Asking the boss: How a day out of the office could reap financial rewards
Can your boss afford not to allow you to visit Interplas to discover the latest cost saving innovations? This is the question posed by Craig Forrester of Staubli Connectors Division ahead of the show, which is the leading exhibition for UK plastics manufacturing, held this year at the NEC, Birmingham, from 26th to 28th September.
The relentless competition in the plastics market means that for manufacturers to prosper they have to ensure that they adopt the latest techniques and make strategic investments that will improve future profitability through productivity.
All of us in manufacturing industry are aware of the pressure to increase machine up time; it is central to the challenge to remain competitive and profitable. However, because we are so immersed in our daily work when do we get the opportunity to explore the latest techniques and products? A visit to Interplas is a brilliant opportunity to view and discuss the latest innovations. You will readily recognise new products and techniques, directly relevant to your production environment, that will improve performance. The resultant gains in quality, productivity and safety dramatically improving your profitability.
Major gains from modest investment
Often the assumption is made that it is necessary to invest in new injection moulding machines to make significant production improvements. This isn’t always the case. First consider what improvements can be obtained by comparatively moderate investment on your existing machines. For example, consideration should be given to the amount of unproductive time resulting from exchanging moulds. In many cases this machine down time is measured in hours; this can be significantly reduced with minimal expenditure.
Interplas has been the key show presenting new solutions, equipment, products and ideas to UK manufacturing; providing a forum where innovations in plastics technology are presented and discussed with manufacturers seeking to enhance productivity and profitability to achieve a competitive advantage.
What shall we see from Stäubli at Interplas 2017?
To demonstrate the diversity and breadth of the solutions offered by Staubli we are exhibiting at two separate locations. On stand E12 in Hall 3 there will be an interactive and operational injection moulding cell demonstrating SMED (single minute exchange of die), complete with mould connections, mould clamping, handling and loading; answering the demands of the Smart Factory and the opportunities raised by ‘Industry 4.0.’
Included in the cell will be our latest developments with collaborative robots. Stӓubli’s TX2 line is the new generation of robots designed with the smart factory and Industry 4.0 in mind.
These interconnected robots enable “machine to machine” communication, the exchange of data between robots and are capable of relaying production data to computer systems upstream of the production chain. With the TX2 robot series and CS9 robot controller, Stäubli Robotics allows for greater cooperation between humans and machines. Every movement is controlled by sensors for maximum safety, making them ideally suited for interactions of all kinds: operations without physical safety barriers, applications where human and machine share the same workspace, or even tasks that require man–machine cooperation.
Accepting the fact that SMED is not a necessary or realistic goal for all manufactures, on Stand L10 in Hall 3 Stäubli will display our individual solutions for thermal management connections, mould clamping and mould loading. Recognising that for many the most significant production gains can be achieved by the minimal investment Stäubli will exhibit their range of quick release mono and multi connectors. SMED is a process, not a product, therefore to assist you with your journey to increase productivity; Stäubli specialists will be available to discuss your specific requirements at the exhibition.
In just a few hours at Interplas you can identify the most relevant options available to improve productivity, quality, safety and profitability. With this potential for significant development readily achievable how could your boss refuse you the time to make this valuable contribution to the future health of your business?