FACE TO FACE distributors and now we have a new sales distribution network through our partnership with TRUMPF ( part of its TruTops smart factory Industry 4.0 initiative ). This is great brand exposure for us .
We are very closely connected with our customers and keep a close eye on their production capabilities , challenges etc . so that we can continue meeting their needs . Our core market is the sheet metal industry with customers producing components for a wide range of applications , including the automotive and aerospace sectors . What we are hearing and experiencing from them is longer delivery times , rising prices and , most of all , trouble accessing experienced and skilled staff . This was a problem before the COVID-19 pandemic but the current situation has definitely made it worse .
Despite the levels of automation , there are still many manual steps that need to be taken in most sheet metal production . There can be a reluctance to take on jobs which require skilled manual operations , particularly for smaller production runs . Our customers are looking for practical automation to help with these issues .
In 2022 , I imagine that things will improve although it is an evolving situation . People are finding ways of adjusting to the new business environments . Rising costs will affect prices but access to skilled staff in the sheet metal industry will continue to be a challenge .
ISMR : How has the COVID-19 crisis affected your operations and which steps have you taken in response ?
JA : In terms of health and safety measures for our staff , we implemented a mix of working from home and social distancing in the factory . We ’ ve also experienced longer lead-times for materials and components and less choice of suitable suppliers . This meant that we had to find more suppliers in Europe and , specifically , more local Ireland-based suppliers .
A major impact of COVID-19 was the restrictions on travel and our ability to install machines and train operators . Pre-pandemic ,
InspecVision system at TRUMPF headquarters in Ditzingen , Germany .
The P360.35 machine .
our engineers would be travelling abroad regularly to install machines and provide on-site training . Using a combination of video conferences , installation instructions in video format , online training and , most importantly , our ability to tap remotely into all our machines , we were able to work with our distributors and customers to complete installations .
In 2020 , to address the issue of restrictions on both budgets and travel , we also launched a new low-cost , plug-and-play model ( the P43.100 ) which does not require an on-site visit by an engineer to install .
InspecVision ’ s GAV system guides operators on sheet metal part quality for manual operations .
ISMR : What is your strategic and technical approach for the company ?
JA : We believe that the shortage of skilled and experienced staff for manual tasks was a problem before COVID-19 and is likely to remain one afterwards . Many suppliers do small production runs for their customers ; one example is welding . Even if a robotic welding system was available , the programming skill and time could not be justified for a small production run that may only be ordered a few times per year , possibly with revision changes .
We therefore developed a prototype machine learning system that can watch an operator perform a manual task in 2D / 3D . As a task is performed , it learns each step of the task by scanning the work areas in 3D . Each step of the task can then be played back later to guide a new or less experienced operator . The system uses augmented reality projections to indicate the next step to take . Then , as the operator performs each step , the system verifies this step by scanning the work area to ensure that the step has been performed correctly .
The system is called ‘ Guidance and Verification ’ or GaV . With this product , geared towards manual operations , we are leveraging our technology expertise to create almost a production machine which guides and verifies manual operations to help generate accurate parts more quickly . It is more of a productionfocused asset than a metrology tool , so it almost feels like a change in technical strategy for us .
For example , has the bracket been attached upside down or on the wrong side ? Has a screw been missed etc .? If a manufacturer receives a repeat order for a low volume item , someone with no experience of the job can complete the order and the output can be verified at each step .
In terms of our strategic approach , we will continue to focus on growth by building on the foundations we ’ ve built over recent years ,
ISMR December 2021 / January 2022 | sheetmetalplus . com | 39