Page 23 - MetalForming-May-2018-issue

When to Automate?
The Rules Have Changed
A host of factors determine whether to automate a press line and to what extent. This isn’t news. What is news: Automation makes sense in more sit- uations than it used to.
“Most people associate automation with increased speed and throughput, which mostly is true, but automation provides benefits beyond that,” says Josh Dixon, director of sales and marketing for Beckwood Press Co. He notes that safety factors such as repetitive motion, ergonomics and the need to transport heavier weights are, and always will be, prime drivers for automation.
Automation traditionally has been applied to processes with well-defined work rules and little variation in parts and procedures. But new technol- ogy advancements allow automation to better accept variability.
“Some process variability can be overcome through the use of vision systems, sensors and other quality-control devices incorporated into the automation,” Dixon says, while noting that at some point excessive variability will negatively impact ROI. “Also, presses can better interact with automa- tion add-ons, allowing for more seamless and effective integration than ever before. Press builders such as Beckwood deliver presses with compatibili- ty and the ability to expand built in.”
Another factor that demands a new look at automation options is cost.
“Manufacturers still tend to think that automa- tion often is too expensive,” says Dixon. “What might have been too expensive five years ago is worth checking out again. Increased competition within the industry has resulted in decreased costs, and technology gains have allowed for more ROI- friendly automation than in the past.” This, too, requires metalformers to re-examine automation in their press lines.
by performing temperature checks on a platen or recognizing that part quality was diminishing. That’s an inefficient, reac- tive way of discovering an issue. From there, the operator would contact the maintenance department, which would have to troubleshoot to find the cause, then contact the machine OEM for a replacement part. It’s a long, drawn- out process.”
A predictive-maintenance system, like Beckwood’s PPM, offers Dixon, eliminates that lengthy process.
“Using integrated machine intelligence such as this, presses can pinpoint the issue, notify the operator, mainte- nance personnel and machine OEM, and identify the replace- ment part needed,” says Dixon. “This streamlines mainte- nance issues and increases machine uptime.” MF
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