Some fabricators have doubts about how printing automation could help them improve their business. They wonder how technology could do a better job than the humans who have done it for so long. However, if you’re not utilizing automation for printing jobs, you’re not embracing the industry’s future.
Better technology can make jobs safer, faster and of higher quality. Can printing automation do the same for fabrication? Here’s a look at how this new tech can benefit you, your employees and your customers.
Why Should You Consider Automation?
When faced with the thought of introducing new technologies to your work floor, your first thought may be, “What can automation do for me? I’ve gotten along fine without it for years.” This is an excellent question to ask because there are plenty of ways it’s already improving manufacturing.
One company recently upgraded to automation in its fabrication and has seen impressive results. RenewAire experienced a boom in business and kept up with demand and production with automated machines. Its robotic laser punch, P4 panel bender and B3 press brake provided faster operation time. Reduced path time, precision and material-waste trimming have allowed the business to cut the lead time down by 40% on some parts. That’s beneficial for managers, workers and customers.
The benefits of an automated warehouse are also pretty impressive. Many businesses have reported automation has helped them improve delivery times, package-handling efficiency and order-fulfillment rates. Some have even reduced the need for humans. However, rest assured if you’re worried about automation affecting your employees. It’s entirely up to you if you’d like to implement it to that extent. Many companies have found ways to use automation alongside their workers, reducing wasted time, human error and injury rates.
Automation can also help improve sustainability. The machines operate as efficiently as possible, so you’ll reduce waste and unnecessary electricity use. You could start helping the planet with this new tech, combined with better supply and recycling. More efficient use of your machinery can help cut costs. The automated machines can tell where your facility is using too much energy and reduce your bills. New technologies may initially be costly, but they often end up saving money.
All in all, automation truly is the future of the printing industry. There are so many benefits it can offer to workplaces. Reducing human error, saving time and producing less waste are just a few. This technology lets you run more jobs in less time and makes them of better quality. You, your workers and your customers will love the efficiency and speed printing automation affords.
Ways to Use Printing Automation
You might be interested in finding some ways to integrate printing automation tech in your fabrication if all that sounds promising to you. These examples may pique your interest in investing in this exciting development.
1. Auto Teaching
You’ll likely have to switch out colors often while printing. Each job can have different requirements. One might need to change after five or six colors, while the other needs laminating after two or three. Mistakes are easy with all these adjustments, and wasted time can fly by. The number of web paths you have to use can get overwhelming.
Luckily, printing automation can help solve that problem. You can tell the machine what web paths it needs to use and it will follow instructions without error. It can register the colors instantly, making the printing process more efficient. Automation makes job changing speedier than ever before.
2. Printing Plate Pressure
The pressure on the plates transferring ink to material can change when humans use them. Each job can come out differently because of this. One label or print may get too much ink, soaking through the material, while another is far too light. This lack of quality control can lead to excessive waste and extended production times.
Automation controlling the plates will change things entirely. You can program the machine to keep the same pressure for an entire job. Instead of using too much or too little color, you’ll use exactly as much as you need every time. Any errors will be much easier to spot and change. These quick adjustments can improve quality control and make every product match.
3. Feedback Systems
There isn’t a way to know when things start going wrong with traditional printing. One moment the job is running smoothly, and the next, you need to scrap a whole set of prints because an error started occurring during the process. Without getting feedback from the machine, you’ll have to guess what caused the problem and start over again.
Automation changes that. The machine can let you know exactly what’s going on once pressure-setting problems begin. This tells you where and why the error occurred so you can adjust the settings accordingly. Minimizing mistakes is a large part of printing automation, and this is a perfect example of how it can improve the process.
4. Ink Use
Roller settings can significantly affect the quality of a print. Humans won’t intrinsically know how much ink to apply, making the quality of each project different. Extra ink can cause damage, while too little will decrease your efficiency. This part of the job can be a large source of error and unnecessary waste.
Automating this process lets the machine automatically know the right amount and density of ink to apply. This means each print comes out the same, creating consistency and showing where changes may be needed. You’ll also reduce the amount of wasted ink and flawed printing jobs.
Printing Automation Can Be the Future
New technology can only improve upon the ways of the past. Each advancement makes workers’ lives easier, with fewer mistakes, increased productivity and a stronger commitment to the company. Using printing automation technology allows you to embrace this progress.
Implementation may have a high initial cost, but the improvements you’ll see will likely make up the difference. Better production speeds, less waste and improved machine efficiency make automation the future of the printing industry.
