Page 62 - Plastics News September 2024
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TECHNOLOGY NEWS
component parts delivered in no ordered way. the automation process. A prime example of this
As much as 20-30% of the cost of the project is shelf-ready packaging. The current trend with-
can be spent on getting those parts located or in food manufacturing for front-facing packag-
fixtured and ready to process before the real ing with tear-off flaps or loose fitting lids allows
automation process can actually begin. It makes retailers quick and easy restocking of shelves.
more commercial sense to keep parts in order, However, this seemingly simple change in pack-
whether that’s in a nested box, on a conveyor or aging design has made it extremely difficult for
in a stack. automation to be exploited for end-of-line pal-
letising, as the loose fitting lid or tear-off flap is
Also think about part handling and fixturing. Sig- not conducive to staying in place. Therefore, be-
nificant costs could end up being channelled into fore making any packaging changes – no mat-
part fixturing – even more so if you are working ter how seemingly minor – think carefully about
with a range of parts due to multiple fixtures. A how they may impact your ability to automate,
good example of best practice here is to focus and the effect this will have on production effi-
on one-way assembly; for example, where parts ciency and labour demand.
stack on top of each other to create the com-
plete product or common part features that al- 5. Talk to automation suppliers
low common fixturing.
Engage with automation suppliers as early as
3. Consider TCO possible. At FANUC, we are more than happy to
support designers that are beginning their jour-
Concentrating on the wrong drivers for automa- ney towards automation and will readily provide
tion is a major error but one that we sadly see guidance on what the process is going to in-
all too frequently. Some customers are more volve. We’ve done this countless times through-
focused on fitting an automation solution into a out the years as different sectors have started
defined payback period (often under two years) to embrace automation – from manufacturers of
instead of looking at the value it will bring to the low-cost products to high-value goods; compa-
business over its lifetime. A total cost of own- nies in the food industry; and more recently, with
ership model is a far better measure. Purchase EV battery manufacturing for the automotive
price only accounts for between 15-25% of the sector. We have rounded experience across lots
total cost of ownership; the remainder is made of different applications within a wide range of
up of factors such as maintenance, energy us- industries that we are happy to share, and which
age, repairs, and even end of life. Measuring designers can learn from.
TCO rather than ROI will ensure you get the right
automation solution for your business, resulting 6. Try before you buy
in real long-term value.
Finally, as in many industries, some automation
4. Remember the process, not just the con- suppliers are now starting to offer low-cost/low-
sumer risk routes into automation for companies tak-
ing their first steps into automation. Robots as
It can be tempting when developing a new prod- a Service (RaaS) is a subscription-based option
uct to prioritise what’s easiest for the consumer, that enables manufacturers to pay a set fee over
without realising that this may negatively impact a specified period of time, and effectively lease
62 64 PLASTICS NEWSASTICS NEWS September 2024
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September 2024
