main power supply and calling the fire brigade.
However, the robot has its limits. It is coded exclusively to assist with work-related fibre laser issues.
“If you ask it how to make a good pizza, it politely explains that it was designed only to help with Panasonic fibre lasers,” Paw points out.
More AI in Karup
Paw Sørensen Vogensen is already developing a whole family around Helix. The ambition is to expand AI into other areas of production and administration to simplify order handling and production planning.
“AI is not about replacing employees. By introducing automation, we create the opportunity to grow without placing additional pressure on our staff – because they can use their time more efficiently,” he emphasises.
DANREC’s AI efforts have also attracted attention beyond the production hall in Karup. The company won the Quality Award of the Year 2025, partly for the implementation of the AI agent.
It has now been a year since Helix entered the company – and it has been a success. Also for Paw’s sleep.
“I honestly can’t remember the last time I got a night-time call,” he laughs.
