Automation Equipment Continued…

Part fabrication equipment consists of molding or forming objects or a part that will be used together with other components, such as pipes or parts of an appliance. These machines also put logos or labels on items with an ink press, laser printer or sticky labels. Think of your bottles of shampoo or beer bottles and how the product name gets on the item.

Pick and place equipment will move products from one spot to another; from a conveyor belt to a box or it can organize certain items in a container for sale or shipment.

Material handling equipment automates the lines that handle and transport the product through production, on conveyor belts or feeding the item to the next step. In a food processing plant this type of machine may put bread dough in the pans before it goes in the oven.

Some equipment is also used to perform tests on products or samples that need to be measured with the highest level of accuracy. Some automation equipment operates in an environment that must be sterile and free of any possible contaminates. This may be necessary in medical or technological production. Other industries that operate with automation equipment include food processing, the automobile industry and various areas of agriculture.

What can it do?

Automation equipment is also classified by how much it can accomplish without the help of others. Fully automated machines are generally hands-off; almost all production is done by the machine. Semi-automated machines involve some operator influence to keep the product moving, whereas automated work stations assist the operator with tasks, making their job easier and more efficient.

How fast can it work?

Automated equipment is rated for efficiency in terms of speed. A measurement is taken of how many parts pass though the machine in a set amount of time, usually parts per minute or ppm. A machine can have a rating of anywhere from 5ppm-1,000ppm. What the rating really means depends on the product that is being produced. The same rating can mean slow for one company or machine yet very fast and efficient for another.

Buying Automated Equipment

Before purchasing equipment, your supplier should sit down with you and fully understand your automated equipment needs. They need to understand what your business and product are as well as what type of environment the equipment will be in, your budget constraints, what internal resources you have, who your employees are, and your production goals. The more a supplier finds out about you the better equipped they will be for meeting your businesses needs. You should feel comfortable with your supplier and trust their work, the success of your product may depend on it.

By Jeanne Rongitsch