Medical parts producer uses automation to increase output

Modern Machine Shop, Sept, 2006 by Christina R. Bramlet, John M. Jordan

The Robot Multi uses a single-cabinet construction and high magazine capacity to ensure that it is easily fitted and ready for challenging automation projects, says the manufacturer. Designed to promote optimal use of space and equipped with the rotary magazine, it accommodates all Erowa palletizing systems. Implementing this system has afforded Medrad the capability to use as many as to 270 pallet storage positions. This automation is suitable for milling, grinding, EDM and wire EDM. When using this automation, the company has also been able to load two machines simultaneously.

Erowa says it considers its Easy-Change robotic a start to lights-out, unattended production. This system can be configured with most of the manufacturer's range of chucking/receiver systems. It provides fitting to milling, EDM and wire EDM machines, which is exactly the solution for which the company was searching.

Mr. Kazousky characterizes the shift to automation and purchase of three Erowa products as a successful move: "We found that automating our machines forced, for lack of a better word, us to standardize our processes," he says. "Employees who once performed ten tasks at the same time can now focus on only two tasks. At the same time, they can increase the flow of output as well as the overall quality of the jobs being done."

Upon implementing the automation and palletizing system, Medrad can produce more work on an EDM machine in one weekend than it was able to previously complete in 2 weeks. The company, which once manufactured a single mold at a time, can now produce multiple molds concurrently.

"Production time has improved nearly 200 percent," says Mr. Kazousky. "Prior to this move, the term confidence factor meant little to the people in my department. Now it has significant meaning to us all."

Company: Medrad

Problem: Slow turn around of mold production

Solution: Erowa Robot Multi. Easychange Robot and ITS palletizing system

Results: Standardization of fixturing. 200 percent improvement in production time

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For more information from Erowa Technology, Inc., call (847) 290-0295 or enter MMS Direct code 838WP at www.mmsonline.com.

Christina R. Bramlet cbramlet@mmsonline.com

John M. Jordan jjordan@mmsonline.com