THE INTERVIEW OCTOBER 2019
A STANDARD WAY
TO AUTOMATION
Manufacturing Management speaks to Martin Ahner, project
engineer at norelem about how automation can be simplifi ed
by using standard components in the installation process
BY CHRIS BECK
Manufacturing Management: In your
opinion, why is automation required?
Martin Ahner: One of the key reasons for
automation is to ensure a smooth production
process, and here the continuous fl ow of material
is crucial. Often, it is the actual production steps
that are automated. A machine’s full capacity
utilisation can only be achieved if the machine is
always supplied with the necessary raw materials
or components.
Unfortunately, full capacity utilisation is very
rarely achieved, as the supply and the waiting
times in a company are still far too long, and this
is often down to human input. By incorporating
simple, automated handling systems, it means
engineers and manufacturers could create a
higher rate of capacity utilisation for expensive
machining centres.
MM: What is the hardest challenge when
attempting to integrate automation?
MA: I think a change in production is infl uenced
by several factors. Of course, there is a sense of
fear among employees when steps are suddenly
eliminated and replaced by machines. There must
be clear communication as to how employees will
benefi t from such a change going forward.
Monotonous work can be omitted, and
employees can devote themselves to other tasks.
Not every company has employees who are
familiar with automation. Sources of good help
can be found in consulting fi rms specialising in
MM: What is the
advantage of building
automated machinery
from standardised
components?
MA:: For many who may
not be using automated
machinery currently, it can be
a daunting task and may not
appear straightforward. There
are many bespoke options
out there, but choice can
be overwhelming, and then
you must compare the pros
and cons, the maintenance,
servicing and operation
requirements, along with the
initial cost outlay.
With standard components,
the most diverse requirements
can be implemented extremely
fl exibly. The standardisation of
components reduces potential
diversity and thus complexity.
The automation of a
component feed or component
handling can reduce set-up
times and, with that, costs.
Especially for smaller to
medium-sized production
lines, the use of standard
components in the automation
sector is an excellent choice.
MM: Typically, how much
additional e ciency/
productivity can be gained
from using automated
machines?
MA: You always have to weigh
up when automation makes
sense for a company. At the
beginning, there is always a
certain amount of investment,
which has to be accepted
Martin Ahner is a project engineer
at mechanical engineering
specialists norelem
and then, of course, has to be
recouped. Here, each and every
company must determine its
own break-even point and, if
necessary, automate only certain
sub-areas.
MM: You have recently built
some automated machinery
exhibits; can you explain
why you did this, and what
specifi c engineering and
manufacturing challenges
they could solve?
MA: norelem is known as a
manufacturer and supplier of
standard parts and standardised
components. However, our
product portfolio has long
included parts from the fi eld of
drive and handling systems. With
these new exhibits, we wanted
to show how by combining our
range of components together,
simple and eff ective automation
can be achieved.
Altogether, we have built
three working exhibits that show
diff erent methods of handling
and transporting components
from one area of production to
the next. Due to the modular
design of our pneumatic
handling modules, such as our
small conveyor belts and our
linear axes with toothed belt
drive, both a simple construction
and assembly can be realised.
MM: Where did you get the
idea about what to build
these machines from?
MA: The idea originated from
our norelem show truck, which
we take to customers’ sites to
automation, or cost-eff ective systems.
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